Northern Rail services during strike

[175001]

I remember getting on a train at Walkden and needed to get a 1pm service to Salford Crescent and the 142 that rolled into the station was heaving and only 3 out of about 15 people on the platform could get on. A passenger who couldn't get on had a go and said something roughly along the lines of "This is every ******* week, can't get on these ******* trains! Get it sorted". As he shut the doors the guard shook his head and said something like "We can't do anything, contact head office, management's problem, not ours".

Indeed mate, the Atherton line at times can be cronic, like most lines on the Northern network, and we do get the share of the anger, with such comments as "Its your fault, why did you choose a two carriage train" Hmmm....!!

We understand the frustration when a service is overcrowded, and I have sympathy for those who can't get on, especially on off-peak services, but the amount of abuse we get at times, is just wrong.

But, I love my job, and I always try and have a smile on my face, even on the last trains on a Saturday night!

 

[Anvil1984]

"We are not allowed heating...."


Well neither are passengers, ffs.

If you read the post again it states "in the cab, or passenger accomodation' which means we are fed up of having to work and deal with complaints in coaches we can see our breath and the maintainence is always deferred to the next exam instead of being dealt with ASAP

 

[Chapeltom]

Indeed mate, the Atherton line at times can be cronic, like most lines on the Northern network, and we do get the share of the anger, with such comments as "Its your fault, why did you choose a two carriage train" Hmmm....!!

We understand the frustration when a service is overcrowded, and I have sympathy for those who can't get on, especially on off-peak services, but the amount of abuse we get at times, is just wrong.

But, I love my job, and I always try and have a smile on my face, even on the last trains on a Saturday night!

There is demand for bigger trains on many parts of the Northern network. I can't remember the last Saturday morning Buxton to Manchester service I boarded that wasn't heaving. There is 4 carriage demand on a lot of routes and I just don't understand why it wouldn't be cost effective to buy more units. I'm probably wrong, it probably isn't cost effective for the sake of 10 services a day (I know 4 carriage units are run on some very early Buxton Line services to Clitheroe, Wigan, Preston)

Oh well, just hope this situation gets better before its gets worse.

 

[northwichcat]

B) Fare increases, yes I've seen people shout at guards because of the price going up.

Northern have a duty to properly inform passengers when fares go up, yet most ticket offices operated by Northern don't even display a little notice the week before fare increases. Passengers expect fares to increase in January because it is widely reported by the media, yet the last couple of years Northern have put up unregulated fares by up to 10% in May, in addition to any January increases which has taken passengers by surprise/shock.

I agree it's wrong to have a go at the conductor or ticket office personnel because of Northern's poor management. However, the Customer Relations department just sends out letters or emails consisting of generic rubbish when people may complaints so if they did their job properly it might mean the conductors get less abuse.
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I can't remember the last Saturday morning Buxton to Manchester service I boarded that wasn't heaving.

Saturday is always the worst day to travel by train. More people travel on a Saturday than a weekday yet Northern run less services. In the Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Sheffield areas Northern should really be looking at running extra trains to arrive in those cities between 11am and 2pm and to leave those cities between 3pm and 6pm.

 

[YorkshireBear]

can i just ask i saw a packed to rafters 158 on a leeds sheffield fast yesterday, only service on line..... im presuming northern had quite alot of stock spare so why wasnt it a 4 car 158?

 

[northwichcat]

If you read the post again it states "in the cab, or passenger accomodation' which means we are fed up of having to work and deal with complaints in coaches we can see our breath and the maintainence is always deferred to the next exam instead of being dealt with ASAP

In around 2004 BBC Look North did a report on poor maintenance of trains by Arriva Trains Northern in some cases not just failing comfort checks but critical safety check and Arriva's response was they are deferring maintenance to reduce the number of cancelled services. It's been posted various times that Northern have extended that approach across the North of England.

