Linear Staff Shortages

[GordonT]

It may just be a perception but has anyone detected a tendency on the National Rail online updates to treat staff shortages as if they were (say) a faulty set of points or a broken down train lying between two distinct locations of railway geography almost as if traincrews were normally allocated to work exclusively back and forth between X and Y? Usually when they do this the reality is that a broad geographical area is impacted ranging well beyond X and Y and crying out to be described in terms of an area description. If others concur I shall send them an email to flag it up.

 

[Surreytraveller]

You may get certain train crew depots that have a particularly high shortage, which may have an effect on a particular route, because that depot might only sign that stock or route. So in a few cases, it may be accurately described.

 

[Dr Hoo]

You may get certain train crew depots that have a particularly high shortage, which may have an effect on a particular route, because that depot might only sign that stock or route. So in a few cases, it may be accurately described.

A good example. Some while ago ScotRail had a shortage of drivers at Wick, which obviously caused problems on the northern parts of the Far North Line until recruitment/training/transfers or whatever was completed.

 

[Urban Gateline]

You may get certain train crew depots that have a particularly high shortage, which may have an effect on a particular route, because that depot might only sign that stock or route. So in a few cases, it may be accurately described.

Indeed, Peterborough is noticeably hit every holiday season and generally bad on Saturdays for what is only a half hourly service anyway on a busy route!

 

[SynthD]

Is the average customer better off knowing the area? Saying there is an accident on the M4 in east Berkshire is very different to saying it's between J14 and J15. People can make their own minds up on how to work around it, to travel to the edge of the existing service.

 

[Alex365Dash]

Usually when they do this the reality is that a broad geographical area is impacted ranging well beyond X and Y and crying out to be described in terms of an area description. If others concur I shall send them an email to flag it up.

Speaking of, there’s cancellations throughout the East Coastway on Southern this morning due to crew shortages!

In this case, I think Brighton / Haywards Heath to Eastbourne and Ashford is a suitable distinction for the affected area of disruption.