Driver hours

[GB]

I'm quite lucky where I live as I live on my own and most of the neighbours work 9-5 so its pretty quite during the morning and afternoon thus I get plenty of sleep when working nights.

Early turn is a different story as I have to be up by 0245 for a 0400 start and it can be difficult to get to sleep before 2100 as people are coming and going. Its usually around 2200 by time I do get to sleep. I often find I have to have a couple of hours ZZZ in the afternoon to catch up.

 

[ivanhoe]

I' have sometimes seen a Nottingham Liverpool come in late with very little turnaround and back to Nottingham. That's about nearly 6 hours. Can any of you drivers explain how you deal with this situation? 6 hours on the road with a 5 minute break after 3 is tough going , so I'd like a drivers opinion on this. thanks

 

[A-driver]

Won't be the same driver going all the way back. Driver probably took over at Manchester for example, 5 min turn around and back to Manchester to be relieved.

Turn around time of under 10 mins counts as continuous driving so 4hours continuous could be 4x25 min trips back to back-like the south londons from vic to London bridge, 25 min run, 5 min turn around.

 

[ivanhoe]

Won't be the same driver going all the way back. Driver probably took over at Manchester for example, 5 min turn around and back to Manchester to be relieved.

Turn around time of under 10 mins counts as continuous driving so 4hours continuous could be 4x25 min trips back to back-like the south londons from vic to London bridge, 25 min run, 5 min turn around.

Thanks for the explanation. Does that mean that EMT has drivers booked from Manchester?

 

[exile]

I'm more frightened by car drivers going for hours without taking a break. Personally 2 hours is about the longest I like to go without at least a couple of minutes in a layby or service station.

 

[anthony263]

5 hours is the maximum I have driven a bus before having a 45-60 minute break.

I have seen someone put together a shift on a sunday which lasted for 14 hours although the driver was only driving for 10, i think someone in the management spotted it and reduced it to 12 hours.

I too personally prefer night driving as the roads a a lot better because there are less car drivers the only problem is when you have to drive into city centres such as bristol when you are on national express/megabus services.

 

[Tomnick]

Thanks for the explanation. Does that mean that EMT has drivers booked from Manchester?

EMT have no Drivers at Manchester, and I'd be surprised if they were relieved there (by who?) for PNBs. I though they were all booked PNBs at Liverpool?

 

[A-driver]

I don't know where their drivers are based but I was giving the general way it works. TBH Manchester To Liverpool would be very short but what I'm saying is one driver won't do and entire Liverpool to Norwich trip and back-same as a London driver wouldn't go to Aberdeen-would work it ti Newcastle and be relieved there.

Although you don't need a drivers depot to relieve trains-we have lots of trains relieved at Croydon with no depot there. We just pass there from other depots.

 

[TDK]

I don't know where their drivers are based but I was giving the general way it works. TBH Manchester To Liverpool would be very short but what I'm saying is one driver won't do and entire Liverpool to Norwich trip and back-same as a London driver wouldn't go to Aberdeen-would work it ti Newcastle and be relieved there.

Although you don't need a drivers depot to relieve trains-we have lots of trains relieved at Croydon with no depot there. We just pass there from other depots.

All you need is a PNB point

 

[A-driver]

Don't even need a pnb point-if the train stops there you can relieve the driver there. As I say I know nothing about EMT, just saying that it is possible for the driver to have a 5 min turn around but wouldn't work the train for the entire journey. Manchester was just an example as I know they stop there but don't know where else they go/stop apart from Norwich.

 

[driver9000]

Could Sheffield be the crew change point for EMT on the Liverpool leg of the journey, I've never seen EMT crew relief in Manchester. There is only 20 minutes layover at Lime Street so assuming they get 30 minutes PNB there isn't enough time for them to have a PNB at Lime Street.

