This year I have decided to claim for all the delays, cancellations, strike days and stick the money in my PayPal account. Since the beginning of January I’ve had £89 back off my monthly £218 ticket.
Good to see that they have paid for me to travel quite a few times this month.
I don't think one of my trains has been on time since the turn of the year. I'm making a point of doing all of my delay repays no matter how small the amount.
There are lots of issues regarding these strikes but I work in the industry and I think I can nail some of them. Firstly pay, the rail companies want to settle but have been forced by the government not to, this is because the rail companies signed a contract in April to be part of 'GREAT BRITISH RAILWAYS' this means the companies run the trains but the government tells them what they can spend. Pensions, the Great British Railways project is nationalisation by stealth and the government wants to do exactly what they did to the teachers and Police, work longer for less pension. Driver only trains, we are used to this type of working because we have had trains for a good while with the equipment to run the system, go further north or west and you will find that is not the case, so the government are ignoring the safety requirements of DOO and are bringing it in anyway. Redundancies, compulsory, April 2024. There is more but it's about altered working practises and forced weekend and nightwork. Make of it what you will, I would strike if that were happening to me, the cost of the railways before privatisation was £13 billion to the taxpayer it's now £20 billion at the same rate, once again you decide if that's value for money.
Network Rail was brought under state control on 01 September 2014, so has been quietly nationalised for approaching ten years. Great British Railways was the planned successor to NR following the Williams-Shapps Review, when the latter was Transport Secretary and will remain under government control, at least in the short term. Legislation to instigate GB Railways is being delayed, possibly because the government do not know what to do with the railways, following the decrease in passenger numbers most operators are still experiencing post Covid.
A major review of passenger safety and the number of train services at London Bridge station was being held on Thursday after massive overcrowding left-rush hour travellers in fear of being crushed.
Thousands were caught in chaotic scenes for more than an hour from 5.30pm on Wednesday, which Network Rail blamed on train delays and cancellations caused by a trespasser further down the line at Hither Green.
Sounds very scary and close to a disaster. Good to know the MD is on top of things;
"Steve White, Southeastern’s managing director, told the Standard on Thursday that the review with Network Rail would be wide-ranging. It will consider whether future incidents could be dealt with more quickly and customer care could be improved.
He said Southeastern was looking to quickly increase train capacity in the evening rush hour, by laying on more services through London Bridge and/or longer trains."
So those timetable changes forcing more to change at London bridge maybe not such a good idea. Lack of effective crowd simulation also noted by the network rail rep in the video.
Sounds very scary and close to a disaster. Good to know the MD is on top of things;
"Steve White, Southeastern’s managing director, told the Standard on Thursday that the review with Network Rail would be wide-ranging. It will consider whether future incidents could be dealt with more quickly and customer care could be improved.
He said Southeastern was looking to quickly increase train capacity in the evening rush hour, by laying on more services through London Bridge and/or longer trains."
So those timetable changes forcing more to change at London bridge maybe not such a good idea. Lack of effective crowd simulation also noted by the network rail rep in the video.
Today was the first time I've gone in from New Eltham since the timetable change (I've had some time off and been avoiding the office in between). Nothing like those reports yesterday but absolute shit show.
They've halfed the number of peak time trains to according to them "make it more reliable and prevent delays" of course adding 5 mins to the stated journey time will help with delays (still managed to be 10 mins late this morning) and the only thing reliable is the overcrowding that occurs.
I recently contacted South Eastern to ask why the trains don’t stop at Albany Park on the Dartford via Sidcup line. And the response was …
On some services, there is insufficient time to stop trains at every station on the Sidcup line given the constraints at Dartford. Albany Park is the least used station on the line. Sidcup and Bexley are a little over a mile away, both with a four trains per hour service.
Well, there you have it. There isn’t time to stop at Albany Park. That response is rude and insulting. Do they expect people with disabilities to do that journey. The change in timetable has already added 30mins to my daily commute. I’ve made a complaint
The reduction of the Crayford to Abbey Wood service in the morning is a right pain. Now only one train between 7-8am and the two days this week that I’ve attempted to get it, cancelled. One day it just didn’t turn up, nothing on the board, no announcement, ghost!
I recently contacted South Eastern to ask why the trains don’t stop at Albany Park on the Dartford via Sidcup line. And the response was …
On some services, there is insufficient time to stop trains at every station on the Sidcup line given the constraints at Dartford. Albany Park is the least used station on the line. Sidcup and Bexley are a little over a mile away, both with a four trains per hour service.
