GWR - words fail me after today!

Mon 30 Sep, 17:48

Alex, Malcolm makes a valid point. Train drivers -- like drivers of lorries -- need to take time out every few hours for safety reasons. If the driver you were complaining about ate his meal in that compulsory break, that's nothing to complain about.

The last information from ASLEF that I can find on this states: "A rest break of 30 minutes must be taken after 6 hours of work (excluding Periods of Availability) has been completed. A rest break of 45 minutes is required if working more than 9 hours a day. Work breaks can be divided into 15 minute intervals, but a driver must comply with driving break rules."

Having been myself very critical of the performance of GWR on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th September, I should say how well I thought they coped in the floods during the last week and also the weekend. The trains I caught were not crowded, and ran scrupulously to time. And, yes, I know that's not something one can rely on these days.

Mon 30 Sep, 15:10

Do you or did you work for GWR Malcolm? You do seem very exercised about them! 

Fri 27 Sep, 13:21 (last edited on Fri 27 Sep, 13:42)

Oh dear. It becomes sooo predictable. So please lets stop doing The Daily Rail (the other kind of railing that is ...) Murdochian ToryReform nonsense blaming the worker and, the real hate union because its not legitimate power being exercised by our Better Class (sic) of person. - that is…

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Fri 27 Sep, 07:14

Last night we sat there on the train on the platform in Oxford for 30 minutes last because the driver was eating his tea/supper! It would have been quite nice to get home and eat mine!

It beggars belief how these “people” are allowed to get away with it! Even the train manager seemed embarrassed as she was having to deal with it! 

Fri 20 Sep, 22:47 (last edited on Fri 20 Sep, 23:18)

That is so dumb don't you think Alan Cobb? 

If we want to play the blame game then could we ask GWR and Network Rail to start providing a service that Brunel would have been proud of? It is not supposed to be a farce but it has in my opinion sadly long been one for one reason or another

Come to think of it (re: Brunel), if we went back to steam, there are times when I think we'd likely get there quicker! 

Fri 20 Sep, 18:42 (last edited on Fri 20 Sep, 18:48)

Exactly so, Alan. Much of the problem lies with DfT/Network Rail which is severely underinvested and I doubt that will improve any time soon. Taking LNER into public ownership did not improve that service either.  I'm grateful that I don't have to travel very often on Cross Country trains which are far worse than GWR.

Fri 20 Sep, 11:39

Signalling problems are the responsibility of Network Rail and GWR can do nothing about them. Network Rail is owned by the state.

Fri 20 Sep, 10:46

Privatisation and shareholders hoarding the profits and not putting it back into the rail industry more likely, plus years of neglect by Network Rail/DfT hence the crumbling infrastructure.

Don’t take the right-wing tabloid bait Mark! It should be a race to the top, not the bottom.

Fri 20 Sep, 10:44

Shortage of drivers ?????? all away on extended holidays spending the pay rise ! 

Fri 20 Sep, 09:28 (last edited on Fri 20 Sep, 09:32)

Last Friday the 13.12 was also cancelled and the subsequent train was c. 45 minutes late arriving into Charlbury (32 minutes late into London, having missed out calling at Didcot). No good explanation was offered for the delay, but I was told by those who had been stuck on the late-running train that they were delayed for a long time near Worcester because other trains which were running to time were given priority over the late-running Paddington train. 

To make matters worse there were no refreshments on that train. And, of course, there are no toilet facilities for women waiting for nearly 2 hours at Charlbury station at that time of day.

Coming back the next day (Saturday), the train due in 18.01 was also cancelled, resulting in another 1 hr delay. This time it was because there was a fault with one of the carriages on the train, and it couldn't be fixed in time. 

It's just very, very poor!

Fri 20 Sep, 09:20

Well at least trains seem to be leaving Charlbury today so far, but I don’t want to jinx it! 

Thu 19 Sep, 18:02 (last edited on Thu 19 Sep, 18:07)

I had to be at a work meeting in London at 16:00 today. I waited from 12.50pm (approx) to no avail (I was getting the 13:12). I eventually gave up and went home at 15:30. What an absolute farce!

There was no information anywhere and the information boards were all over the place. I eventually saw something on the GWR app about signalling issues (again!) - this is not the height of winter! What is up with this company? I simply don't believe any of their excuses anymore! I've heard them all!