Southern Rail STRIKE details

[Frutos]

Depending which announcement you believe, my train to work this morning is delayed due to:

- Awaiting a member of the train crew.
- Awaiting stock from the depot.
- Awaiting permission from Network Rail for the train to leave the station.

 

[Deadly Danson]

For all you commuters annoyed by cancellations - the government is happy for GTR to increase the number of cancellations...

New Train Contract will allow Govia Thameslink Railway to inflict 9000 more train cancellations on their passengers.

A new government agreement, representing a last ditch attempt to prevent the termination of the Govia Thameslink railway franchise agreement, will allow the company to increase train cancellations by a third, from 23,391 to 32,000 a year, representing almost 9000 additional cancellations per year the RMT has revealed.

The “remedial plan” was produced in February by GTR and agreed with the Government but was only smuggled out by Ministers under a raft of complex franchise documents on 26 May.

The purpose of the Plan, which has amended the original franchise agreement is “to address GTR's contractual breach of the Schedule 7.1 benchmark for cancellations…and admits that “the overall number of cancellations has increased and GTR have exceeded its threshold for TOC [Train Operating Company] cancellations.”

But astonishingly the plan then goes on to allow GTR to inflict more misery on passengers by increasing the “Default performance level” for train cancellations by a third from 2.01% of train services in the original franchise agreement to a maximum of 2.75% in the new agreement over the coming months. The Default performance level will also continue to allow for more trains to be cancelled under the new agreement compared to the original franchise agreement.

RMT estimates that on average this will increase the number of trains cancelled before GTR is in breach of its franchise agreement from 23,391 to 32,000.

At the same time a new independent poll by Opinium has found that 87% of passengers who have to endure using GTR every day want the company thrown off the railway and the service nationalised.

The Remedial Plan, which was agreed in February before any industrial action, also admits that the controversial and unpopular Driver Only Operation system already operated on part of the network has,

“significantly increased the number of incidents”.. “causing trains to be delayed and in some cases restricted to call at staffed stations only or cancelled.”

Under an alarming interpretation of the Freedom of Information Act, the Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McCloughlin has also ordered 25 redactions, mostly relating to staffing issues, from the 20 page document. Despite this the document admits that issues relating to drivers are caused by mismanagement and regular disruption to the franchise has had “a debilitating effect on frontline staff, including traincrew.”

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:

“The dirty secrets of rail franchising are dragged out under the spotlight in this heavily-redacted document which will send shock-waves through the rail industry and which will also spark a new wave of anger amongst the passengers on the GTR franchise who are caught in the middle of this scandal.

“Not only are the Government bending the rules, and inflicting more misery on the travelling public, but they are admitting that Driver Only Operation, the issue at the heart of the current Southern dispute, has already compromised safety and led to a spate of cancellations. The Government are now opening the door to GTR to hack-back and cancel services at will without fear of any penalty.

“It is shocking that the day after even Tory MP’s were lining up to demand that GTR be stripped of the franchise that the Government have done the complete opposite and given the company carte-blanche to carry on treating their passengers and staff with complete and utter contempt.

“Nearly 90% of GTR’s regular users want the company thrown out and the routes taken under public ownership. This document will fuel that campaign and RMT will be making sure that everyone knows just what is going on in the dark, sordid corners of the rail franchising racket.”

 

[The Albion Roar]

For all you commuters annoyed by cancellations - the government is happy for GTR to increase the number of cancellations...

New Train Contract will allow Govia Thameslink Railway to inflict 9000 more train cancellations on their passengers.

A new government agreement, representing a last ditch attempt to prevent the termination of the Govia Thameslink railway franchise agreement, will allow the company to increase train cancellations by a third, from 23,391 to 32,000 a year, representing almost 9000 additional cancellations per year the RMT has revealed.

The “remedial plan” was produced in February by GTR and agreed with the Government but was only smuggled out by Ministers under a raft of complex franchise documents on 26 May.

The purpose of the Plan, which has amended the original franchise agreement is “to address GTR's contractual breach of the Schedule 7.1 benchmark for cancellations…and admits that “the overall number of cancellations has increased and GTR have exceeded its threshold for TOC [Train Operating Company] cancellations.”

But astonishingly the plan then goes on to allow GTR to inflict more misery on passengers by increasing the “Default performance level” for train cancellations by a third from 2.01% of train services in the original franchise agreement to a maximum of 2.75% in the new agreement over the coming months. The Default performance level will also continue to allow for more trains to be cancelled under the new agreement compared to the original franchise agreement.

RMT estimates that on average this will increase the number of trains cancelled before GTR is in breach of its franchise agreement from 23,391 to 32,000.

