Boxing Day Services

[Dave1987]

We have a public transportation system, I pay my taxes and I pitch up at stations willing to pay for tickets. I feel that today, when so much of the rest of the service sector (private and public) is providing a service, the railway industry should "take responsibility" for my transportation.



Well, ultimately people should be forced if necessary. If you want to work on the railways then that's the way it should be IMHO. A friend of mine is an airline purser, another is a manager of a fast food outlet. Both can be rostered to work today. They can request not to work today, but the service has to be delivered, and if necessary they must work. Neither of them thinks there is anything wrong about this.

I fully understand that lines may need to be closed for engineering works that would cause even more disruption if done at other times. But the near-shut down that occurs today just makes the railway industry look out of step.

I've been resisting posting on this thread up until now because it's the same old story every year but I cannot let some of your points go unanswered.

Firstly the only reason the retailers are opening today is because shoppers have become convinced that they will get some magical deals is the sales, why on earth should the railway industry "take responsibility" to take you to the sales instead spending quality time with their families? Or is your shopping or football match far more important than railway staff spending time with their family?

Having seen some of the the comments of social media from people calling railway staff "lazy c***s" for daring to want to spend time with their families at Christmas I think it's unbelievable how people believe their shopping or football is more important.

 

[Bellbell]

The other point I was going to make is that we have already seen cancellations pre-Christmas across several TOC's because rail staff didn't want to work overtime at this time of year. Personally, I did help out at the last minute precisely because I knew I had a decent wedge of time off actually on Christmas. Force people to work Boxing Day and you can bet that there will be even more reluctance for voluntary overtime, more cancellations, more disruption.

 

[GB]

Different year, same old tired arguments.

 

[pt_mad]

Not to worry anyway folks. Boxing day is not currently a working day for most of the railway and that is just how it is. I don't think the managers wish to work it, and neither do 95% of the UK population who have it off with their loved ones.

The jobs described further up in the thread such as fast food tend to be lower paid positions, shorter term with higher turnovers of staff. They can probably replace people more easily and many employees/students etc will probably aspire for better opportunities anyway. I.e. the conditions, shifts, pay can probably be far less attractive as people probably plan to stay in those jobs short term and many will be part time.

It is to be expected that careers with a higher level of responsibility will demand an improved level of conditions. Otherwise it will simply be a race to the bottom.
Likewise, many bus companies are not operating. Like TOCs, these are private companies answering the shareholders and making a profit.


If we go down the road of 'lets force private transport companies to make their workers work boxing day and / or Christmas day', it will simply be a race to the bottom, with company after company starting to open boxing day until after 15 years, the day would become just another bank holiday like say May day is.

I am not sure our kids or our kids kids would thank us for that. Sorry kids daddy Mr train driver won't be around christmas eve/boxing day/new years eve/new years day/every other bank holiday as joe bloggs wants to go to the sales!
The railway shuts down for just 2 days a year. Surely we can grant its hard working employees that much. Most ops TOC staff are only given 2 guaranteed bank holidays per year (xmas and boxing day), and if your link falls unlucky, you many have to work ALL the others, usually at flat rate.

It would be far too easy for all of industry to just 'demand' everyone works over Christmas and we just let it happen. And something that has been a period of rest and time with loved ones for hundreds of years will be gone forever, simply because a small minority of consumers of the current era want access to commercial goods and services on what was only 50 years ago a major religious festival.

 

[bramling]

We have a public transportation system, I pay my taxes and I pitch up at stations willing to pay for tickets. I feel that today, when so much of the rest of the service sector (private and public) is providing a service, the railway industry should "take responsibility" for my transportation.



Well, ultimately people should be forced if necessary. If you want to work on the railways then that's the way it should be IMHO. A friend of mine is an airline purser, another is a manager of a fast food outlet. Both can be rostered to work today. They can request not to work today, but the service has to be delivered, and if necessary they must work. Neither of them thinks there is anything wrong about this.

I fully understand that lines may need to be closed for engineering works that would cause even more disruption if done at other times. But the near-shut down that occurs today just makes the railway industry look out of step.

Quite simple - go out on one of the other 363 days when trains are running, or find another form of transport. Never understand why this is such a big deal.

Otherwise, let's forget the whole concept of Boxing Day and just make it a normal, working, day for everyone. Then we could also get rid of all the sales nonsense as well. There's a few things I wouldn't mind doing today that are closed, which would be open on a normal Saturday. Perhaps these institutions should also "take responsibility" for providing what I'd ideally like. Eventually everything would be open and Boxing Day would be a normal day.

