I got in to New Street 1hr15 early as it transpired, and had to sit around for my first bit. The 15:49 New Street-Nottingham, it was running 3 late at Ashchurch (from Cardiff) and then 8 late off University. The cross-city was not running well at this point and the unit didn't arrive at New St until 16:15 rather than 15:45. Then came the bad news we didn't have a driver. Couple that with the fact we only had a 2-car and it was quite hectic. I kept people informed as mush as possible, but there was little information to give them, just waiting. We finally got a driver and departed New St 95 late @17:24 and the train spun at Derby to claw back time.
Just rang the Traincrew Controllers as I approach Tamworth and they've cancelled a 19:52 New Street-Leicester and return, in at 22:14. By rights I could leave when we reach New St, but I told them I'd take this round trip as I can still (hopefully) get a train back to Redditch.
Watch this space for more fun
P.S. I only had one person be rude or abusive to me at New Street, no need and most other passengers had a go at him rather than join in.
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Update 2 :
With the shortages of crew, and a late runner in from Cambridge requiring a guards PNB, it has been decided better to utilise me on the 20:22 New St-Cambridge as far as Leicester. We've been given a stop order for all the loaal shacks and the 19:52 is now cancelled.
Cue a woman shouting in my face 'Why are Cambridge customers more important than Leicester customers?'
I answered 'We only have a short supply of trains, drivers and guards. Both the 19:52 and 20:22 need running, but we only have enough resources for one service. It has been deemed moore beneficial to use the crew on the 20:22 as we can get more people home to their destinations, albeit delayed.'
She continued 'But we're now going to be half an hour late getting back, how is that beneficial?'
Me 'In order to get you back on time, we would have to cancel the train for passengers travelling between Leicester and Cambridge. This is their last train of the day. It's very selfish to want so many individuals to be stranded at New Street just so you aren't half an hour late.'
Her 'What's selfish is forcing people to stand in a packed train because you can't run a service properly.'
Me 'and here am I just trying to help out. I could have easily gone home 1 hour ago when my job finished. Instead, I volunteered to help out with the huge volume of extra people caused by the Christmas run-in, and the heavy snow. And this is how my kindness is treated. I could be at home now, warm and cosy with my wife who was due to give birth 6 days ago!'
And she still couldn't bring herself to apologise. Thankfully, again, other passengers told her to shut up and move along.
(poor attempt at a rehash of a Tim Vine joke)
