Central Line service collapse

[leytongabriel]

Wondering what happened today Sunday on the Central line. 'Severe delays' in the afternoon had turned worse by early evening.

 

[Dstock7080]

”A special service and advertised delays throughout the day, due to the unavailability of Train Operators and Service Control staff.”

38 trains, (out of 61) cancelled.

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

Same situation on Saturday. 15-20 gaps through the core with trains totally full. Various excuses cited including failed train at Stratford and points failure at South Woodford. What is noticeable is the lack of staff on the platforms. plenty hanging around the gate lines but few (if any) where it really matters.

 

[Joe Paxton]

World Cup final?

 

[bluegoblin7]

This isn’t unique to the Central line. We are seeing the culmination and effects of ‘managed decline’, the various funding debacles and the current lack of morale across the network due to various ‘change’ proposals and reduction in staff numbers.

It is notable (not specifically here but I’m sure it will happen in due course) that many of those most vocally in favour of restructuring TfL are now the most critical of the increase in service disruption. The two are intrinsically linked.

 

[Jimini]

Same situation on Saturday. 15-20 gaps through the core with trains totally full. Various excuses cited including failed train at Stratford and points failure at South Woodford. What is noticeable is the lack of staff on the platforms. plenty hanging around the gate lines but few (if any) where it really matters.

Points at South Woodford?

 

[bramling]

This isn’t unique to the Central line. We are seeing the culmination and effects of ‘managed decline’, the various funding debacles and the current lack of morale across the network due to various ‘change’ proposals and reduction in staff numbers.

It is notable (not specifically here but I’m sure it will happen in due course) that many of those most vocally in favour of restructuring TfL are now the most critical of the increase in service disruption. The two are intrinsically linked.

Indeed the Central Line seems to have scored the triple crown in terms of a rolling stock fleet which is falling to pieces (to be fair, remedial work is in progress, but this is a long-term fix, and has only come a decade or so too late), shortage of drivers, and also control staff too. Combine the three factors, add in normal day-to-day incidents and failures, and here we are.

We can look forward to plenty more of this across the network, as stated this is what managed decline, combined with LU’s usual chaotic management, leads to.

 

[Lewlew]

Points at South Woodford?

Going direct from South Woodford into the sidings/bay platform

 

[Jimini]

Going direct from South Woodford into the sidings/bay platform

So Woodford then