Are Chiltern missing out on Boxing Day?

[silverfoxcc]

From a lay persons point of view, i wonder just how many brain cells people have.
Chiltern are running services Boxing Day

Yet someone has decided that no services will stop at Wembley Stadium.

Can anybody give me a logical reason why. After all it is a PUBLIC service. not a giant trainset for some brain dead uni graduate to play with.

I do speak from a personal viewpoint It will take me at least an hour to get from the ground to the platforma at Wembley Park or Wembley Central

I use the service , park at West Ruislip, and can be home in Bracknell within 75mins of leaving my seat in the Stadium.

I just cannot understand why? or is there some underlying reason why guys dont want a days o/t nowadays?

 

[Harbouring]

To stop services becoming dangerously overcrowded I would guess.

 

[Antman]

To stop services becoming dangerously overcrowded I would guess.

Exactly...............seems they're not brain dead after all. The station is often closed when events are on for safety reasons. Tottenham v Southampton at 12.30

 

[Mag_seven]

and at the end of the day I'm sure that the bulk rest of the country would appreciate a Boxing Day rail service of any description.

 

[SPADTrap]

People don't want a days RDW because they have lives. Try it.

 

[The Planner]

They only run because Bicester Village pay them to run them.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Can anybody give me a logical reason why. After all it is a PUBLIC service. not a giant trainset for some brain dead uni graduate to play with.


Quite an insulting comment in my view ....

 

[Tetchytyke]

After all it is a PUBLIC service. not a giant trainset for some brain dead uni graduate to play with.

It's not a braindead uni graduate, it's a very clever uni graduate. Who supports Arsenal and is just doing it to annoy you personally.

The services only run because Bicester Village pay for them. They don't stop at Wembley Stadium because then you won't be able to fit the long-distance shoppers on board. The trains are busy enough as it is. If you're going to watch the Spuds you can take the tube.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

It's not a braindead uni graduate, it's a very clever uni graduate. Who supports Arsenal and is just doing it to annoy you personally.

The services only run because Bicester Village pay for them. They don't stop at Wembley Stadium because then you won't be able to fit the long-distance shoppers on board. The trains are busy enough as it is. If you're going to watch the Spuds you can take the tube.

Nice one - having known a decent number of Chiltern management over the years , they would not be impressed by such comments. Neither are a good number of railway and thinking folk - no doubt including some / many non graduates.

 

[Clip]

Exactly...............seems they're not brain dead after all. The station is often closed when events are on for safety reasons. Tottenham v Southampton at 12.30

Is it really? In my years at Chiltern it was always open for the big events at Wembley and it continues to do so so I am unsure why you say its closed when events are on.

 

[Gemz91]

I just cannot understand why? or is there some underlying reason why guys dont want a days o/t nowadays?

Although I don't work for Chiltern, and my company won't be running Boxing Day, my stance still stand.

I'll be working until the last train runs on Christmas Eve. This means when all my friends and family are enjoying Friday night, Saturday and Sunday (Christmas Eve) I'll be at work. I'll have time for a couple of pints on Christmas Eve once I've finished work.

On Christmas Day, I intend to make the most of my Christmas Day celebrations, enjoying many festive drinks of beer and what ever else is on the table. I there for intend to be in no fit state to drive a train on Boxing Day.

Boxing Day, is a day when I enjoy watching football. Like many other football fans on Boxing Day, I will be travelling to watch the team I love, probably loose again, much like your self not the loosing part, just watching football part).

So my underlying reason of not wanting over time on boxing day is because I have a family, I have friends, I have interests outside of work and outside of money. I reckon I'd settle for about £2,500 after tax to work Boxing Day (and thats being serious), other wise I have no interest what so ever in working a train on Boxing Day.

 

[Minilad]

Surely the fact that trains are running and not stopping means people are working overtime. I presume Boxing Day working is voluntary and not rostered. That suggests it's more a safety issue like when they didn't stop for the England game due to the tube strike rather than people not working

 

[Clip]

Surely the fact that trains are running and not stopping means people are working overtime. I presume Boxing Day working is voluntary and not rostered. That suggests it's more a safety issue like when they didn't stop for the England game due to the tube strike rather than people not working

Got nothing to do with Safety - its been explained above.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Surely the fact that trains are running and not stopping means people are working overtime. I presume Boxing Day working is voluntary and not rostered. That suggests it's more a safety issue like when they didn't stop for the England game due to the tube strike rather than people not working

I am sure that is a factor for consideration.

