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Thameslink Cancellations
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carriageline
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No, i imagine it's because of a lack of drivers and unable to cover the base roster.
The Box Photter
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Well, GRT has also surrendered a number of Class 319s so they can move Mancunians to Liverpool and vice-versa as well as at least one to London Midland, because they're "so much nicer than 321s".
Trouble is that Thameslink is still running some peak hours trains with four coaches, (including the 17.52 Blackfriars to Three Bridges) whilst others are formed of 12. GRT shouldn't have allowed ANY 319s to move north until the first Class 700s go into service.
Just for once, it would have been nice to have all trains running with at least eight coaches.
Trouble is that Thameslink is still running some peak hours trains with four coaches, (including the 17.52 Blackfriars to Three Bridges) whilst others are formed of 12. GRT shouldn't have allowed ANY 319s to move north until the first Class 700s go into service.
Just for once, it would have been nice to have all trains running with at least eight coaches.
If weekend working is voluntary bear in mind it's the first weekend of the school holidays so the number of volunteers is probably significantly lower than usual.
In my line of work I'm responsible for overseeing staffing across a number of sites, many of whom are casual workers. It's been an absolute nightmare trying to get rotas sorted for this weekend.
In my line of work I'm responsible for overseeing staffing across a number of sites, many of whom are casual workers. It's been an absolute nightmare trying to get rotas sorted for this weekend.
If weekend working is voluntary bear in mind it's the first weekend of the school holidays so the number of volunteers is probably significantly lower than usual.
In my line of work I'm responsible for overseeing staffing across a number of sites, many of whom are casual workers. It's been an absolute nightmare trying to get rotas sorted for this weekend.
Weekend work is not voluntary. Ignor the poster claiming they are as clearly he hasn't a clue what he is talking about!
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Can't be a lack of drivers once I and the easily 30 plus people waiting in the pool start over the next year and that is on top of all those who have already started and around 70 who have gone through assessments just now
I wouldn't be so sure of that. All they are doing is recruiting every depot to be 10% over establishment. Take into account natural wastage over the next few years (many, many drivers due to retire before the end of the decade), those drivers moving to other TOCs (x-rail and East coast are poaching a number of drivers) and then start to look at the sheer amount of training required between now and 2018...miles and miles of new routes to learn (will take weeks and possibly months for each driver), new rolling stock (700s, 377s to GN, new Moorgate stock etc) which will all require a few days course (rumblings 700s will take more than a few days to learn), ERTMS and ATO are brand new systems which will take a lot of time to train drivers on...
10% over establishment may only just cover it. The reason so many trainees are being taken on at the moment is simply because the depots are so badly understaffed at present. Towards the end of the franchise FCC depots could have up to 1/3 of the drivers needed missing from the rosters.
From a selfish point of view this is good news for the likes of myself
Out of interest why so many due to retire coincidental?
There are always many due to retire. There are no more due to retire at the moment than at any other time. There is talk however that they may look into paying early retirement to a few very senior drivers as they don't want to spend time training up drivers on new traction, signalling and routes for them to retire within months of the training. But that won't really make any difference as they are retiring anyway.
My point was that over the next few years as many new drivers become productive a number of drivers will also retire. So it's not a case of loads more coming in to add to the existing workforce but many of the new drivers will be in effect replacing senior drivers who will be going. Once they have recruited 10% over establishment there is a good chance that witching a couple of years they will be back down to running under establishment. But that is how most rail operators tend to work regarding driver recruitment. Have a huge recruitment drive then leave it to whittle down for a few years.
Very true but in respect of thameslink they will certainly need more new guys than simply to replace those leaving
They will-for reasons I explained in my original post. My reply was in response to you asking why so many were retiring.
carriageline
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Can't be a lack of drivers once I and the easily 30 plus people waiting in the pool start over the next year and that is on top of all those who have already started and around 70 who have gone through assessments just now
What? That doesn't mean there ISN'T a lack of drivers now does it?
Even when you start, there will still be a huge wait while you train and wait to become productive. Plus, as A-driver said, you get the natural wastage which you are constantly back filling.
Sunday voluntary working generally means you HAVE to work it, unless you can find cover to work it for you.
Not at gtr, I don't work any sundays whatsoever.
As I said above, Sunday's are rostered so not technically reliant on people volunteering. There is an opt out clause in Sunday rostering so as long as you get your name and signature down on the 'not available' list in time for the roster then you can opt not to work a Sunday.
