Revised timetables 20 July

[MikeWM]

Why does this 'can't be bothered' trope have to be used all the time? Is there evidence they can't be bothered, or is there actually another reason?

There may well be good reasons why their service is significantly more affected than other TOCs, but as they don't even try to communicate those reasons - if they exist - then people reach their own conclusions.

 

[Royal351]

Are they not affected by station staff? Do the stations need to be staffed etc for TL to call at stations?

Redhill is an odd station with Thameslink Self Dispatch. They still (I believe, as thats what our dispatch plan and the briefing came out when they went DOO in 2022) need a member of staff present of the platform to self-dispatch. In case the driver misses something etc. As its relatively busy station same as you see at Purley just up the line. So they still require dispatch staff....just not to dispatch. Its odd but I think that's the deal was made when they went DOO

 

[Minstral25]

Why does this 'can't be bothered' trope have to be used all the time? Is there evidence they can't be bothered, or is there actually another reason?

GTR have cut 70% of services from Redhill on Overtime days which is a huge cut for an Overtime ban - they can fix it quite easily but they have told stakeholders that they refuse to fix the issue and won't talk further on the subject.

My opinion is that they have stopped caring or at least Government have told them to stop caring.

 

[MikeWM]

The 22nd is 'interesting', because Norwich-Ely is closed and so the GA Norwich-Cambridge service is replaced by buses. Which do appear to be running all day (again, well done GA), but with the slight drawback that the last service GN are bothering (yes, there's that word again) to run from Ely is at 1805.

That means anyone getting the 1655 or later bus from Norwich is going to get stuck at Ely - except GA then have the final bus of the day due to continue to Cambridge, arriving at 0155!

(Admittedly there are alternatives available via Stowmarket until 2000).

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Redhill is an odd station with Thameslink Self Dispatch. They still (I believe, as thats what our dispatch plan and the briefing came out when they went DOO in 2022) need a member of staff present of the platform to self-dispatch. In case the driver misses something etc. As its relatively busy station same as you see at Purley just up the line. So they still require dispatch staff....just not to dispatch. Its odd but I think that's the deal was made when they went DOO

Seems odd approach but ill defer to your knowledge but as i said above then just don't call at Redhill and just serve the stations that don't need platform staff present.

Ultimately i wish govt and unions would both concede a bit to resolve this but i fear that aint happening this side of an election now so we need GTR to at least seek to deliver the best they can for passengers within the constraints imposed upon them.

 

[Royal351]

Seems odd approach but ill defer to your knowledge but as i said above then just don't call at Redhill and just serve the stations that don't need platform staff present.

Ultimately i wish govt and unions would both concede a bit to resolve this but i fear that aint happening this side of an election now so we need GTR to at least seek to deliver the best they can for passengers within the constraints imposed upon them.

Yeah while I don't disagree it's weird at Redhill it's the only thing I can think of

 

[MikeWM]

The 22nd is 'interesting', because Norwich-Ely is closed and so the GA Norwich-Cambridge service is replaced by buses. Which do appear to be running all day (again, well done GA), but with the slight drawback that the last service GN are bothering (yes, there's that word again) to run from Ely is at 1805.

That means anyone getting the 1655 or later bus from Norwich is going to get stuck at Ely - except GA then have the final bus of the day due to continue to Cambridge, arriving at 0155!

(Admittedly there are alternatives available via Stowmarket until 2000).

Since i wrote that on Tuesday GA have now put an hourly Stansted-Ely shuttle into the timetable, which gives much better (direct!) later options. Good for them!