At the same time a new independent poll by Opinium has found that 87% of passengers who have to endure using GTR every day want the company thrown off the railway and the service nationalised.

The Remedial Plan, which was agreed in February before any industrial action, also admits that the controversial and unpopular Driver Only Operation system already operated on part of the network has,

“significantly increased the number of incidents”.. “causing trains to be delayed and in some cases restricted to call at staffed stations only or cancelled.”

Under an alarming interpretation of the Freedom of Information Act, the Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McCloughlin has also ordered 25 redactions, mostly relating to staffing issues, from the 20 page document. Despite this the document admits that issues relating to drivers are caused by mismanagement and regular disruption to the franchise has had “a debilitating effect on frontline staff, including traincrew.”

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:

“The dirty secrets of rail franchising are dragged out under the spotlight in this heavily-redacted document which will send shock-waves through the rail industry and which will also spark a new wave of anger amongst the passengers on the GTR franchise who are caught in the middle of this scandal.

“Not only are the Government bending the rules, and inflicting more misery on the travelling public, but they are admitting that Driver Only Operation, the issue at the heart of the current Southern dispute, has already compromised safety and led to a spate of cancellations. The Government are now opening the door to GTR to hack-back and cancel services at will without fear of any penalty.

“It is shocking that the day after even Tory MP’s were lining up to demand that GTR be stripped of the franchise that the Government have done the complete opposite and given the company carte-blanche to carry on treating their passengers and staff with complete and utter contempt.

“Nearly 90% of GTR’s regular users want the company thrown out and the routes taken under public ownership. This document will fuel that campaign and RMT will be making sure that everyone knows just what is going on in the dark, sordid corners of the rail franchising racket.”

Appalling. So Southern will be rewarded for being allowed - by Government - to actively worsen their service.

Where has this piece come from?

 

[Deadly Danson]

Appalling. So Southern will be rewarded for being allowed - by Government - to actively worsen their service.

Where has this piece come from?

It is appalling - it's come from the RMT press office. Effectively it gives a mandate for Southern to cancel more trains which they are happy to do.

 

[Hotchilidog]

It is appalling - it's come from the RMT press office. Effectively it gives a mandate for Southern to cancel more trains which they are happy to do.

Would certainly explain the lack of urgency to do anything about their pitiful service. Basically GTR and this vindictive government in cahoots to f**k over rail travellers and unionised staff. The travelling public is clearly held in contempt by both institutions.

 

[Ernest]

Just shows you what really is happening now, smuggle the info out hoping nobody notices

 

[beorhthelm]

Appalling. So Southern will be rewarded for being allowed - by Government - to actively worsen their service.

Where has this piece come from?

unless there is another source of the numbers, it looks suspiciously like a misinterpretation of the existing differences between contract targeted and breach levels, the numbers are very similar if you add Southern and Thameslink together.

 

[Arthur]

it's come from the RMT press office.

So can't be trusted.

 

[The Albion Roar]

So can't be trusted.

Have you read the Remedial Plan?

 

[The Albion Roar]

unless there is another source of the numbers, it looks suspiciously like a misinterpretation of the existing differences between contract targeted and breach levels, the numbers are very similar if you add Southern and Thameslink together.

They're quoting the actual figures outlined in the Remedial Plan.

They're allowing a worsening of service, before demanding a drastic improvement two years later.

The plans by Govia in response to the Department for Transport's demands for improvement include five redactions from Patrick McLoughlin - the Secretary of State for Transport. In other words, we're not even being told what the improvements to staffing, rolling stock and train reliability need to be.

 

[Arthur]

Have you read the Remedial Plan?

Nope, have you?

I've no idea if it's fact or fiction, likewise I've no idea if the figures Southern released about sickness are correct. I don't trust either bodies. They both have their own agenda and are going to spin things to suit their own needs.

I don't see why I should take what the RMT say as gospel and what Southern say as a load of old tosh which seems to be how many on this board seem to think.

I said it on another thread and I'll say it again. I don't care who's fault it is it just needs sorting. If that means sacking all the guards and drivers then so be it, if means southern losing their franchise then so be it. Just provide me a service that works because I pay an awful lot of money for it.

 

[The Albion Roar]

Nope, have you?

Yep.

I've no idea if it's fact or fiction, likewise I've no idea if the figures Southern released about sickness are correct. I don't trust either bodies. They both have their own agenda and are going to spin things to suit their own needs.

I don't see why I should take what the RMT say as gospel and what Southern say as a load of old tosh which seems to be how many on this board seem to think.

Then read the Remedial Plan.

 

[Arthur]

Yep.