HarleyDavidson
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From a selfish point of view this is good news for the likes of myself
Out of interest why so many due to retire coincidental?
If you had to put up with the way many are treated on the railway, you'd either want to quit or retire.
I'm just thinking I've got a smidge over 10 years to do before I have 40 years in the pension pot and I'll be off.
I've lost all interest and enthusiasm for the railway now and now it's run by the supermarket style of management, the less I want to do for it. I don't do rest days or overtime, I do my basic hours and I'll do more or less what they want within those hours, provided it meets the PNB (Break) criteria and I finish on time.
Outside of that I really don't care anymore.
If you had to put up with the way many are treated on the railway, you'd either want to quit or retire.
I'm just thinking I've got a smidge over 10 years to do before I have 40 years in the pension pot and I'll be off.
I've lost all interest and enthusiasm for the railway now and now it's run by the supermarket style of management, the less I want to do for it. I don't do rest days or overtime, I do my basic hours and I'll do more or less what they want within those hours, provided it meets the PNB (Break) criteria and I finish on time.
Outside of that I really don't care anymore.
Sadly a true account of most people who have worked on the railways for more than a few years. Shame really.
HarleyDavidson
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Sadly a true account of most people who have worked on the railways for more than a few years. Shame really.
The problem we have now is that the more you do for them, the less grateful they are and when you do go out of your way, they don't show any form of gratitude whatsoever and then make the teenist mistake they come down on you like the proverbial ton of bricks.
That's why I've taken the stance I have, I do what I have to within my hours and that's it.
When I was a secondman I was told by the senior hands then, "One day son, it'll be a good job". Well 30 years on I'm still waiting.
Whilst the money's not bad, the T&C's are poor and I've become more & more disillusioned with the job, for me at the moment retirement can't come soon enough.
The problem we have now is that the more you do for them, the less grateful they are and when you do go out of your way, they don't show any form of gratitude whatsoever and then make the teenist mistake they come down on you like the proverbial ton of bricks.
That's why I've taken the stance I have, I do what I have to within my hours and that's it.
When I was a secondman I was told by the senior hands then, "One day son, it'll be a good job". Well 30 years on I'm still waiting.
Whilst the money's not bad, the T&C's are poor and I've become more & more disillusioned with the job, for me at the moment retirement can't come soon enough.
sometimes this is natural progression. You get disillusioned....the novelty wears off.....maybe its time to go and do something else then?
...of course its not always as easy as that... and maybe employers should do more to offer more promotions/ opportunities so their employees dont go stale.
As I said above, Sunday's are rostered so not technically reliant on people volunteering. There is an opt out clause in Sunday rostering so as long as you get your name and signature down on the 'not available' list in time for the roster then you can opt not to work a Sunday.
Well im permanently not available so haven't done a Sunday in over a year and I don't even get rostered them.
Well im permanently not available so haven't done a Sunday in over a year and I don't even get rostered them.
You do get rostered them in the base roster. You have just informed the list Clark to show you as unavailable every time you are rostered a Sunday. You follow the master roster like anyone else so will work lines which include a Sunday.
It may seem pedantic but it is an important difference as Sunday's are not reliant on people volunteering. People are booked them and have an option to not work them.
Well they are in a way, if noone volunteers to work my one on OT then who's going to do it. Last Sunday there was loads of sundays available for overtime. They never have enough spares.
Anyway the point is you don't have to work tge sundays if you don't want to. Yes you are rostered one but it makes no difference to me either way, they can cover it or not, I won't be there anyway.
Anyway the point is you don't have to work tge sundays if you don't want to. Yes you are rostered one but it makes no difference to me either way, they can cover it or not, I won't be there anyway.
carriageline
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That's interesting. It's completely the opposite for Network Rail (or so we are told), that if you don't want to work it, cover has to be found. If no one is forthcoming, then you have to work it.
But then, i suppose it's easier to cancel a few trains than to not run any as a box or panel is shut.
But then, i suppose it's easier to cancel a few trains than to not run any as a box or panel is shut.
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The problem we have now is that the more you do for them, the less grateful they are and when you do go out of your way, they don't show any form of gratitude whatsoever and then make the teenist mistake they come down on you like the proverbial ton of bricks.
Like the vast majority of jobs in any sector then, regrettably.
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