Well, there you have it. There isn’t time to stop at Albany Park. That response is rude and insulting. Do they expect people with disabilities to do that journey. The change in timetable has already added 30mins to my daily commute. I’ve made a complaint
It’s bollocks mate. Not only do half the trains not stop there but there’s only 1 train in the morning that stops at Lewisham. Thankfully I only go in once a week but have to go back up the line to Bexley to catch a Lewisham train.
Have heard they’re talking about shutting the station completely, which would be a nightmare.
It is somewhat ironic that SouthEastern have amended the timetable following the Covid pandemic when the numbers of peak hour trains per hour on most, if not, all routes has not yet been restored to that prior to Covid. The rationale behind the change is to reduce or eliminate conflicting train movements at a number of junctions, with the aim of reducing delays and congestion that results when trains do not present themselves at these junctions at the prescribed time, for whatever reason. My line, the Hayes line is operating the off peak timetable of 4 trains per hour (tph) during the peak, apart from one extra train in the morning; all now go to Charing Cross. Prior to Covid the peak service comprised 6 tph, split equally between Charing Cross and Cannon Street. By not running to Cannon Street, conflicting train movements are avoided across the junction at the London end of Lewisham station, which limits the number of trains that can operating in parallel, reducing capacity. At Lewisham, all Woolwich via Lewisham trains now go to Cannon Street and Hayes trains go to Charing Cross, which eliminates some of the conflicting movements at Lewisham Junction that existed previously. Sidcup, Orpington stopping and Bexleyheath line trains have services to both Charing Cross and Cannon Street during the peak, but at a lower frequency than previously. I think most peak timetables are now based on the off-peak repeating interval towards 30 minutes rather than 20 previously. As a result of these changes, a greater number of passengers will be required to change at London Bridge. For example all those travelling on the Hayes Line to Cannon Street, which in the peak is not an inconsiderable number. You might think that following reconstruction, London Bridge station would be able to handle a greater number of interchanging passengers, especially considering the greater access modes between the lower concourse and platforms than the old SouthEastern part of the station had (4 escalators, two x 4 person wide staircases and a lift per pair of platforms compared with two 4 person wide staircases towards the middle of the platform and a four person wide ramp at the London end, previously. However, whilst access between the concourse and the platforms has improved, the width of the platforms, alongside the staircases and lift section has not. This can lead to congestion if passengers do not move along the platform clear of the staircases, to allow other passengers off the stairs and escalators. The platform section alongside the staircases is, I estimate, the equivalent length of 3 carriages of an 8 car train, which is not insignificant as a restriction in passenger flow on each platform. The width is approximately 2.5m, which is the minimum clear width permitted in the NR station design standards (without the need for a derogation) and is equally applicable to a station platform in the middle of nowhere as a major London terminal. In this case the width provided, should in my opinion, have been increased to say, 3.5m to improve the circulation of passengers. Obviously if this is applied to each of platforms 1 - 9 forming the part of the station used by SouthEastern and Thameslink trains, the additional 9 x 1m would place the back of the outer platform 1 on the other side of Tooley Street, if this was possible. The Thameslink programme retained the existing station footprint and did not, I believe, consider widening the railway corridor, presumably due to cost and the fact that rebuilding the station whilst keeping it open to most passenger services was hard enough anyway! With trains on each SouthEastern route serving both Charing Cross and Cannon Street, station capacity was just about adequate previously, with the possibility of some overcrowding at times of perturbation (the Railway's favourite word to describe delays and other operating chaos!) During the station design process the passenger flow and capacity would have been modelled using specialist software to confirm that platform widths, staircases, escalators and lifts and the general layout would be satisfactory for the number of trains per hour required to use each platform and the likely number of passengers required to interchange or enter and exit. This would also have been subject to risk assessment. Having worked on the track alignment design for a very brief period during an early development stage (GRIP 2), I don't recall whether the current timetable, which requires a greater amount of interchange, was considered. The reduction in services is due to the Department for Transport encouraging operations to better match the number of trains to the demand, noting that working from home has reduced the number of passengers travelling in the peak considerably. Clearly demand against services will need to be monitored to ensure that overcrowding is minimised, if only to avoid regular delays whilst passengers board and alight trains when capacity is exceeded. I believe prior to the timetable change in December, SouthEastern said they would be monitoring this and would be prepared to reinstate or more likely lengthen trains (where possible) if peak demand increases. I don't travel into London during the peaks any more, so cannot comment on the reasons for individual delays. However, if things have got worse, for a timetable that has improved a number of constraints and now provides a reduced service for a lower number of peak travellers, then clearly someone at the top doesn't understand how their railway works!
