Relief drivers - Thameslink

[modernrail]

I am on a train at city thameslink that is currently delayed by 15 mins because of a train at Blackfriars that is stuck because nobody can find a ‘relief driver’.

They don’t swap drivers at Blackfriars in the middle of the evening peak as standard do they?

 

[Hedgehog1977]

Happened to me last Friday around 4:45ish Northbound. I was on the train behind the one 'stuck' in the station. It must happen at least once if not more times a week.

 

[800001]

I am on a train at city thameslink that is currently delayed by 15 mins because of a train at Blackfriars that is stuck because nobody can find a ‘relief driver’.

They don’t swap drivers at Blackfriars in the middle of the evening peak as standard do they?

Driver could of been delayed on previous journey(s) and that was the best place it could swap, something else may of delayed said driver.

For ECML Thameslink the change point is Finsbury Park.

 

[Robcuk]

I am on a train at city thameslink that is currently delayed by 15 mins because of a train at Blackfriars that is stuck because nobody can find a ‘relief driver’.

They don’t swap drivers at Blackfriars in the middle of the evening peak as standard do they?

Blackfriars closed as a drivers depot a few years ago and with ATO coming into operation drivers being relieved there ceased. There must have been an out of the ordinary reason - perhaps the driver didn't sign some of the route and drove what he did sign or more likely there was an incident ahead where trains were being diverted to say London bridge but the driver didnt sign it so they had to somehow source one that does.

All SAC drivers that work the Sutton services would not be able to work one to London bridge so if there was an incident at EAC or LJ the service would be stuffed.

 

[43066]

I am on a train at city thameslink that is currently delayed by 15 mins because of a train at Blackfriars that is stuck because nobody can find a ‘relief driver’.

They don’t swap drivers at Blackfriars in the middle of the evening peak as standard do they?

Nope. As noted above Blackfriars closed as a depot a long while ago, before the current incarnation of TL launched.

It could be due to a driver needing to be taken off for another reason eg falling ill, not feeling fit to continue after some sort of operational incident. There are a range of possibilities.

 

[Surreytraveller]

Nope. As noted above Blackfriars closed as a depot a long while ago, before the current incarnation of TL launched.

It could be due to a driver needing to be taken off for another reason eg falling ill, not feeling fit to continue after some sort of operational incident. There are a range of possibilities.

I believe drivers an still relieve there even though its not a depot. No booked relieving, so could be an ad-hoc arrangement that went wrong