My own wife , as a community midwife works this Boxing Day - as many others - including Xmas Day last year -obviously a critical and essential service. (+ the on call till 0700 the next day) - the renumeration is pretty modest I assure you.

 

[Minilad]

I am sure that is a factor for consideration.

My own wife , as a community midwife works this Boxing Day - as many others - including Xmas Day last year -obviously a critical and essential service. (+ the on call till 0700 the next day) - the renumeration is pretty modest I assure you.

My wife too works Xmas and Boxing Day as a health care assistant in a midlands hospital so I don't need any assurance on that score

 

[6Gman]

From a lay persons point of view, i wonder just how many brain cells people have.
Chiltern are running services Boxing Day

Yet someone has decided that no services will stop at Wembley Stadium.

Can anybody give me a logical reason why. After all it is a PUBLIC service. not a giant trainset for some brain dead uni graduate to play with.

I do speak from a personal viewpoint It will take me at least an hour to get from the ground to the platforma at Wembley Park or Wembley Central

I use the service , park at West Ruislip, and can be home in Bracknell within 75mins of leaving my seat in the Stadium.

I just cannot understand why? or is there some underlying reason why guys dont want a days o/t nowadays?

Well, you got your answer!

 

[ChiefPlanner]

My wife too works Xmas and Boxing Day as a health care assistant in a midlands hospital so I don't need any assurance on that score

"Proper Work" .....my old Dad was a manager in the NCB (remember that) - mines have to be checked every 24 hours for gas / water etc - the management used to do this on Xmas and Boxing day - just a walk around and various tests. Unpaid of course - but it gave the supervisors a proper break , and they were allowed to collect money for it. Good staff / management relations

Down at 0800 and inside clear to use the railway term by midday so home for dinner. From the age of 14 - I went down with him (to keep him company) - fascinating - no need for warm clothing - just the standard PPM and a battery lamp and a gas testing lamp.

Railway wise I have done the "till last train berthed and arrived on Xmas Eve" a few times + the on call to give the normal guys a chance to have a festive drink or whatever - actually worked on the ground on a Boxing Day re- railing with the breakdown gang a badly derailed Freightliner , but will save that so as not to bother you with "war stories"

The Euston late turn ASM on Xmas Eve always got someone turning up (with no tickets booked) for the Scottish sleeper ....

 

[roversfan2001]

From a lay persons point of view, i wonder just how many brain cells people have.
Chiltern are running services Boxing Day

Yet someone has decided that no services will stop at Wembley Stadium.

Can anybody give me a logical reason why. After all it is a PUBLIC service. not a giant trainset for some brain dead uni graduate to play with.

I do speak from a personal viewpoint It will take me at least an hour to get from the ground to the platforma at Wembley Park or Wembley Central

I use the service , park at West Ruislip, and can be home in Bracknell within 75mins of leaving my seat in the Stadium.

I just cannot understand why? or is there some underlying reason why guys dont want a days o/t nowadays?

TL;DR: "The service doesn't suit me perfectly so I'll just abuse the intelligent people that have organised it, even though most of the country doesn't have a service to complain about on Boxing Day".

 

[SPADTrap]

Surprised the boxing day thread took this long to appear even if it's a slight digression. Probably my favourite thread topic too.

 

[Harbouring]

Got nothing to do with Safety - its been explained above.

Yes I realised the Bicester V link after looking at the timetable. Even if they were willing to serve Wembley, just 2tph clearly would lead to some safety implications on top of that.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

TL;DR: "The service doesn't suit me perfectly so I'll just abuse the intelligent people that have organised it, even though most of the country doesn't have a service to complain about on Boxing Day".

Even if I am not intending to use it - and live hundreds of miles away ....

