East-West Rail (EWR) countdown to entry into service

[Wilts Wanderer]

Favourable industry circumstances mean very little compared to the protection of staffing when it comes to union priorities.

In favourable circumstances, why would ASLEF care if a new railway does not create additional work for guards? They don’t represent that grade.

 

[dk1]

In favourable circumstances, why would ASLEF care if a new railway does not create additional work for guards? They don’t represent that grade.

They simply will not accept any further increase to the DOO network. At the end of the day that’s looking after their own and the increased workload/stress from the travelling public.

 

[Carlisle]

The point I was making is that it is the DfTs failure to see this as a positive opportunity to engage on DOO as a concept for the future -

Didn’t Arriva Rail North try a similar approach with the RMT when awarded the franchise that specified a certain percentage of DOO be introduced but the union just refused to negotiate meaningfully ?.

 

[Falcon1200]

They simply will not accept any further increase to the DOO network.

That is not ASLEF's decision to make, or position to dictate! The TOCs reluctance to progress the issue has meant, for example the ludicrous situation of Scotrail trains formed by the same stock, using the same Glasgow terminus, and controlled entirely from the same signalling centre, operating with Guards on some routes but quite happily, and safely, DOO (for nearly 40 years!) on others.

Fail to see how; acquiring trains not fit for DOO, failing to install DOO equipment and not consulting the workforce expected to work it, is a failure of the union in this instance.

Quite agree - If that is what has happened.

a bit of honesty would/could help deflect where that's unfair.

Yes, the lack of clarity on the whole sorry saga is a disgrace.

 

[Roger B]

I can't help thinking this dispute is not going to encourage further investment in rail - eg completion of East-West rail. Nor is this impasse doing anything to endear the railway or the unions with the public - quite the reverse.

I'm all in favour of having a second person on board trains - so long as they're visible to passengers, rather than sitting in middle / rear cabs. But do they neeed to be guards?

I'd have thought that if DOO is inherently unsafe, there'd be statistics demonstrating this to be the case by now - after all many services have been DOO for decades.

Change is always challenging, and must be handled carefully and sensitively, and I hope that wise heads can prevail to break the deadlock.

 

[Zomboid]

It's absurd how long it's taking. It's as though it being complete somehow took everyone by surprise.

I don't especially care how the line is operated (I don't see any legitimate reason why it shouldn't be DOO, but that's not up to me to decide). I just want the trains running yesterday.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

They simply will not accept any further increase to the DOO network. At the end of the day that’s looking after their own and the increased workload/stress from the travelling public.

In which case that is definitely an ideological position.

 

[Brush 4]

Have the local TV/radio picked up on this yet? Perhaps its time national media were informed.......

 

[zwk500]

Have the local TV/radio picked up on this yet? Perhaps its time national media were informed.......

I may be being cynical, but I feel that the fact that the government have not done a big song-and-dance press release and photo op about this brand new piece of infrastructure to support housebuilding suggests to me that there's plenty of questions that Whitehall or Westminster would rather aren't asked of them.

 

[JonathanH]

Have the local TV/radio picked up on this yet? Perhaps its time national media were informed.......

While there is essentially only speculation regarding reasons for the delay, and it could be dismissed by the railway and politicians as final snagging issues, there isn't really any basis for a story.

 

[67018]

While there is essentially only speculation regarding reasons for the delay, and it could be dismissed by the railway and politicians as final snagging issues, there isn't really any basis for a story.

Regardless of the reason for the delay, it's frustrating to people who would benefit, holds up the payback on this huge investment and doesn't paint rail in a good light. It gives easy ammunition to those who criticise other investments, and HS2 shows we are not short of critics. My big worry is that sooner or later, the politicians are going to tire of pouring money into what they see as a bottomless money pit and direct investment elsewhere. It's not as if we are so flush with cash these days that we can afford to waste these sort of sums.

We're talking about running 2-car diesel trains on a relatively short branch line, it's not exactly rocket (or even bullet train) science.

