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Post by zenfootball2 on Nov 30, 2022 17:47:59 GMT 1
when railways were privatized we were promised , more efficient trains, a better service and a more competative service! when it was privatized hte goverment agreed to pay the train companies during any strikes. i use the trains a lot and things were not perfect when it was nationalized but some services are just rubbish, i use trains in europe and i think this is how trains should be then i come home and have to put up with a third rate sevice with very expensive tickets. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11485149/British-households-paid-1-800-prop-struggling-railways-past-six-years.html"British households have paid £1,800 EACH to prop up struggling railways in the past six years according to new figures revealed as unions prepare for wave of Christmas strikes demanding massive pay rises Office for Rail and Road revealed taxpayers pumped in £13.3billion last year That was £4.3 billion less than previous year but £6.5 billion more than 2019/20 Union bosses have announced further series of strikes across the festive period" |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2022 7:37:53 GMT 1
I travelled to my new jobs Head office in Dundee - service I had booked was cancelled so arrived 2 hours late.
Last Friday had to go to London with overnight stay. Initially planned to go by train. Tube strike Friday and Rail strike Saturday - car had to take the strain!
Christmas do in Dundee on 16th and they are striking.
So in 3 attempts recently to use the train, all have been affected.
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Post by davycrockett on Dec 1, 2022 9:43:23 GMT 1
Heard in the radio yesterday locally 1 in 8 trains from Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury have been cancelled this year.
How can you rely on that for service?
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Post by northwestman on Dec 1, 2022 10:48:37 GMT 1
On Friday evenings in the 1980s, I used to take the last train from Altrincham to Chester which departed at 11.45p.m. There were always quite a few passengers on that train and it always turned up.
I can't imagine how I'd have got back had that last train ever been cancelled.
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Post by davycrockett on Dec 1, 2022 10:55:39 GMT 1
On Friday evenings in the 1980s, I used to take the last train from Altrincham to Chester which departed at 11.45p.m. There were always quite a few passengers on that train and it always turned up. I can't imagine how I'd have got back had that last train ever been cancelled. Funny you should say that. The last time I went to Chester by train was a company do (pub crawl) I made sure I knew what time the last train was and arrived in plenty if time. Problem is I misread the timetable and missed the last train. Solution, £85 taxi 🤨 |
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Post by edgmond on Dec 1, 2022 13:09:09 GMT 1
We have just started using trains again on a semi-regular basis after the Covid gap. By and large, they are reasonably punctual, run smoothly and staff are helpful.
However, the privatisation was always a farce, subsidised by taxpayers’ money right from the start while shareholders were paid dividends. Most continental railways are state-owned and subsidised but at least the people who benefit are the customers rather than investors.
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Post by frankwellshrews on Dec 1, 2022 13:42:00 GMT 1
Got one of the new WMR trains the other day (normally a TfW guy). Very nice. Then got stuck for over an hour because the one in front broke down. The only reason I'd ended up on WMR in the first place was my regular connecting service wasn't running due to engineering works.
Have to say, I'm a big advocate of the trains and don't think they're as bad as people make out but that said I will be using a work scheme to get an EV next year and will be using that to get in and out of Birmingham. Things are just too unreliable with industrial action, covid and staffing levels now.
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Post by zenfootball2 on Dec 1, 2022 14:15:44 GMT 1
Heard in the radio yesterday locally 1 in 8 trains from Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury have been cancelled this year. How can you rely on that for service? this has been happening for years, a big issue is the signals in wolverhampton they go down on a regular basis .they are supposed to be updated but who knows how many years will pass before that gets done. |
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Post by zenfootball2 on Dec 1, 2022 14:18:33 GMT 1
Got one of the new WMR trains the other day (normally a TfW guy). Very nice. Then got stuck for over an hour because the one in front broke down. The only reason I'd ended up on WMR in the first place was my regular connecting service wasn't running due to engineering works. Have to say, I'm a big advocate of the trains and don't think they're as bad as people make out but that said I will be using a work scheme to get an EV next year and will be using that to get in and out of Birmingham. Things are just too unreliable with industrial action, covid and staffing levels now. dont get me wrong i love going on trains but im retierd and most of the time i dont have to be anywere at a specific time but i do feel htey have got worse. as i mentioned in my first post iv used trains in a number of countrys in Europe and once you have been on the German, and Austrian trains you really realize how bad our train service is. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2022 12:38:45 GMT 1
I haven't checked recently but up to a few years ago almost all of the rail franchises were foreign owned. Just like almost all of our utility providers.