 

[6Gman]

"Proper Work" .....my old Dad was a manager in the NCB (remember that) - mines have to be checked every 24 hours for gas / water etc - the management used to do this on Xmas and Boxing day - just a walk around and various tests. Unpaid of course - but it gave the supervisors a proper break , and they were allowed to collect money for it. Good staff / management relations

Down at 0800 and inside clear to use the railway term by midday so home for dinner. From the age of 14 - I went down with him (to keep him company) - fascinating - no need for warm clothing - just the standard PPM and a battery lamp and a gas testing lamp.

Railway wise I have done the "till last train berthed and arrived on Xmas Eve" a few times + the on call to give the normal guys a chance to have a festive drink or whatever - actually worked on the ground on a Boxing Day re- railing with the breakdown gang a badly derailed Freightliner , but will save that so as not to bother you with "war stories"

The Euston late turn ASM on Xmas Eve always got someone turning up (with no tickets booked) for the Scottish sleeper ....

There is a danger of this turning into our Annual Boxing Day debate (which divides between "Provides a useful public service" v "The only two days of the year I can guarantee being with my family/ have a drink without looking over my shoulder" - and never the twain shall meet ... ).

However the OP was making a slightly different point. "If trains are running through Wembley Stadium station why don't they stop?" Which has been adequately answered.

 

[6Gman]

The Euston late turn ASM on Xmas Eve always got someone turning up (with no tickets booked) for the Scottish sleeper ....

On at least one occasion the Crewe diagram office booked a Crewe set to work to Carlisle on the 24th, returning passenger on the Up Sleeper.

Which wasn't running.

Huge taxi fare.

And tea and no biscuits on the 28th!

(And no, it wasn't me!)

 

[ChiefPlanner]

There is a danger of this turning into our Annual Boxing Day debate (which divides between "Provides a useful public service" v "The only two days of the year I can guarantee being with my family/ have a drink without looking over my shoulder" - and never the twain shall meet ... ).

However the OP was making a slightly different point. "If trains are running through Wembley Stadium station why don't they stop?" Which has been adequately answered.

Fair comment - but a reality check now and then is not bad.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

On at least one occasion the Crewe diagram office booked a Crewe set to work to Carlisle on the 24th, returning passenger on the Up Sleeper.

Which wasn't running.

Huge taxi fare.

And tea and no biscuits on the 28th!

(And no, it wasn't me!)

That would have been a huge taxi fare , plus overtime .....

Always tried to get the Xmas train crews working out nice and early , to cover such genuine errors .. no more from me on this .

 

[Starmill]

After all it is a PUBLIC service. not a giant trainset for some brain dead uni graduate to play with.

This doesn't make sense. How does someone having a degree or not influence if they can act in the public interest? If anything, I would argue someone with a degree is more likely to be trained to act in the public interest.

You are questioning if Chiltern are acting in the public interest. I do not know the answer to that, but it's questionable if they are actually obliged to act in the public interest.

 

[CentralTrainer]

Give me the choice between watching Spurs in a Wendyball game or being stuck on a delayed/broken down DOO service on Southern Rail with the heating not working on Boxing Day?

Which way is the TVM?

 

[SquireBev]

This doesn't make sense. How does someone having a degree or not influence if they can act in the public interest? If anything, I would argue someone with a degree is more likely to be trained to act in the public interest.

Sounds to me like OP is one of those "University of Real Life" types.

 

[OneTrackMind]

If we know that Bicester Village is going to be busy say on a Saturday (not so much of a problem on a weekday), in a standard Wembley event timetable, sometimes we choose not to load services coming down from Oxford as we know the likelihood is they will be full and standing. Depending on the unit allocation, we've previously loaded a max of 50 people on them, but it simply isn't worth it, there is enough capacity in the normal service to absorb the crowds.

However on Boxing Day there is no Birmingham/Aylesbury service, so there is no flexibility, so from a safety point of view it's a no go.

We typically take get 3,000 - 4,000 come from Marylebone on a good turnout, so I'd imagine this to be down for Boxing day, again, really not worth the extra resources.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Interesting that the OP misunderstands the nature of the modern railway - it actually ISNT a public service, particularly on Boxing Day when no operator is obliged to run anything at all. Not saying this is right or wrong, but it is the reality of a franchised passenger operation.