|
Post by aslefshrugged on Oct 2, 2020 12:23:32 GMT
The Bakerloo extension is not mentioned in TfL's submission to the government's comprehensive spending review. New trains and a DLR extension to Thamesmead are there.
content.tfl.gov.uk/fc-20200930-supp-agenda-public.pdf
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 28, 2020 23:08:17 GMT
Private contractors get nice little earners paid for by the taxpayers, politicians get seats on the boards after they leave politics (sometimes while they're still in politics) and civil servants get jobs with contractors (a couple of notable ex-TfL staff at Ove Arup).
Its a nice comfortable arrangement for everyone except the taxpayers who fund it
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 28, 2020 22:11:06 GMT
It is a scandal. Mayors Boris Johnson and Sadiq Khan would not know one end of a screw driver and have to believe what they are told. Canary Wharf station was finished on time then are told the specification has changed. Civil servants are useless and as trustworthy as QuickFit fitter talking about car tyres. I am only glad that food supply and distribution is in the hands of the private sector during covid. What fun the civil servants could have had. Also why do civil servants decide 30 for a funeral, 15 for a wedding. It's mischief making. Remind me who actually did the work on Crossrail? Was it TfL? Was it the DfT? Was it Network Rail? No, they hired private sector contractors like Mott MacDonald, Ove Arup, Atkins, Laing O'Rourke, J Murphy, Carillion (RIP), Costain, McNichols, Skanska, Balfour Beatty, McAlpine, Alstrom, Siemens, Bombardier and others to do the actual work. And it was private sector contractors who failed to get the jobs finished on time but thanks to generous clauses that have become almost obligatory in the age of outsourcing and privatisation they got away without incurring any serious financial penalties, leaving the taxpayer to pay for their incompetence. Don't blame the civil servants, they were working on instructions from above.
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 27, 2020 11:23:55 GMT
The Central Line didn't seem that much different from before, last night I rode the cushions back from White City (22:44) to Leyton (23:20) and it wasn't too crowded. I didn't notice anyone without a mask or not wearing it properly although admittedly I was reading "The Testaments" by Margaret Atwood so I might not have noticed but no singing, shouting, etc. Maybe I was traveling too late.
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 27, 2020 11:17:51 GMT
I have had a few trains run around the loop as NEP sdg was out of commission. On arrival at Grange Hill a Leytonstone destination was showing on the platform describer which was corrected at LYS west. It must be a signalling anomoly. Newbury Park sidings aren't out of commission, on Friday I was short tripped there for late running when I was supposed to be a Hainault via Newbury Park and went up there again yesterday as per timetable. Don't know what is going on with the "Leytonstone" destinations, we've done Woodford or Grange Hill reversers before and that's not been a issue so maybe its a new "anomaly".
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 27, 2020 7:42:41 GMT
In the TfL assessments on their website of how busy stations are at particular times of day, does anyone know if the data are taken from pre-Covid surveys, or figures collected during the current and recent situation? Do you mean this? tfl.gov.uk/status-updates/busiest-times-to-travel#on-this-page-0The clue is "A few of our more popular stations, stops and routes are likely to be busy 05:45-08:15 and 16:00-17:30." Pre-Covid morning peak was 06:30 - 09:30 and evening peak 16:00 - 19:00 so I'm guessing this is the current situation
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 27, 2020 6:12:57 GMT
They're going to have to bring a good stock of bottles and cans to last from 10pm until midnight, sadly we don't allow wheelbarrows on the Tube... They could tip out of the pubs, drunk, at ten. It would then be very easy to keep pretty much legless (or worse) on a single bottle of spirits or four cans of super strength lager. I certainly would not like to be working public transport late that night / early morning I just hope that the police and magistrates come down extremely hard on anyone abusing staff. From memory New Year's Eve isn't that bad, usually the gatelines are left open so there's not arguments over Oysters, etc. and most of the drunks are "happy drunks". One change due to Covid is that any train with vomit on it has to be withdrawn from service for deep cleaning, for drivers that means instead of late running due to cleaners having to deal with the mess while the train is on the platform we're having to put trains away early.
