albert smith 803 Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 Sunday trains. Unbelievable! 2 Sundays in a row and trains cancelled due to “unavailability of staff”. With a Public Transport system Management provide the public with a timetable informing them of the times and destinations etc. of this system They also, with consultation with Staff representatives, provide a roster so that the Staff concerned know what shifts & turns of duty they will be working usually up to 12 weeks in advance. Sunday turns of duty are an unavoidable part of this system and are shown, or should be, in the roster so where are the staff? 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLY2 10,109 Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 They're paid too much, otherwise they'd be glad to work Sunday's. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TBI 2,351 Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 Why would the Sunday train service be any different to the Monday to Saturday trains? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OrphanAnnie 296 Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 I make monthly weekend visits to my aunt in Long Eaton, first train back to Stoke on Sundays is ten to two, last one is at half past seven. That's if they are on time........ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bubblewrap 3,815 Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 The main problem is the private operators will only roster the exact number of staff to run the trains.(no spares on a Sunday) So if someone goes sick or gets delayed working an earlier train this can cause cancellation or further delays. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
notty ash 372 Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 I think the problem is that Central Trains (predecessors to East Midlands Trains) changed working practices a few years ago. The normal working week for their train crews is now Monday to Saturday. Sundays are only worked as overtime. If lots of staff want Sunday off, EMT can't force them to attend work. It is a crazy setup. At least one other train company works the same way, but not all do. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bubblewrap 3,815 Posted August 10, 2015 Report Share Posted August 10, 2015 I worked on the railway albeit a long time ago(over 40 years) Sunday always was treated as "overtime" and you could turn down Sunday work if you so wished.( but never had a shortage of takers) I still think it's a case of not enough staff "booked on" Don't forget the railways are private companies & profit is the main object of their operation. Having a spare crew hanging around(just in case) as it was a few years ago is not in the interest. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TBI 2,351 Posted August 10, 2015 Report Share Posted August 10, 2015 As with any system, there needs to be a small amount of in-built slack to accomodate the unexpected. That should be factored in to normal operational costs. Even more so in the rail network, where the unexpected seems to occur as a matter of course. A friend who is a rail commuter, pays an extraordinary amount for the privilege of being treated like an animal being herded into a truck. Despite that, he's just happy when his train arrives somewhere near it's due time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bubblewrap 3,815 Posted August 10, 2015 Report Share Posted August 10, 2015 Where I'm staying at the moment there is a train(in each direction) every FOUR hours on a Sunday every TWO hours during the rest of the week Quote Link to post Share on other sites
notty ash 372 Posted August 10, 2015 Report Share Posted August 10, 2015 I worked on the railway albeit a long time ago(over 40 years) Sunday always was treated as "overtime" and you could turn down Sunday work if you so wished.( but never had a shortage of takers) I still think it's a case of not enough staff "booked on" Don't forget the railways are private companies & profit is the main object of their operation. Having a spare crew hanging around(just in case) as it was a few years ago is not in the interest. No, the issue is most definitely as I stated. Central Trains changed contracts such that all work on Sundays relied on people volunteering for overtime. The traditional way of relying on some people being contracted to work on Sundays was abandoned. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bubblewrap 3,815 Posted August 10, 2015 Report Share Posted August 10, 2015 So "IF" no one volunteers no trains? Is that a way to run a railway? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Compo 10,328 Posted September 7, 2015 Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 Sunday services are not reliable up here in Caithness either. Same story, no spare staff to cover sickness, etc.. During the days of BR one could set one's watch by the trains here - now you are lucky if you can set your calendar by them! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StephenFord 866 Posted September 7, 2015 Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 Winter 1962/63 timetable, the sum total of Sunday trains on the far north line was the 11.35 Lairg to Inverness. Nothing at all on the Kyle line. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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