Should there be leniency on restrictions during strike days?

[yorksrob]

During the pandemic, ATOC (I can't remember whether it was called that by then) had a publicised policy of leniency in terms of route restrictions etc.

Should the same approach be taken for strike days - i.e. all reasonable routes allowed, peak restrictions binned off etc ?

Afterall passengers are collateral damage in this dispute. Why should they be gouged more money just because the industry won't run the direct route ?

 

[Bald Rick]

During the pandemic, ATOC (I can't remember whether it was called that by then) had a publicised policy of leniency in terms of route restrictions etc.

Should the same approach be taken for strike days - i.e. all reasonable routes allowed, peak restrictions binned off etc ?

Afterall passengers are collateral damage in this dispute. Why should they be gouged more money just because the industry won't run the direct route ?

The capacity available is rather different.

During the pandemic, there weren’t many passengers, and with the exception of the 6 weeks from the end of March 2020, there was never less than 70% of a train service.

Now there are plenty of passengers, and during the strikes where RMT are involved, never more than 25% of the train service.

I think the restrictions to look at would be those on the day before / after

 

[yorksrob]

It's still not a lot of help if you need to get somewhere on the day. I don't see why passengers should pay extra just to travel via London when there aren't any trains going direct.

Binning restrictions on the before and after days would also be useful.

 

[High Dyke]

Lifting of any restrictions would only be beneficial if there are suitable alternative services to the chosen destination. Take today (Wednesday), the ASLEF strike is affecting services to/from London. The suggestion is that service provision is expected to be as low as 11%. With no services on East Midlands Railway nor the West Coast Main Line then any passengers are limited what their alternative options are.

Tomorrow and Friday aren't much better, with UNITE taking action affecting East Midlands Railway services. A reduced timetable is operating on 'core' routes, but many other routes will have no service provision whatsoever. That is more down the attitude of the TOC.

 

[yorksrob]

Lifting of any restrictions would only be beneficial if there are suitable alternative services to the chosen destination. Take today (Wednesday), the ASLEF strike is affecting services to/from London. The suggestion is that service provision is expected to be as low as 11%. With no services on East Midlands Railway nor the West Coast Main Line then any passengers are limited what their alternative options are.

Tomorrow and Friday aren't much better, with UNITE taking action affecting East Midlands Railway services. A reduced timetable is operating on 'core' routes, but many other routes will have no service provision whatsoever. That is more down the attitude of the TOC.

But as a principle, if there is an alternative route available, people should be allowed to use it, regardless of restrictions.

 

[High Dyke]

But as a principle, if there is an alternative route available, people should be allowed to use it, regardless of restrictions.

I quite agree. Probably there would be criteria set, much like the routing guide to ensure the shortest alternative route was used.

 

[yorksrob]

I quite agree. Probably there would be criteria set, much like the routing guide to ensure the shortest alternative route was used.

I guess that would be similar to "any reasonable route".

 

[61653 HTAFC]

There should be easements on routings where services are still suspended, with the alternative route being more expensive. For example Huddersfield to Wakefield tickets should be valid via Leeds, as that service is currently a peak-only replacement bus. Perhaps with the proviso that you won't be allowed through the barriers at Leeds, to prevent people buying a Wakefield ticket instead when Leeds is their intended destination.