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 26, 2020 18:06:50 GMT
While I was on Platform 1 at Woodford they reversed a Woodford - Hainault shuttle off Platform 2. TTN223/20 has T122 as a Newbury Park - Ealing Broadway - Hainault via Newbury Park - finish, instead it was Woodford - Ealing Broadway - Grange Hill via Woodford - finish. From Woodford to Snaresbrook the platform describers were saying the destination was Leytonstone but when I got to Leytonstone it had changed to Ealing Broadway. At Grange Park I sat on the platform for about five minutes while I waited for the train in front of me to reverse off the wash road with a Hainault and another Grange Hill reverser stuck behind me. It's somewhat less than perfect... I've got three trips to Hainault today and a Newbury Park tomorrow, hopefully someone tells me where I'm going although I'll probably have to check the platform describers when I change ends As the person in charge of the train I would hope that you do find out where you are going in a better way than looking at platform train describers! Otherwise you could accept a wrong signal and end up where you don't want to be - without even realising it! Admittedly the options on the Central line are not that many - unlike the Subsurface + Piccadilly. As I mentioned the train was booked to Ealing Bwy and as I'd not been told to terminate at Leytonstone I ignored the platform describers. Sure enough when I got to Leytonstone the describers had changed back to Ealing Bwy and the signal had cleared. If the describers at Leytonstone had been "Terminates Here" I'd have called Wood Lane to ask if they'd forgotten to tell me something. Nine times out of ten we're too busy checking the platform edge to notice the platform describers, I only noticed because I changed ends at Woodford and happened to look up. If there's been a change of destination that I've not been informed about and I accept a signal for my original route then that's Wood Lane's error not mine. I was once instructed to change a Hainault via Newbury Park to a Hainault via Woodford but when I got to Leytonstone the indicator was sending me up towards Hainault. I called up the signaller who insisted that I'd been told to make my train a Woodford via Hainault but as I never heard anything more about it I'm guessing when they checked the recordings they found that it was the controller's error.
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 26, 2020 12:04:38 GMT
How many are going to go up West to hang around for two hours after the pubs, clubs and bars close waiting for midnight? If we do run a 24 hour service I suspect it could be very quiet. I have visions of a hard core of people with bottles and cans having a whale of a time at everybody else's expense. They're going to have to bring a good stock of bottles and cans to last from 10pm until midnight, sadly we don't allow wheelbarrows on the Tube...
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 26, 2020 11:30:59 GMT
If the pubs are closing at 10pm, there may be bigger crowds than ever in Trafalgar Square. How many are going to go up West to hang around for two hours after the pubs, clubs and bars close waiting for midnight? If we do run a 24 hour service I suspect it could be very quiet.
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 25, 2020 18:03:03 GMT
Talking to a few Train Ops, apparently the power issue at Newbury Park was attempted to be rectified last night and testing failed so the issue could be ongoing with a shuttle service on the Hainault loop for the “foreseeable”. As I commute from Hainault to and from work, it’s gonna be fun! I believe it’s currently 16TPH on the loop? Shuttles on the loop are unlikely as the only way to reverse at Leytonstone to go back to Hainault is to tip out on Platform 1 or 2, close up the train and do the mainline shunt over to Platform 3. Trying to do that during the morning peak would be a nightmare.
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 25, 2020 9:31:23 GMT
Surely he'd need support from Haringay, Westminster and Camden Councils first, given they are the boroughs playing host to the biggest NYE events normally? Would they and the Met be prepared to force restaurants and other venues to cancel? How could they do that without causing friction in the community in somewhere like Wood Green? I would be surprised if there are any events in London before Easter 2021, although obviously the relevant deadlines have yet to come along. If pubs and restaurants are closing at 10pm for the next six months then unless there is going to be an exemption for NYE there isn't going to be much point in running Tube services overnight.