Then read the Remedial Plan.

Link??

 

[The Albion Roar]

They're quoting the actual figures outlined in the Remedial Plan.

They're allowing a worsening of service, before demanding a drastic improvement two years later.

The plans by Govia in response to the Department for Transport's demands for improvement include five redactions from Patrick McLoughlin - the Secretary of State for Transport. In other words, we're not even being told what the improvements to staffing, rolling stock and train reliability need to be.

Additionally, from the report...

Issues that are within our control that are causing driver cancellations are being addressed by a further phase of the Driver Resilience Programme (DRP). This phase of the DRP addresses driver resourcing and management over the life of the franchise. Key features of the DRP are:

• [redacted]
• Recruitment and training of sufficient drivers to meet actual business requirements [further redaction]
• Recruitment of 9 additional driver trainers
• [redacted]
• Outsourced classroom based driver training at an additional cost of [further redaction]
• Improved management presence, processes and action plans to improve the productivity of drivers
• [redacted]
• Introduced appropriate governance to ensure that the plan and the required outcomes

So of their eight-part improvment plan for issues 'within [their] control' specifically for drivers, three are redacted, and two have part redactions.

 

[The Albion Roar]

Link??

Enjoy.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...ile/525767/govia-thameslink-remedial-plan.pdf

It was attached to the RMT press release.

 

[Arthur]

Enjoy.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...ile/525767/govia-thameslink-remedial-plan.pdf

It was attached to the RMT press release.

So they didn't inherit enough drivers but have until September next year to resolve that. A tunnel flooded and damaged some trains and the 319 fleet has door issues.

How many of the 3 commitments due in March were delivered?

Not sure how any of that means I should trust the RMT any more than I should trust Southern.

 

[Deadly Danson]

So they didn't inherit enough drivers but have until September next year to resolve that. A tunnel flooded and damaged some trains and the 319 fleet has door issues.

How many of the 3 commitments due in March were delivered?

Not sure how any of that means I should trust the RMT any more than I should trust Southern.

Just as an aside - Govia obviously also ran the last Southern franchise and ran down the number of qualified drivers so it's entirely their fault. They did inherit a bit of a driver shortage on the Thameslink side of things.

 

[The Albion Roar]

So they didn't inherit enough drivers but have until September next year to resolve that.

That's a deadline they've set themselves in the amended programme. I'd be keen to know what their original deadline was.

How many of the 3 commitments due in March were delivered?.

Not easy to say - one of those commitments has been redacted, and the other two are to do with giving better information - and not to do with improved punctuality and reliability, which is what you yourself have said you're after.

Quite why there are 25 redactions - including announcing what improvements are there to be made, and why they inherited an inadequate number of drivers - poses more questions than it does offer answers.

Not sure how any of that means I should trust the RMT any more than I should trust Southern.

Using the pilots' maxim of 'In Go We Trust, In Everything Else We Check...', no-one said you should 'trust' the RMT. However, once you check, you can find out what the source of the RMT Press Release is, and they've quoted directly from it. And now we've got some/most of the truth - eventually - from GTR themselves.

 

[AK74]

Without wishing to sound like a railway nerd (but probably failing), there's a long-running thread (130 pages) on another forum where successful applicants to the GTR training programme are desperate for a start date:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=118151&page=130

Some have been waiting over a year to commence with learning how to drive, but there's a huge shortage of qualified trainers to run the classes. Judging by some of the responses, the HR department are as useful as t1ts on a fish, but ultimately the buck has to stop at those at the very top who run the show in the most farcical way(s) imaginable.

 

[Ernest]

Without wishing to sound like a railway nerd (but probably failing), there's a long-running thread (130 pages) on another forum where successful applicants to the GTR training programme are desperate for a start date:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=118151&page=130

Some have been waiting over a year to commence with learning how to drive, but there's a huge shortage of qualified trainers to run the classes. Judging by some of the responses, the HR department are as useful as t1ts on a fish, but ultimately the buck has to stop at those at the very top who run the show in the most farcical way(s) imaginable.

A trainee driver cannot be trained unless there is a driver instructor to mentor him through the required hours necessary to make sure he is a competent person, maybe there is a lack of driver instructors as they are fed up with the way they're being treated by management and so the shortage will continue for the foreseeable future.

Until GTR/Southern realise that they need to work with their staff and value them instead of treating them like the enemy within nothing will change, probably the only thing that will improve things now is that they lose the franchise and the managers such as Horton leave and then there is a chance.

Sacking all the drivers and guards means that there won't be any trains on Southern for at least 2 years, would that help you [MENTION=314]Arthur[/MENTION] ?