Franchises and Driver Numbers

[Class83]

One thing that always confuses me about the railway is that they perpetually rely on overtime to run the scheduled service. Why when an franchise is offered for tender is one of the conditions not that the franchisee must hire a sufficient complement of drivers to run the scheduled service without relying on overtime?

Now clearly overtime will be required to cover for special events & sickness, but the general day to day running including an allowance for people taking annual leave should be fairly straightforward to work out.

 

[wildcard]

One thing that always confuses me about the railway is that they perpetually rely on overtime to run the scheduled service.

The simple answer is it saves the TOC money and to change it would probably upset the existing workforce as well . There are significant employment costs on top of wages ( NI , pension , office space & facilities, uniform , training costs , recruitment costs etc ) - accountants typically claim someone on £40K actually costs an employer around £80K . So if a TOC is short of 35hrs a week its cheaper to offer overtime at 1.5x, or even 3x than take on an extra head. Also if it were to change the existing workforce would lose some of the opportunity for increased pay . However there is only so much overtime people can safely or willingly do - so at some point the TOC has to recruit. Leaving it to the last minute no doubt.

 

[randyrippley]

How do the rules re driving hours compare with those for driving buses / coaches?
Which is the more restrictive?

 

[scotraildriver]

The rules are strict and never compromised. 12 hours between shifts, breaks must be after the correct time driving etc. Here at Scotrail the weekday roster doesn't rely on overtime except to cover additional time off or maybe training courses. Sundays however do, and it's simply to save the company money. Non pensionable etc makes it cheaper to pay overtime than hire enough drivers. ASLEF are pushing to have Sundays included in the working week to resolve this but the TOC isn't so keen. However drivers do have "booked" Sundays (often 2 out of 4) which must be worked, albeit paid at overtime rates, unless someone on a Sunday off wants to work it for you. It's not as if the whole railway runs on volunteers and overtime and you don't have an option to refuse to work Sundays. (Despite what you may read in the press)

 

[3141]

Did BR also depend on overtime being worked in order to operate the timetable? There were fewer trains running before the big increase in passenger numbers that's occurred since then.

 

[greatkingrat]

Yes. Part of the problem is that in those days drivers were relatively lowly paid, and so there was no shortage of volunteers to work overtime. Now, many drivers can live comfortably on just the basic salary and don't need to do overtime.

 

[Bald Rick]

Did BR also depend on overtime being worked in order to operate the timetable? There were fewer trains running before the big increase in passenger numbers that's occurred since then.

Yes. Part of the problem is that in those days drivers were relatively lowly paid, and so there was no shortage of volunteers to work overtime. Now, many drivers can live comfortably on just the basic salary and don't need to do overtime.

Yes, and also the restrictions on drivers hours were rather different.

 

[Andyh82]

I don’t get why drivers do overtime on a regular basis, in such numbers that there are enough to cover a significant part of a timetable.

They get well paid, so why go to work on your day off?

 

[ComUtoR]

They get well paid, so why go to work on your day off?

I'll give you £500 to work your day off this week. It's a snip turn with only 1 trip. Fancy it ? I'll even move your other RD so you get the weekend off.

 

[dk1]

How do the rules re driving hours compare with those for driving buses / coaches?
Which is the more restrictive?

Railways are strict as hell & as drivers we all know our rights when it comes to getting out of work. Managers (duty & proper) also air constantly on the side of caution & wouldn't dare pressurise us into anything that wasn't completely above board.

 

[dk1]

I don’t get why drivers do overtime on a regular basis, in such numbers that there are enough to cover a significant part of a timetable.

They get well paid, so why go to work on your day off?

Greed. We always want more in life. That's human nature isn't it?

 

[dk1]

I'll give you £500 to work your day off this week. It's a snip turn with only 1 trip. Fancy it ? I'll even move your other RD so you get the weekend off.

Hmmm. That's ok as long as it doesn't break Hidden, but in most TOCs the LDC reps are watching very very closely.

 

[muz379]

I don’t get why drivers do overtime on a regular basis, in such numbers that there are enough to cover a significant part of a timetable.

They get well paid, so why go to work on your day off?

In every job I have ever worked there has been the opportunity to cover extra shifts and earn extra money

In every job I have ever worked there has been different groups of people . Those who do only their contracted hours and shifts and are not interested in earning or working any extra. Those who might do a bit of extra overtime when it suits IE to earn some spending money for an upcoming holiday or pay for a kids birthday present / new car / new kitchen . And those that will work overtime on any day with a Y in and earn massive sums doing so .

The railway is no different to this .

The numbers traincrew working restdays at any one time is not usually that massive , they are after all mostly used to cover training and additional annual leave .

 

[Dieseldriver]

I don’t get why drivers do overtime on a regular basis, in such numbers that there are enough to cover a significant part of a timetable.

They get well paid, so why go to work on your day off?

The vast majority of people will live up to their wage, extra money can be earnt with overtime
Train Drivers are well paid however, it's not exactly infinite money