 

[SPADTrap]

Well, ultimately people should be forced if necessary. If you want to work on the railways then that's the way it should be IMHO

Not on the railway I am contracted to work on! that's not the way it is

What is the desire for boxing day trains exactly? Why?

What is the railway industry out of step with..?

 

[bb21]

Different year, same old tired arguments.

What will people moan about otherwise?

It is almost like a ritual.

 

[Bletchleyite]

FWIW today's Merseyrail services seem to be well used. I always said they would be. As for volunteers, they will get them at the right price.

 

[Dave1987]

What will people moan about otherwise?

It is almost like a ritual.

Should probably make it a sticky thread

 

[pt_mad]

Quite simple - go out on one of the other 363 days when trains are running, or find another form of transport. Never understand why this is such a big deal.

Otherwise, let's forget the whole concept of Boxing Day and just make it a normal, working, day for everyone. Then we could also get rid of all the sales nonsense as well. There's a few things I wouldn't mind doing today that are closed, which would be open on a normal Saturday. Perhaps these institutions should also "take responsibility" for providing what I'd ideally like. Eventually everything would be open and Boxing Day would be a normal day.

Too true. Consumers are all too quick to 'demand' commercial goods and services 365 days a year, but would they wish to work it themselves? And would they wish for Christmas to just revert to a normal bank holiday weekend as I don't think future generations would thank them for throwing our one/two rest and shutdown days in the UK down the pan so our local superstore can open yet another day. People can still buy online.


If you did something as drastic as suddenly forcing TOCs to run a full or Sunday service on boxing day, within 5 years all the shops and businesses which currently run on a normal bank hol would be called to open. As trains would be running so people would want places open to go to. So you might as well poll the public and say who wants boxing day to revert to a normal bank hol within 5 years with normal bank hol working arrangements, and trains will run?'. I think its a fair bet the vote would be against that.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Funny thing on that - plenty of far more religious European countries, where the shops would definitely be shut, still run public transport even on Christmas Day. To them, stopping it, as an essential public service, would be as ridiculous as turning the electricity off for two days.

 

[pt_mad]

Funny thing on that - plenty of far more religious European countries, where the shops would definitely be shut, still run public transport even on Christmas Day. To them, stopping it, as an essential public service, would be as ridiculous as turning the electricity off for two days.

That be the case or not, go down the route of forcing staff to work in an industry as big as the railway, and in no time boxing day will be lost to just another bank holiday. If thats what society wants then thats fine, TOCs are outvoted. But is it what society wants?

 

[Bellbell]

Funny thing on that - plenty of far more religious European countries, where the shops would definitely be shut, still run public transport even on Christmas Day. To them, stopping it, as an essential public service, would be as ridiculous as turning the electricity off for two days.

Then we should do exactly what they do, obviously. Imagine if we weren't all exactly the same?

Incidentally, I need to talk to my bank about a temporary credit card increase so I can book flights. But they're not open. How very dare they?! Don't they know the customers want it?

 

[pt_mad]

Funny thing on that - plenty of far more religious European countries, where the shops would definitely be shut, still run public transport even on Christmas Day. To them, stopping it, as an essential public service, would be as ridiculous as turning the electricity off for two days.

Now Europe is another matter all together.

 

[radamfi]

Should cars be allowed to run on Christmas Day and Boxing Day? If public transport staff shouldn't work on Christmas Day and Boxing Day then you should ban private car use, because that requires hospital staff and police to work on Christmas Day to deal with accidents. Breakdown services still operate and even some petrol stations are open. I normally leave the country for Christmas to avoid this farce.

Sunday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day have been kept special outside the UK. Outside the UK, public holiday service is required to help keep these days special, as it enables people to meet other people and take part in social activities on these days.

 

[deltic]

Then we should do exactly what they do, obviously. Imagine if we weren't all exactly the same?

Incidentally, I need to talk to my bank about a temporary credit card increase so I can book flights. But they're not open. How very dare they?! Don't they know the customers want it?

I think you will find all the banks on line and most telephone based services are available today which is how majority of people do their banking these days.

Are all the UK's tram and light rail services running today?

 

[LowLevel]

I'm thoroughly enjoying my day off as much as you guys cheers. God bless my contract. I'll still be back reporting for duty to carry you where you want to go tomorrow morning though for 10 hours after my 2 day break. Sacrifice the chance to sit and have a beer with the family over Christmas so other folk can choose to travel about on Boxing Day? Not on your nelly.