What southeastern need to take from RickAddick's analysis is that they need to noisily and relentlessly nag the "customers" to move up/down the platforms to areas with more space, when awaiting trains. We always see it at Charlton station after matches, a knot of halfwits on about a third of the available platform space with the other 2 thirds practically deserted. Not helped by the bullying halfwits in blue on overtime who take no action to aid passenger safety preferring to threaten to arrest anyone who suggests they actually earn their wages rather than close the naffing gates and needlessly delay our homeward journey. Arseholes all. The vast majority of British rail travellers are egregiously selfish bone headed morons with entirely self-defeating self absorption. They don't get out of anybody else's way ever, and never walk a single step further than they imagine is absolutely necessary with no regard whatsoever for how it might actually improve their own lot. We always see it on the tube - slack jawed thick browed numpties crammed in by the doors with acres of empty space mid-carriage. Most congestion on platforms is hyper localised and mostly unnecessary, if anybody actually just kept moving until they found a bit of space, they'll still catch their train but they might have walked 10 or 15 meters. I have to commute from time to time, I go to SE7 by train sometimes, I've done London Bridge and the Northern Line in both rush hours and the problems are hugely amplified by the bovine passengers. southeastern in its last 3 or 4 guises has been relentlessly appalling the current transport regime is just as bad but most of those commuters could improve their lot dramatically by being even 10% less of an arsehole when things get sticky
Comments
Great British Railways was the planned successor to NR following the Williams-Shapps Review, when the latter was Transport Secretary and will remain under government control, at least in the short term.
Legislation to instigate GB Railways is being delayed, possibly because the government do not know what to do with the railways, following the decrease in passenger numbers most operators are still experiencing post Covid.
Thousands were caught in chaotic scenes for more than an hour from 5.30pm on Wednesday, which Network Rail blamed on train delays and cancellations caused by a trespasser further down the line at Hither Green.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-bridge-station-overcrowding-safety-review-southeastern-trains-network-rail-b1055743.html
"Steve White, Southeastern’s managing director, told the Standard on Thursday that the review with Network Rail would be wide-ranging. It will consider whether future incidents could be dealt with more quickly and customer care could be improved.
He said Southeastern was looking to quickly increase train capacity in the evening rush hour, by laying on more services through London Bridge and/or longer trains."
So those timetable changes forcing more to change at London bridge maybe not such a good idea. Lack of effective crowd simulation also noted by the network rail rep in the video.
Brewery, piss up.
They've halfed the number of peak time trains to according to them "make it more reliable and prevent delays" of course adding 5 mins to the stated journey time will help with delays (still managed to be 10 mins late this morning) and the only thing reliable is the overcrowding that occurs.
Absolute arseholes.
On some services, there is insufficient time to stop trains at every station on the Sidcup line given the constraints at Dartford. Albany Park is the least used station on the line. Sidcup and Bexley are a little over a mile away, both with a four trains per hour service.
Well, there you have it. There isn’t time to stop at Albany Park. That response is rude and insulting. Do they expect people with disabilities to do that journey. The change in timetable has already added 30mins to my daily commute. I’ve made a complaint
Have heard they’re talking about shutting the station completely, which would be a nightmare.
The rationale behind the change is to reduce or eliminate conflicting train movements at a number of junctions, with the aim of reducing delays and congestion that results when trains do not present themselves at these junctions at the prescribed time, for whatever reason.
My line, the Hayes line is operating the off peak timetable of 4 trains per hour (tph) during the peak, apart from one extra train in the morning; all now go to Charing Cross. Prior to Covid the peak service comprised 6 tph, split equally between Charing Cross and Cannon Street. By not running to Cannon Street, conflicting train movements are avoided across the junction at the London end of Lewisham station, which limits the number of trains that can operating in parallel, reducing capacity.
At Lewisham, all Woolwich via Lewisham trains now go to Cannon Street and Hayes trains go to Charing Cross, which eliminates some of the conflicting movements at Lewisham Junction that existed previously. Sidcup, Orpington stopping and Bexleyheath line trains have services to both Charing Cross and Cannon Street during the peak, but at a lower frequency than previously. I think most peak timetables are now based on the off-peak repeating interval towards 30 minutes rather than 20 previously.