 

[williamn]

While there is essentially only speculation regarding reasons for the delay, and it could be dismissed by the railway and politicians as final snagging issues, there isn't really any basis for a story.

I disagree, the story is an expensive bit of taxpayer funded infrastructure sitting unused through, it seems, incompetence.

 

[dk1]

I disagree, the story is an expensive bit of taxpayer funded infrastructure sitting unused through, it seems, incompetence.

The odd intermodal is making use of the route.

 

[Zomboid]

We'll have the GWR diversions before actual passenger service at this rate

 

[Nicholas43]

Have the local TV/radio picked up on this yet? Perhaps its time national media were informed.......

The (excellent) Oxford Clarion covered it on 2 September, discussed here:

The Oxford Clarion have their say on the upcoming Oxford - Milton Keynes service:

We are sorry to announce that the 08.44 to Milton Keynes has been delayed by several months

Oxford’s new railway line to Milton Keynes has been complete for almost a year – but there’s no sign of passenger services beginning. On 20 October 2024, railway track company Network Rail officially declared the line open. Chiltern Railways and GWR were quick out of the blocks, each running

oxfordclarion.uk

 

[Brush 4]

Very good well informed piece. They even knew about Ashington, which few in the Oxford area would have any reason to be aware of. If there are no services by the new year, the story will become another rail embarrassment, like HS2 which crosses it.

I hope the Portishead people are aware of this, before its too late.

 

[Bishopstone]

This could become the railway equivalent of the empty hospital of ‘Yes Minister’ fame.

Management and union representatives unable to comprehend the fuss, telling the transport minister how Bicester-Bletchley has the best performing service in the country, with zero cancellations, zero safety incidents and zero complaints.

 

[317 forever]

This could become the railway equivalent of the empty hospital of ‘Yes Minister’ fame.

Management and union representatives unable to comprehend the fuss, telling the transport minister how Bicester-Bletchley has the best performing service in the country, with zero cancellations, zero safety incidents and zero complaints.

And no need for rail replacement buses either

 

[norbitonflyer]

We'll have the GWR diversions before actual passenger service at this rate

When are the GWR diversions planned for?

 

[Zomboid]

This Christmas, wasn't it? Not that I can find any evidence now, but wasn't the OOC blockade why they were running the test trains?

 

[The Planner]

This Christmas, wasn't it? Not that I can find any evidence now, but wasn't the OOC blockade why they were running the test trains?

No. Xmas 26.

 

[vuzzeho]

No. Xmas 26.

Isn't it a bit early to start test runs then? Not that I'm complaining - forward planning is nice to see on the railway.

 

[The Planner]

Isn't it a bit early to start test runs then? Not that I'm complaining - forward planning is nice to see on the railway.

Work backwards. GWR will need to bid 16 weeks out, there are still clearance, power, timetabling, resource etc all to sort. Its only about 9-10 months to have it squared off.

 

[zwk500]

Isn't it a bit early to start test runs then? Not that I'm complaining - forward planning is nice to see on the railway.

If a problem came up in the test run, you want to give yourself time to fix it.

 

[williamn]

Sounds like GWR were a lot more organised with their tests than the dft/Chiltern were in providing an actual regular service on the line...

 

[dk1]

Sounds like GWR were a lot more organised with their tests than the dft/Chiltern were in providing an actual regular service on the line...

Is that down to the fact they will sensibly have a guard on every train?

 

[Jimini]

Is that down to the fact they will sensibly have a guard on every train?

Let's not push that door of conversation open eh...

 

[williamn]

Let's not push that door of conversation open eh...

Yes whatever the arguments either way, it should have been ironed out way ahead, the completion date of the railway was not a surprise.

 

[Jimini]

Ye whatever the arguments either way, it should have been ironed out way ahead, the completion date of the railway was not a surprise.

Agreed.

 

[The Planner]

Sounds like GWR were a lot more organised with their tests than the dft/Chiltern were in providing an actual regular service on the line...

That isn't comparable, they will just be running along there without any stops fitting in between whatever else is around.