Strangely you don't hear of British companies running services abroad, only us mad British would allow this...thanks Mrs Thatch🤪
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Post by zenfootball2 on Dec 2, 2022 16:54:04 GMT 1
I haven't checked recently but up to a few years ago almost all of the rail franchises were foreign owned. Just like almost all of our utility providers. Strangely you don't hear of British companies running services abroad, only us mad British would allow this...thanks Mrs Thatch🤪 the only uk rail companies i know but im happy to be proven wrong is the scottish and welsh railways which are owned by the develoved goverments . it is uterrly nuts that this country has lost control of its Rail, water , gas and electrcity companies and allowed htem to be sold to foreign companies a classic example of this is EDF the French goverment own 84% when energy prices went nuts the french goverment would only allow them to rtise energy prices in france by 4% in the uk EDF put up there energy prices by 82 % which is wopping SEVENTy EIGHT % higher then French consumers. and our stupid goverment threw billions they did not have to cap the price and give them even more money. from google "£EDF Energy issues update to customers on fixed price rates ...https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk › ... › EDF 18 Aug 2022 — EDF customers will see their energy bills rise in October in line with Ofgem's new price cap. The price cap could rise by up to 82% " |
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Post by staffordshrew on Dec 5, 2022 11:58:26 GMT 1
"The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) said its offer would allow for a 4% pay rise this year and another 4% next year.
The RDG - which represents the 14 train operators - set out a number of proposed changes to working practices which it said would help to fund a pay rise for staff of 4% this year, backdated to the beginning of the financial year, followed by another 4% next year"
What planet are they on? A huge allowing for inflation pay cut and change your work practices, get real.
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Post by martinshrew on Dec 5, 2022 12:13:01 GMT 1
"The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) said its offer would allow for a 4% pay rise this year and another 4% next year. The RDG - which represents the 14 train operators - set out a number of proposed changes to working practices which it said would help to fund a pay rise for staff of 4% this year, backdated to the beginning of the financial year, followed by another 4% next year" What planet are they on? A huge allowing for inflation pay cut and change your work practices, get real. Mike Lunch will cost so many jobs long term, not protect them. It's all well and good for him sat on six figures, but he'll damage those he's put there to protect. Our railways are a million miles behind those in Europe and need modernising, he's doing everything in his power to prevent change. |
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Post by northwestman on Dec 5, 2022 13:25:44 GMT 1
Ministers are facilitating eleventh-hour talks with rail unions as demands for driver-operated doors emerge as a major sticking point.
Train operators and representatives from the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers union (RMT) are today locked in discussions after an 8pc pay rise was rejected on Sunday evening.
Government sources said ministers were working in the background to help facilitate a resolution. Representatives for train operators are leading the talks, however, they added.
Union leaders were left enraged on Sunday evening after train operators made the nationwide implementation of driver-operated doors as a condition of an 8pc pay deal.
Industry sources said that driver-operated doors, which negates the need for a guard on-board some services, was a "red line" for unions.
"They would not agree to a 20pc pay rise if that was left in there," a source said.
Daily Telegraph.
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Post by staffordshrew on Dec 5, 2022 13:38:53 GMT 1
Ministers are facilitating eleventh-hour talks with rail unions as demands for driver-operated doors emerge as a major sticking point. Train operators and representatives from the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers union (RMT) are today locked in discussions after an 8pc pay rise was rejected on Sunday evening. Government sources said ministers were working in the background to help facilitate a resolution. Representatives for train operators are leading the talks, however, they added. Union leaders were left enraged on Sunday evening after train operators made the nationwide implementation of driver-operated doors as a condition of an 8pc pay deal. Industry sources said that driver-operated doors, which negates the need for a guard on-board some services, was a "red line" for unions. "They would not agree to a 20pc pay rise if that was left in there," a source said. Daily Telegraph. Please note that this "8% pay rise" is 4% this year and 4% next year. Doesn't sound quite so good then does it? |
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Post by ProudSalopian on Dec 5, 2022 21:59:48 GMT 1
Heard in the radio yesterday locally 1 in 8 trains from Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury have been cancelled this year. How can you rely on that for service? You can't. I use the trains fairly regularly but am fortunate that my employer is flexible on working hours so if (when) a train is cancelled I normally get an earlier one. I've got some work colleagues who travel on the trains more regularly than me and they tell me that so many are being cancelled, but particularly late at night. Normally in the build up to xmas me and the wife would do a few trips out but we can't rely on the trains so aren't doing them this year, similarly there don't seem to be so many work do's/outings this year and part of the reason is people don't want to be stuck (what doesn't help is you can't rely on local taxi's either). The ironic thing is there is a push to get people off the roads but public transport gets more expensive with an ever reducing level of service |
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Post by staffordshrew on Dec 6, 2022 0:40:48 GMT 1
It's not just time keeping either, travel down to london from Stafford and, if it's not cancelled, it's only just over the hour. But travel up to, say, York and you can find yourself with an hour wait for the connction at Manchester Piccadily. In the North, the integrated transport solution just does not work, hence a full M6, M62, etc.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2022 7:09:41 GMT 1
It's not just time keeping either, travel down to london from Stafford and, if it's not cancelled, it's only just over the hour. But travel up to, say, York and you can find yourself with an hour wait for the connction at Manchester Piccadily. In the North, the integrated trasport soution just does not work, hence a full M6, M62, etc. I think the strikes are now beginning to put the focus on to the train operators. It's not the staff that are causing the problems, it is the lack of investment, old infrastructure, lack of rolling stock, rubbish systems, different operators not being linked up to a national timetable and many other problems.