 

[Kneedown]

I' have sometimes seen a Nottingham Liverpool come in late with very little turnaround and back to Nottingham. That's about nearly 6 hours. Can any of you drivers explain how you deal with this situation? 6 hours on the road with a 5 minute break after 3 is tough going , so I'd like a drivers opinion on this. thanks

On EMT our agreements for driving hours, length of breaks and how often are quite complicated. So much so that i sometimes have to refer to the book!
Suffice it to say that you must not exceed 12hours safety critical duty, must have 12hours from completing a shift before booking on again for safety critical duty. Continuous driving limit of 3hours 15 or 20mins (I forget which) without a break of some form.
Until the last diagram change we were booked a 15minute "short break" at Liverpool before working the same train back to Nottingham, where the diagram was completed or the Driver would have a further, longer break befor working Mansfield or a Worksop. If, however, the train was delayed en-route the Driver was still entitled to a 15min break. Many chose to come straight back to minimise inconvenience and also to avoid being routed behind the stopper which would increase the delay further. The Driver would, however, ensure his flask was topped up, or an amiable trolley host was on board. In Central days a Driver was entitled to a sandwich and drink from the trolley if he opted to come straight back.
Nowadays, turnrounds at Liverpool are often a lot longer, the Driver working the following service back.

 

[trainsRus]

Is there a legal maximum amount of time that train drivers are allowed to drive before they are required to take a compulsory brake? The driver on my route tonight was driving for 2.5 hours non stop.

4 hours and then have a break

 

[A-driver]

4 hours and then have a break

Not quite that black and White.

At SN we are 5 hours continuous, 4 if over the same route.

Suburban work is more intense so has a lower time. Mainline can do longer (not entirely sure how long, is negotiated between ASLEF and the individual TOC.) mainline can do longer as the work is generally less knackering.

 

[Class2ldn]

Our break has to be between 3rd and six hour so anything upto six hours basically.

 

[dk1]

On the Eastern section EMT Nottingham crews tend to work the xx.13 arrival into Norwich then following a pnb back with the same unit at xx.57. This sometimes causes a late start if delayed inward. One exception is the 10.57 Norwich to Liverpool which as the inbound doesnt arrive til 10.43, Norwich work the 10.57 with Nottingham working the 11.57.

 

[Whistler40145]

Is the maximum driving time different on e.g. Caledonian Sleeper services versus a Class 1 Express?

Also, are the rules different when driving a Charter Train?


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[Cherry_Picker]

Yes, it is different on different types of trains. I would presume the sleeper is no different to any other class 1 train, but there are definite differences between a class 1 express and a class 2 stopper.

As has been said several times in this thread though each company has their own specific agreements, which providing they fit between certain legal requirements are all perfectly fine.

 

[Whistler40145]

Does anyone know whether there is a change of Driver on the Caledonian Sleepers?


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[martin2345uk]

What happens if a driver needs a wee halfway through a shift...? Can they nip to the train's toilet while at a station?

 

[wessex]

What happens if a driver needs a wee halfway through a shift...? Can they nip to the train's toilet while at a station?

Yes if you are desperate, but you need to let the siggy know first

 

[150222]

What happens if a driver needs a wee halfway through a shift...? Can they nip to the train's toilet while at a station?

I don't know if it is allowed but I've seen them do it (albeit in station toilets). Not much help if your driving 'The Flying Scotsman' though.

 

[A-driver]

Let's not lower the tone but perhaps you can imagen what happens if a driver needs the loo during a journey-many of us carry around an empty bottle for emergencies.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

What happens if a driver needs a wee halfway through a shift...? Can they nip to the train's toilet while at a station?

Of course you can. Safety is always your first concern as a driver, and if you are bursting for the toilet then you cannot be concentrating fully on driving the train.

Does anyone know whether there is a change of Driver on the Caledonian Sleepers?

Preston is one of the places. Dunno where further changes are made though.

 

[LCC106]

Let's not lower the tone but perhaps you can imagen what happens if a driver needs the loo during a journey-many of us carry around an empty bottle for emergencies.

Ha! Reminds me of a bus driver friend who took his bottle half way up the stairs of his double decker. Someone shunted in to the back of him mid flow!

Not so easy for girls... and can I ask whether cabs have CCTV in them?

 

[A-driver]

There is no CCTV in cabs, although it was talked about for a while but management had little justification for its used against how much it would invade on drivers privacy. It's one thing if used only after an incident but management would have people watching the cctvs 24/7 in very little time! Plus I can't really see what benefit it would have.

 

[Juniper Driver]

My bum was starting to get a bit numb by then so I was amazed when he came out of the cab looking fresh and ready for more. Having said that, I need to concentrate on my job most of the time and you would be surprised how time flies by. 2.5 hours does seem like 10 minutes in all honesty so I can't see it being a problem for them

What job do you does he do?