As we all know there is a massive uproar every year when most of the railway network shuts down for Christmas Day and Boxing Day. But Easter Sunday on the railways is considered as just a normal Sunday. Maybe the railway should run on Boxing Day but close down on Christmas Day and Easter Sunday...
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My Idea for swapping Railway Shutdown Days
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LBSCR Times
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Maybe some areas, but the FCC / Southern trains are busy today.......
MyFriendMary
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Rich McLean
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Provided its timed right, that might be a good idea, but this year, easter sunday fell rather late, so a lot of schools are going back this coming Tuesday, and so this sunday would have seen a lot of people trying to get back home ready for Tuesday. Don't network rail do a lot of stuff over easter anyway?
merlodlliw
Established Member
The railways are not a Supermarket with restricted shut downs on the two days you mention,I notice you did not mention Good Friday,the railways are for the public to use as a public service,try shutting the Cambrian on Easter Sunday and see the reaction of the customer
edwin_m
Veteran Member
Christmas and Boxing Day gives two days in a row for the more major engineering works, which is more use than two separate days of closure.
Having said that I think it's a bit of an anachronism to have most of our public transport closing down when Boxing Day is increasingly becoming a normal day.
Having said that I think it's a bit of an anachronism to have most of our public transport closing down when Boxing Day is increasingly becoming a normal day.
starrymarkb
Established Member
I guess for the commuter belt maybe things will be quiet enough for a closure, but for XC and FGW in the South West the trains will be very busy with tourists!
Interestingly here in Exeter the Sunday service on the Red Park and Ride was running even though most shops in the city centre were shut. Wonder how much fuel 3 empty E400s and a MAN were wasting.
Interestingly here in Exeter the Sunday service on the Red Park and Ride was running even though most shops in the city centre were shut. Wonder how much fuel 3 empty E400s and a MAN were wasting.
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May I point out that we who work on the railways have families as well. The reason I am making this point is that there are only TWO days a year that people who work the railways can guarantee to see there families. I am suggesting that those two days be Christmas Day and Easter Sunday. I am really not fussed if that would cause uproar to people who would want to travel on Easter Sunday as I feel there are probably more people who want to travel on Boxing Day to the annual Boxing Day sales. There are likely to be less people wanting to travel on Easter Sunday due to restrictive shop opening laws. I still give us our guaranteed two days a year but may cause less agro to passengers.
You do have my sympathy but at the same time where I work is 24/7 365 days a year and since I started there after next Christmas leave was booked I fully expect to be working my usual shift Christmas Day and Boxing day whether or not there is transport to get me to work. I've just worked the whole weekend and am in tomorrow as well.
Gemz91
Member
Hmmm, but if you work Boxing Day, that means you can't drink on Christmas day...so your suggesting railways staff should not be allowed to drink on Christmas Day so we can be sober on Boxing Day to go to work. No thanks.
dk1
Veteran Member
That is a very valid point, but I really don't see the industry holding out on Boxing Day, I think its a case of when not if, for Boxing Day services to become a normal occurrence. I feel having Easter Sunday as the other shutdown day goes a little way towards making amends for that.
dk1
Veteran Member
The industry might want it but thankfully we are light years away from the unions agreeing with them.
Kite159
Veteran Member
Don't tell Chiltern with their Boxing Day Bicester service that Boxing Day is meant to be quiet 
dk1
Veteran Member
Let them complain.
Don't tell Chiltern with their Boxing Day Bicester service that Boxing Day is meant to be quiet
Their trial Boxing Day service which isn't guaranteed to be repeated this year you mean?
Kite159
Veteran Member
That's the one, who knows if they will repeat it this year
EM2
Established Member
Didn't stop the place being absolutely rammed, and looking like Danté's version of Hell.
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Hardcastle
Member
When I was a kid trains & buses ran on Christmas day & Boxing day there where unions then as there are now am not saying they should run but if the demand is there why not.
LBSCR Times
Member
I've worked my fair share of late turn Boxing Days....
And when Southern have been able to run trains from Brighton to London, on recent Boxing Days, the trains have been heaving.
And when Southern have been able to run trains from Brighton to London, on recent Boxing Days, the trains have been heaving.
If they want the trains to run let them pay to subsidise the service then!
there is no way running any sort of full Boxing day service will cover its costs!
NR use the 2 days to do some major renewal works so when do you propose to do these then?
There might be enough demand for some shorter journeys into the main Cities as shopper specials but long distance stuff would be a waste of time.
then there is the small matter that most Drivers and Guards have it in their contracts that they will not be required to work on Christmas and Boxing days, how are you going to get around that then? Change our contracts? Good luck with that one!
Me, until I am compelled to work either of them I will be at home trying to work out how this years must have toy is supposed to go together while partaking of a shandy or 3!
Apologies for swinging this slightly offtopic - is there some standard service (assuming no engineering works) that will run on all bank holidays - a Saturday service for example - or does it depend on the operator and the particular bank holiday? I couldn't find anything decisive in the NRT.
If they want the trains to run let them pay to subsidise the service then!
there is no way running any sort of full Boxing day service will cover its costs!
NR use the 2 days to do some major renewal works so when do you propose to do these then?
There might be enough demand for some shorter journeys into the main Cities as shopper specials but long distance stuff would be a waste of time.
then there is the small matter that most Drivers and Guards have it in their contracts that they will not be required to work on Christmas and Boxing days, how are you going to get around that then? Change our contracts? Good luck with that one!
Me, until I am compelled to work either of them I will be at home trying to work out how this years must have toy is supposed to go together while partaking of a shandy or 3!
Look I am exactly the same i.e not contracted to Boxing Day or Christmas Day etc but I can see that probably a case of when not if for regular Boxing Day services. What I am suggesting is that we have Easter Sunday as a trade off. I know there are issues with regards to engineering works etc. it was merely an idea for discussion that's all.
merlodlliw
Established Member
I appreciate you put this up for discussion, you mention " only TWO days a year that people who work the railways can guarantee to see there families."
But don't you get annual leave to spend with your family.
To be honest, it might be worth shifting any shutdowns to more appropriate points. For example, a shut down in Summer would be better on some lines would be better than in Winter whilst for others, the opposite is true.
When it comes down to working Boxing Day, it's time to negotiate. I'm sure the rail industry can thrash out some agreement if it wants to.
When it comes down to working Boxing Day, it's time to negotiate. I'm sure the rail industry can thrash out some agreement if it wants to.
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