Even Pacers with working heaters have formed ice on the inside recently after driving at 60-75mph through temperatures of -10oC and lower. If we continue to have winters like this then we'll have what seems like a minor complaint about Pacers having drafty doors turning in to a very serious one.
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can i just ask i saw a packed to rafters 158 on a leeds sheffield fast yesterday, only service on line..... im presuming northern had quite alot of stock spare so why wasnt it a 4 car 158?

Generally all Northern services are single units unless they receive PTE sponsorship to strengthen it, which leaves non-PTE areas screwed. Northern are more interested in profits than passenger satisfaction.

 

[tbtc]

Generally all Northern services are single units unless they receive PTE sponsorship to strengthen it, which leaves non-PTE areas screwed. Northern are more interested in profits than passenger satisfaction.

Yes, but why not run double units on the "Strike day" services (given that most units weren't being used)?

Fewer trains running (due to the strike), busy demand for the sales at Meadowhall etc, plenty spare trains sitting around, yet single units were still being used.

Granted, not every station could cope with six coach trains, but surely four coaches could have been run on the few trains that did run?

 

[Failed Unit]

I think that is typical TOC in disruption. Keep the costs down. Scotrail did they same in the snow reduced frequency and reduced length. Why use 4 coach train and extra fuel when you can blame the overcrowding on something else such as the strike. (or snow)

 

[ANorthernGuard]

I think that is typical TOC in disruption. Keep the costs down. Scotrail did they same in the snow reduced frequency and reduced length. Why use 4 coach train and extra fuel when you can blame the overcrowding on something else such as the strike. (or snow)

Well our dear beloved Higher Management do like to blame EVERYBODY else EXCEPT THEMSELVES, if they used their collective I.Q. they would have realised guards have had the short end of the stick for a long time and maybe would have done something (anything even) to make us feel like we are a part of Northern and not just a PITA cost to their beloved shareholders doubling up services would just be too complicated for them

 

[duffman82]

One problem during the strike is that trains are still at "normal" lengths, when they could be doubled up units to cope with the demand (as there are obviously a lot of units "Spare").

I was on a service from Huyton to Liverpool Yesterday and it was doubled up, however a trip to past edge hill showed me a full depot of 156's and 150's

 

[Lampshade]

I'm guessing the majority of Northern services operating were 142s?

 

[Failed Unit]

Thinking about I suspect the lack of doubling up is down to lack of training for the makeshift gaurds. I suspect the knowledge a gaurd needs for a dual unit train is more than a solo one. Likewise the makeshift army will also be limited in traction knowledge. If northern have only trained then for pacers that is all you are getting no matter how many 156s are doing nothing.

 

[37372]

I was on a service from Huyton to Liverpool Yesterday and it was doubled up, however a trip to past edge hill showed me a full depot of 156's and 150's

Lucky you getting a doubled up service! There were 12 units spare at Sheffield and 6 at Doncaster yesterday and this is what I was faced with. Severe overcrowding due to a single unit being used to take Bank Holiday sales shoppers to/from Meadowhell.

 

[duffman82]

I'm guessing the majority of Northern services operating were 142s?

I went Lime Street - Huyton on 142028 with 156425 on the rear, and returned on 150272 - 156455. It was a mixture to be fair.

 

[Saxonia]

In around 2004 BBC Look North did a report on poor maintenance of trains by Arriva Trains Northern in some cases not just failing comfort checks but critical safety check and Arriva's response was they are deferring maintenance to reduce the number of cancelled services. It's been posted various times that Northern have extended that approach across the North of England.

Even Pacers with working heaters have formed ice on the inside recently after driving at 60-75mph through temperatures of -10oC and lower. If we continue to have winters like this then we'll have what seems like a minor complaint about Pacers having drafty doors turning in to a very serious one.
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Generally all Northern services are single units unless they receive PTE sponsorship to strengthen it, which leaves non-PTE areas screwed. Northern are more interested in profits than passenger satisfaction.

Well, well, well - if ever there were prizes on here for a post that REALLY does hit the nail EXACTLY on the head, I know exactly who it should be awarded to - I salute you unequivocally, friend.