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 25, 2020 7:50:31 GMT
While I was on Platform 1 at Woodford they reversed a Woodford - Hainault shuttle off Platform 2.
TTN223/20 has T122 as a Newbury Park - Ealing Broadway - Hainault via Newbury Park - finish, instead it was Woodford - Ealing Broadway - Grange Hill via Woodford - finish. From Woodford to Snaresbrook the platform describers were saying the destination was Leytonstone but when I got to Leytonstone it had changed to Ealing Broadway. At Grange Park I sat on the platform for about five minutes while I waited for the train in front of me to reverse off the wash road with a Hainault and another Grange Hill reverser stuck behind me. It's somewhat less than perfect...
I've got three trips to Hainault today and a Newbury Park tomorrow, hopefully someone tells me where I'm going although I'll probably have to check the platform describers when I change ends
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 24, 2020 18:12:05 GMT
Looking at Trackernet my White City to Newbury Park (T122), currently at Ealing Bwy, is a Woodford so I'm guessing all Newbury Parks have been diverted to Woodford.
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 24, 2020 17:31:40 GMT
Northolt has definitely been paused and the platform hoardings will be reduced in area to reflect this. Work is continuing at other stations including; Cockfosters, Debden, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Ickenham, Mill Hill East, Osterley, Sudbury Hill, Wimbledon Park The hoardings on Northolt platforms have been removed and I couldn't see any evidence of work at all.
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 24, 2020 9:46:18 GMT
And still TfL continues to operate at a loss due to government policy/cuts....*
...
* no capital city metro system operates at a surplus/without subsidy (which London no longer receives) - why should London be any different ?
I type this with sincere concern for the safety of TfL/LU staff, in the long/short term, physically, medically and psychologically !
I do not see why London transport should be funded from general taxation, we have an excellent transport system and general taxation would be better spent on public transport say in the North East... London is one of the richest cities in the world, so should be able to afford to subsidise our public transport. A proportion of council / business rates should go into a transport pot. As for those who live in the Southeast and commute in a percentage (tax for transport) on season tickets into London from outside the Zones. N.B. I live in London. Outside of the UK public transport is heavily subsidised by general taxation, TfL's revenue is 72% fares, in Paris, New York and Madrid its around 30-35%. London is indeed one of the richest cities in the world, it generates around 30% of all UK tax revenues but those taxes go to the Treasury not the GLA and the GLA has very limited scope to raise further revenue. TfL already gets a share of any season tickets that include TfL services, they also receive a cut of the business rates and the Mayor has maxed out the precept he can take on council tax in order to increase the policing budget. Any increase or expansion of revenue would have to be granted by the government and hopefully KPMG's review will make proposals that will give TfL some financial stability, unlike the current system that has completely failed since passenger numbers collapsed due to Coronavirus N.B. I live in London too, I use public transport and I'm a taxpayer, why should my taxes pay for transport in the North East and not in London?
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 23, 2020 11:04:33 GMT
Therefore, I've moved the more recent posts that fall foul of this to a quarantined area. Will they be allowed back out after they've self isolated for 14 days? There's nothing wrong with the subject discription btw Oxford Circus was busy during the evening peak last night, Stratford almost pre-Covid busy but Chancery Lane, St Paul's and Bank still quiet.
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 22, 2020 17:47:40 GMT
as it has now been advised to work from home, and hostelries have to close by 10, probably for an extended period, i wonder if service levels will be reviewed. Unlikely as one of the conditions attached to the bailout was a resumption of full service. We'll probably have to wait until KPMG deliver their review of TfL's finances although nobody seems to know when that will be. All but two of the 11 shifts that start after 2:30pm finish after 10pm so my opportunities to have a post-work pint and a chat will be greatly reduced.
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 22, 2020 17:33:43 GMT
Its still ongoing, it all started on Sunday and messroom rumour is that it might not be sorted until next week.
