London Midland having staffing issues?

[mikemcniven]

I notice this afternoon London Midland Liverpool to Crewe and Cross City services been affected by "A member of train crew is unavailable." also very precise locations and it will be happening until the end of the day.

A member of train crew is unavailable on London Midland services between Liverpool Lime Street and Crewe. This means a reduced service will be running until the end of the day.

A member of train crew is unavailable on the CrossCity line between Lichfield Trent Valley and Redditch. This means a reduced service will be running until the end of the day.

 

[trainophile]

Must be an extremely important member of train crew.

I'm on a BHM to LIV train now,which departed 19 minutes late. A bit concerned in case they decide to terminate it at Crewe and put us all on buses. They would need quite a lot of buses, the previous train was cancelled so this one started off rammed, but lots got off at Wolverhampton. Still quite full though.

 

[All Line Rover]

This has been going on for years. I'd be surprised if a single weekday goes by where London Midland doesn't cancel any trains due to "staff shortages".

 

[dangie]

Not sure if this link to the Cannock Chronicle will open, but Cannock MP Amanda Milling has put out a scathing report on the Chase Line from Birmingham NS to Rugeley.

http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/Launch.aspx?PBID=413a726f-c0c3-4359-85e3-0083eb93a96c

 

[trainophile]

Waiting for a conductor at Crewe, so we were offered the Virgin service to Runcorn or Lime Street. I jumped ship with the rest of them even though I was headed for South Parkway. Goodness knows how long it will be delayed so seems like the best bet.
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Waiting for a conductor at Crewe, so we were offered the Virgin service to Runcorn or Lime Street. I jumped ship with the rest of them even though I was headed for South Parkway. Goodness knows how long it will be delayed so seems like the best bet.

Edit: Looks like a wise move, it's now showing Cancelled. Don't think there were many left on it.

Not looking forward to the 5:00 scrum at Central .

 

[TrainfanBen]

I know a Coventry-Nuneaton service was affected a couple of weeks ago.
As others have said its the norm for LM.

The sooner that Govia lose the franchise the better.

ok we'll never have 'Central trains' again, but I'd like to see National Express put a bid in for the franchise, at the appropriate time, whenever that is (I'm clueless on that front).

 

[TheEdge]

ok we'll never have 'Central trains' again, but I'd like to see National Express put a bid in for the franchise, at the appropriate time, whenever that is (I'm clueless on that front).

National Express, renowned for their quality handling of rail franchises...

 

[Robertj21a]

I know a Coventry-Nuneaton service was affected a couple of weeks ago.
As others have said its the norm for LM.

The sooner that Govia lose the franchise the better.

ok we'll never have 'Central trains' again, but I'd like to see National Express put a bid in for the franchise, at the appropriate time, whenever that is (I'm clueless on that front).

.....National Express !!! - really ??:roll:

 

[moogal]

ok we'll never have 'Central trains' again

Thank goodness.

 

[Silverlinky]

.....National Express !!! - really ??:roll:

Would that be the National Express who used to run the southern part of the franchise, the old Silverlink days?!

There are only two bidders for the franchise which will be let next year, so its either the current incumbents or Abelio.

 

[Sleepy]

Go Via - the train crew's friend. NOT.........

 

[sk688]

LM have always seemed quite good to me with regards to services cancelled , but then again my commute is only Watford Junction/Bushey to Euston and in any case they are far better than the Southern WLL route from MKC to Croydon , which is always delayed , cancelled , or grossly overcrowded

 

[Mag_seven]

What's the DfT doing about it?

 

[6Gman]

I was on New Street on Thursday - 1630ish Euston, 1655 Lichfield and 1701 Liverpool all CANCELLED - no traincrew.

Struck me as not good.

 

[PHILIPE]

What's the DfT doing about it?

Sit back and let the TOC take the flak

 

[Mugby]

A couple of years ago several west Midlands MPs and business leaders were calling for LM to be stripped of the franchise because of the cancellations but the general consensus was that no one else would be any better so it was a case of tough, just grin and bear it.

 

[grumblingalong]

What's the DfT doing about it?

Burying their head in the sand shouting about retrofitting wifi to the 700s

 

[All Line Rover]

It is exceptionally rare for VTWC or Northern to cancel services due to a shortage of staff. What, therefore, is preventing LM from recruiting a small number of standby guards / drivers?

 

[Andrew1395]

They don't bother checking tickets on LM after about 20.00. No barrier staff at Watford Junctionor Euston

 

[M60lad]

Its very rare I've had a ticket check when I've been travelling London Midland, especially on 09:21 from Crewe-Birmingham, seems to be hit and miss just like Northern whether you get a check on some of London Midlands services

 

[HLE]

It is exceptionally rare for VTWC or Northern to cancel services due to a shortage of staff. What, therefore, is preventing LM from recruiting a small number of standby guards / drivers?

Instructor availability usually.

 

[mikemcniven]

Its very rare I've had a ticket check when I've been travelling London Midland, especially on 09:21 from Crewe-Birmingham, seems to be hit and miss just like Northern whether you get a check on some of London Midlands services

Every time I have travelling with London Midland (very rare) I have never had my ticket checked, normally travelling between Liverpool and Crewe in either direction.

 

[Mr Fizz]

I travel on LM every day on the Chase line and rarely if ever have my pass looked at. But it is peak and usually full to bursting. In 4 yrs of doing this i have never had a service cancelled due to staff shortage. Short formation on the other hand is another matter entirely.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Many cancelations on the London - Crewe service. Not every train, not every day but a couple of trains a few days each week. To put it another way, sometimes there is a whole day when the whole service is operated as per public timetable.

When cancelations occur, trains often run London to Rugby only, or are diverted direct between Stafford and Crewe to make up lost time. Bit of a poor do when the service at Stone is only hourly and there are no facilities at (or near) the station.

 

[infobleep]

This has been going on for years. I'd be surprised if a single weekday goes by where London Midland doesn't cancel any trains due to "staff shortages".

Do they suffer with a lot of staff sickness? After all they are owned by Govia!

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

 

[dangie]

I travel on LM every day on the Chase line and rarely if ever have my pass looked at....

I often travel from Rugeley to Birm NS. Rarely do I see the conductor until after Cannock. Many make the journey from Rugeley to Hednesford/Cannock without paying. London Midland may not like it, but lets be honest, if you can pay on the train and the conductor doesn't come to you, whose fault is it?

 

[mikemcniven]

I often travel from Rugeley to Birm NS. Rarely do I see the conductor until after Cannock. Many make the journey from Rugeley to Hednesford/Cannock without paying. London Midland may not like it, but lets be honest, if you can pay on the train and the conductor doesn't come to you, whose fault is it?

me with the Manchester Airport to Piccadilly stopper, you rarely see the guard, I have gone from the Airport to Piccadilly before without seeing her/him

 

[dangie]

Good article here on Cannock Chase Member of Parliament Amanda Milling's website. Pretty scathing towards London Midland.

Cannock Chase MP - London Midland

 

[All Line Rover]

Good to see that the MP has picked up on the lack of ticket inspections by London Midland's guards.

 

[KTHV]

Good article here on Cannock Chase Member of Parliament Amanda Milling's website. Pretty scathing towards London Midland.

Cannock Chase MP - London Midland

The Amazon workers who forget all notion of acting like well rounded and respecful human beings to the detriment of other normal passengers are well known for mass evasion of fares