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Southern Rail STRIKE details













thedonkeycentrehalf

Moved back to wear the gloves (again)
Jul 7, 2003
9,340
For those who think this is a new thing, here is the update Southern put out in December 2015:

http://www.southernrailway.com/southern/news/train-crew-recruitment/

Date: 21 Dec 2015

Sometimes you may see that a service has been cancelled due to a member of train crew being unavailable. We know how frustrating it can be and would like to apologise.

There may be various reasons for a member of train crew being unavailable, for example when the service is disrupted this can lead to train crews being displaced and unable to crew their next scheduled service.

However, one of the underlying factors is that sometimes we do not have enough train crew to carry out both day-to-day operations and the large amount of training required to enable long-term passenger service improvements, without asking train crew to work rest days.

We have been working flat out to address this with the UK’s biggest driver recruitment and training programme.

What are the pressures?
We, like the rest of the rail industry, rely on a degree of rest day working. The amount of rest day working we need fluctuates, depending on factors such as labour turnover and sickness levels, as well as covering for holiday leave.

What are we doing?
We have under way the biggest driver recruitment programme in the UK, alongside on-going conductor training. This will result in a more consistent service for our passengers.

UPDATE

For Southern/Gatwick Express, the total number of drivers who have been recruited, trained and brought into service since January 2015 is 98 with a further 78 in training.

How long will this take
It takes over a year to train a driver to the high safety standards expected in the industry – that’s a minimum of 240 hours in practical training and an additional 840 hours learning theory – and we cannot train the large number of drivers we need all at once so there is a rolling programme.

Also, while we are recruiting and training, existing train crew retire and leave for personal reasons.

As a result, there continues to be a risk of cancellations, in particular during periods of high annual leave – but we are steadily overcoming this. In the meantime we will continue to keep you informed of any possible cancellations via our station screens, app and website.

Thank you for bearing with us.
 




Tom Hark Preston Park

Will Post For Cash
Jul 6, 2003
72,322
The management need to resign and the goverment get someone in who knows how to run a basic service. Feel sorry for the commuters having to endure this ongoing incompetence with no end in sight.

Trouble is, all the handsomely paid rail regulators, MPs, and cabinet ministers have just washed their hands of the situation and abandoned the poor sod customers to suffer in traditional British stiff upper lip silence. Wouldn't happen in France. They know how to protest there.
 


Horton's halftime iceberg

Blooming Marvellous
Jan 9, 2005
16,491
Brighton
Trouble is, all the handsomely paid rail regulators, MPs, and cabinet ministers have just washed their hands of the situation and abandoned the poor sod customers to suffer in traditional British stiff upper lip silence. Wouldn't happen in France. They know how to protest there.

Agreed, it bonkers when two of your three local MP's are late for a local debate, not sure about the third one don't think he gets involved, think he's one of the hand washers
 


Yoda

English & European
TWO mornings in a row the TWO trains that get me to work on time have been cancelled. The 7:45 to Littlehampton & the 7:52 to Southampton (From Worthing).
 




Springal

Well-known member
Feb 12, 2005
24,782
GOSBTS
Services very quiet. Are passengers giving up? Got the usual 7.17 from West Worthing to London and normally by Haywards Heath its standing room only. Just got to East Croydon and empty seats all around
 










MARKO

New member
Dec 13, 2007
55
First two Thameslink trains out of Brighton cancelled this morning....05.10 & 05.30
 






AK74

Bright-eyed. Bushy-tailed. GSOH.
NSC Patron
Jan 19, 2010
1,369
Can confirm the wi-fi works on the new Gatwick Express trains. More as this story develops.
 


Easy 10

Brain dead MUG SHEEP
Jul 5, 2003
62,405
Location Location
[tweet]740848864001921024[/tweet]

You may be stuck at a station for hours, but look at what they're bringing in to IMPROVE them. You lucky people.
 




Papa Lazarou

Living in a De Zerbi wonderland
Jul 7, 2003
19,360
Worthing
[tweet]740848864001921024[/tweet]

You may be stuck at a station for hours, but look at what they're bringing in to IMPROVE them. You lucky people.

Maybe they're trying to re-brand Southern as a social experience, meet new people!
 






halbpro

Well-known member
Jan 25, 2012
2,902
Brighton
[tweet]740848864001921024[/tweet]

You may be stuck at a station for hours, but look at what they're bringing in to IMPROVE them. You lucky people.

So the "station hosts" will be able to sell tickets and thus, in all likelihood, be constantly mobbed by people who don't want to wait in the queues? By all means have visible people who can give out information, but have them just for information. If they serve any other purpose you won't be able to get hold of them to ask them anything.

Additionally, didn't Brighton have a reasonably well staffed information desk before the refurb? There's now the little hut next to the barriers that's mostly for excess fares, but it rarely seems to have anyone in it in my experience.
 


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