As a result of these changes, a greater number of passengers will be required to change at London Bridge. For example all those travelling on the Hayes Line to Cannon Street, which in the peak is not an inconsiderable number.
You might think that following reconstruction, London Bridge station would be able to handle a greater number of interchanging passengers, especially considering the greater access modes between the lower concourse and platforms than the old SouthEastern part of the station had (4 escalators, two x 4 person wide staircases and a lift per pair of platforms compared with two 4 person wide staircases towards the middle of the platform and a four person wide ramp at the London end, previously.
However, whilst access between the concourse and the platforms has improved, the width of the platforms, alongside the staircases and lift section has not. This can lead to congestion if passengers do not move along the platform clear of the staircases, to allow other passengers off the stairs and escalators.
The platform section alongside the staircases is, I estimate, the equivalent length of 3 carriages of an 8 car train, which is not insignificant as a restriction in passenger flow on each platform. The width is approximately 2.5m, which is the minimum clear width permitted in the NR station design standards (without the need for a derogation) and is equally applicable to a station platform in the middle of nowhere as a major London terminal. In this case the width provided, should in my opinion, have been increased to say, 3.5m to improve the circulation of passengers. Obviously if this is applied to each of platforms 1 - 9 forming the part of the station used by SouthEastern and Thameslink trains, the additional 9 x 1m would place the back of the outer platform 1 on the other side of Tooley Street, if this was possible. The Thameslink programme retained the existing station footprint and did not, I believe, consider widening the railway corridor, presumably due to cost and the fact that rebuilding the station whilst keeping it open to most passenger services was hard enough anyway!
With trains on each SouthEastern route serving both Charing Cross and Cannon Street, station capacity was just about adequate previously, with the possibility of some overcrowding at times of perturbation (the Railway's favourite word to describe delays and other operating chaos!)
During the station design process the passenger flow and capacity would have been modelled using specialist software to confirm that platform widths, staircases, escalators and lifts and the general layout would be satisfactory for the number of trains per hour required to use each platform and the likely number of passengers required to interchange or enter and exit. This would also have been subject to risk assessment.
Having worked on the track alignment design for a very brief period during an early development stage (GRIP 2), I don't recall whether the current timetable, which requires a greater amount of interchange, was considered.
The reduction in services is due to the Department for Transport encouraging operations to better match the number of trains to the demand, noting that working from home has reduced the number of passengers travelling in the peak considerably. Clearly demand against services will need to be monitored to ensure that overcrowding is minimised, if only to avoid regular delays whilst passengers board and alight trains when capacity is exceeded. I believe prior to the timetable change in December, SouthEastern said they would be monitoring this and would be prepared to reinstate or more likely lengthen trains (where possible) if peak demand increases.
I don't travel into London during the peaks any more, so cannot comment on the reasons for individual delays. However, if things have got worse, for a timetable that has improved a number of constraints and now provides a reduced service for a lower number of peak travellers, then clearly someone at the top doesn't understand how their railway works!
Seriously you know more than most, good of you to explain.
We always see it at Charlton station after matches, a knot of halfwits on about a third of the available platform space with the other 2 thirds practically deserted. Not helped by the bullying halfwits in blue on overtime who take no action to aid passenger safety preferring to threaten to arrest anyone who suggests they actually earn their wages rather than close the naffing gates and needlessly delay our homeward journey. Arseholes all.
The vast majority of British rail travellers are egregiously selfish bone headed morons with entirely self-defeating self absorption. They don't get out of anybody else's way ever, and never walk a single step further than they imagine is absolutely necessary with no regard whatsoever for how it might actually improve their own lot. We always see it on the tube - slack jawed thick browed numpties crammed in by the doors with acres of empty space mid-carriage. Most congestion on platforms is hyper localised and mostly unnecessary, if anybody actually just kept moving until they found a bit of space, they'll still catch their train but they might have walked 10 or 15 meters.
I have to commute from time to time, I go to SE7 by train sometimes, I've done London Bridge and the Northern Line in both rush hours and the problems are hugely amplified by the bovine passengers.
southeastern in its last 3 or 4 guises has been relentlessly appalling
the current transport regime is just as bad
but most of those commuters could improve their lot dramatically by being even 10% less of an arsehole when things get sticky