My daughters friend from work was coming over to Telford from Shrewsbury on Saturday evening for their works do, the train he was aiming to catch was cancelled and the next one, the last he could get to make it on time, was too full and wouldn't be picking up many, if any passengers in Shrewsbury.
A few years ago me and the missus traveled back down from Manchester and our train got into Shrewsbury one minute late, we got off our train to see the train to Telford pulling away from the next platform. Who in their right mind works out timetables that don't allow for connection times. The next train was 55 minutes later, we called a cab.
Also are two carriages really sufficient for trains running from Shrewsbury to Birmingham or Wolverhampton?
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Post by zenfootball2 on Dec 6, 2022 7:26:24 GMT 1
is there any other country in Europe that has allowed its vital infastructure to be sold off to foreign countrys/ companys
they all see them as cash cows and that is why we get a rubbish service.
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Post by zenfootball2 on Dec 6, 2022 7:27:33 GMT 1
It's not just time keeping either, travel down to london from Stafford and, if it's not cancelled, it's only just over the hour. But travel up to, say, York and you can find yourself with an hour wait for the connction at Manchester Piccadily. In the North, the integrated trasport soution just does not work, hence a full M6, M62, etc. I think the strikes are now beginning to put the focus on to the train operators. It's not the staff that are causing the problems, it is the lack of investment, old infrastructure, lack of rolling stock, rubbish systems, different operators not being linked up to a national timetable and many other problems.
My daughters friend from work was coming over to Telford from Shrewsbury on Saturday evening for their works do, the train he was aiming to catch was cancelled and the next one, the last he could get to make it on time, was too full and wouldn't be picking up many, if any passengers in Shrewsbury.
A few years ago me and the missus traveled back down from Manchester and our train got into Shrewsbury one minute late, we got off our train to see the train to Telford pulling away from the next platform. Who in their right mind works out timetables that don't allow for connection times. The next train was 55 minutes later, we called a cab.
Also are two carriages really sufficient for trains running from Shrewsbury to Birmingham or Wolverhampton?
As somone who uses the trains a lot i share your frustrations . |
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Post by zenfootball2 on Dec 6, 2022 7:31:00 GMT 1
It's not just time keeping either, travel down to london from Stafford and, if it's not cancelled, it's only just over the hour. But travel up to, say, York and you can find yourself with an hour wait for the connction at Manchester Piccadily. In the North, the integrated trasport soution just does not work, hence a full M6, M62, etc. I think the strikes are now beginning to put the focus on to the train operators. It's not the staff that are causing the problems, it is the lack of investment, old infrastructure, lack of rolling stock, rubbish systems, different operators not being linked up to a national timetable and many other problems.
My daughters friend from work was coming over to Telford from Shrewsbury on Saturday evening for their works do, the train he was aiming to catch was cancelled and the next one, the last he could get to make it on time, was too full and wouldn't be picking up many, if any passengers in Shrewsbury.
A few years ago me and the missus traveled back down from Manchester and our train got into Shrewsbury one minute late, we got off our train to see the train to Telford pulling away from the next platform. Who in their right mind works out timetables that don't allow for connection times. The next train was 55 minutes later, we called a cab.
Also are two carriages really sufficient for trains running from Shrewsbury to Birmingham or Wolverhampton?
It’s a result of the (botched) privatisation model used to take the UK network out of public ownership in 1994. The newly privatised railway was split into three distinct sections: Infrastructure (tracks, signals & buildings) - initially run by Railtrack with government financial backing, later replaced by Network Rail Train Operating Companies (TOCs) - the companies that run the trains and routes within a certain area (mostly but not entirely geographical in nature) Rolling Stock Operating Companies (ROSCOs) - these are the companies that own the rolling stock and lease it to the TOCs to operate their routes. As such therefore, the TOCs don’t own the stock they run their services with - they have to lease them from the ROSCOs, who in turn provide the capital for teh purchase of new rolling stock and arrange for existing stock to be maintained & upgraded. There are three primary ones here in the UK - Angel Trains, Eversholt Rail Leasing and Porterbrook, plus a few smaller ones who’ve either bought stock in small volumes for certain TOCs or specialise in spot hire of heritage locos & stock for rail charters. what that means is that train operators on some lines will keep carriages to a minimum to keep running costs down, they dont care if you are crammed in like sardines or have to stand for a long part of your journey. |
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