If people want to volunteer that's down to them but don't be surprised if that all ends in tears - I went shopping once on a boxing day bus and half way through the day the drivers decided to pack it in and went home leaving me to fork out 20 quid to a self employed cab driver for a 4 mile trip. That's life!

 

[jamesst]

FWIW today's Merseyrail services seem to be well used. I always said they would be. As for volunteers, they will get them at the right price.

FYI it wasn't all volunteers on Merseyrail today whatever people say,a lot of disgruntled people were forced to work...

 

[pt_mad]

FYI it wasn't all volunteers on Merseyrail today whatever people say,a lot of disgruntled people were forced to work...

Cue staff off sick.

 

[Bletchleyite]

FYI it wasn't all volunteers on Merseyrail today whatever people say,a lot of disgruntled people were forced to work...

Not enough of an issue for a strike?

 

[ComUtoR]

Not enough of an issue for a strike?

Or its already part of their terms and conditions. I think "forced" is the wrong choice of words.

 

[radamfi]

Are all the UK's tram and light rail services running today?

All except Blackpool as far as I can see.

 

[Bellbell]

I think you will find all the banks on line and most telephone based services are available today which is how majority of people do their banking these days.

Are all the UK's tram and light rail services running today?

I think you'll find that my online banking clearly states I need to call them to raise the credit limit and can do so on any day other than Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day but you carry on patronising me sweetheart.

 

[313103]

Do all those on here who advocate people to work on Christmas day and Boxing day actually work on those days themselves?

Not forced as in being dragged to work, but probably forced as in 'if you dont come in disciplinary action may be taken against you'.

 

[deltic]

I think you'll find that my online banking clearly states I need to call them to raise the credit limit and can do so on any day other than Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day but you carry on patronising me sweetheart.

Apologies no offence was intended

 

[jamesst]

Or its already part of their terms and conditions. I think "forced" is the wrong choice of words.

Contrary to popular belief railway workers don't actually go on strike at the slightest thing!
Forced may indeed be the wrong choice of words,it needs to be made clear though that it wasn't entirely staffed by volunteers

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think you'll find that my online banking clearly states I need to call them to raise the credit limit and can do so on any day other than Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day

If that bothers you, there are banks whose call centres open 364 days a year (though the Co-op Bank used to open Christmas Day with a team of about 3 people in, and rarely got very many calls so stopped doing so).

 

[455driver]

We have a public transportation system, I pay my taxes and I pitch up at stations willing to pay for tickets. I feel that today, when so much of the rest of the service sector (private and public) is providing a service, the railway industry should "take responsibility" for my transportation.

Actually you take responsibility for your transportation!
What if I want to catch a bus to the railway station today?
There are no buses running!

Well, ultimately people should be forced if necessary. If you want to work on the railways then that's the way it should be IMHO. A friend of mine is an airline purser, another is a manager of a fast food outlet. Both can be rostered to work today. They can request not to work today, but the service has to be delivered, and if necessary they must work. Neither of them thinks there is anything wrong about this.

eff off numbnuts!
'People should be forced to work'. you really are a div aren't you, you are talking about taking people shopping not some essential trip! :roll:

I fully understand that lines may need to be closed for engineering works that would cause even more disruption if done at other times. But the near-shut down that occurs today just makes the railway industry look out of step.

How many shops are open (normal hours) today?
Down here all the banks are closed, most of the supermarkets are closed, most of the fast food shops are closed, most of the smaller shops are closed etc.

What job do you do?
Are you contracted to work bank holidays, Christmas day etc?
If not why not?

You are quick enough to throw comments around such as ultimately 'people should be forced if necessary' well I tell you what, when you start working them all let me know, I work every bank holiday (if it falls on a work day and only get normal pay, no enhancement) and the only days we are guaranteed off are Christmas day and Boxing day, if you cant manage without trains for two days then tough deal with it!

 

[dk1]

H

A lorry load of carrots each!

Long may it remain prohibitively expensive

Here Here !!

 

[6Gman]

Do all those on here who advocate people to work on Christmas day and Boxing day actually work on those days themselves?

Not forced as in being dragged to work, but probably forced as in 'if you dont come in disciplinary action may be taken against you'.

I don't advocate Christmas Day working. I do think some services should be available on Boxing Day.

I would hope it could be staffed by volunteers, but if not then perhaps the contracts need to be reviewed.

I would have been content to work (some) Christmas Days.

I did work one Boxing Day. (Some scrotes burnt down a key piece of signalling infrastructure on Christmas Day; we went in to put together the emergency timetable.)