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 22, 2020 6:54:27 GMT
Thanks - I feel sure that the people who use the loop stations will welcome the extra trains! Do you think this will be resolved quickly - or take a few days? Not a clue, I just drive 'em. I don't know how long its been going on, I was rest day Sunday, I booked on at 16:41 yesterday and it had obviously been going on for a while. I book on 15:55 today, if its still ongoing I'll let you know.
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 21, 2020 19:49:20 GMT
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 21, 2020 19:44:33 GMT
Is there a newer timetable than WTT70? Today I saw several Grange Hill via Woodford trains and Woodford trains. I even saw at Ealing Broadway the Grange Hill train as No.1 (due to depart 'now') and the Woodford as No.2 - due to depart in 16 minutes. What I did not investigate is whether the Woodford trains actually end their journeys at Woodford or then become the shuttle train to Hainault. There's traction problems at Newbury Park, a bunch of Hainault via Newbury Parks are being diverted through Woodford to Grange Hill, tipping out, reversing on the wash road and going back round to Woodford.
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 21, 2020 8:42:53 GMT
If only the politicians would stay out of all business If the politicians stayed out of business a lot more people would have been on the dole instead of on furlough
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 21, 2020 8:36:23 GMT
If only the politicians would stay out of all business Luckily the politicians and civil servants did not have their fingers in food supply and distribution. Tesco, Sainsbury and all the other supermarkets showed the working of the free market. Everything government gets involved in goes pear shaped. Boris has become a reluctant dictator and cannot do the job. When the GLC were given control of London Transport it became political with every election the buying of the pensioners vote. Food supply and distribution wouldn't be possible without the road and rail network provided. maintained and paid for by national and local government. See, those pesky politicians and civil servants get in everywhere!
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 19, 2020 11:23:02 GMT
We don't do politics, that includes the relationship between unions and governments. Furthermore the history of the miners' strikes is off topic for this forum. Its a bit hard to separate this strike from politics when a government review into TfL's finances could result in management attempting to impose changes to our T&Cs and the Prime Minister publicly states that the Tube should "not be the prisoners of the unions". And if there are historically inaccurate comments on here then I am going to challenge them.
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 19, 2020 8:28:38 GMT
Back in the day, the miners had the power to stop EVERYTHING, and in 1926 they did. It's a different situation now. The last bouts of pit strikes affected the miners and the police, everyone else carried on as usual. A mere 1750 employees can cause far more disruption today. Best to get it over with while services are already disrupted. The 1974 miners strike brought about the 3 day week and the collapse of Edward Heath's government, not quite "everyone else carried on as usual". Before the 1984 miners strike the Thatcher government stockpiled coal and during the strike were importing from East Germany, Poland, etc. By the end supplies were running out and if the strike had carried on we could have had 1970s style power cuts. We're not going to "get it over with while services are already disrupted", like Thatcher we've "stockpiled" a strike in case management try to impose changes without negotiation.
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 18, 2020 13:51:02 GMT
If the object is to discourage people from heading into central London and creating large crowds then withdrawing transport services might be the best way to encourage people to keep celebrations "local".
Please correct me if I'm wrong but I seem to remember that 24 hour services at New Year only started with the Millennium, I don't remember it happening before I joined in December 1997 and I certainly don't remember being asked to work NYE in 1998/1999 when I was at Paddington. I also seem to remember at least once after 1999/2000 it didn't happen (or wasn't going to happen) because they couldn't find a sponsor.
My memory isn't what it used to be...
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 18, 2020 12:20:34 GMT
So how many members voted yes? How many government employees, because that's what they are in a nationalised industry. I bet it's a fraction of the pit workers in the 1970's. For example say 2000 members' 70% voted = 1400, 95% yes = 1330. why do you need to know the numbers its completely irrelevant just more drivers that are Aslef members voted yes than Aslef drivers that didn't vote or voted no that's how voting works well of course it wont be as many as pit workers as there was a lot more of them then underground drivers Back in the 70s and 80s voting was done with a show of hands at meetings, the count (if any) was done by the union officals with paper ballots only used if there wasn't a clear majority. Since the Employment Act 1990 all ballots are postal and have to be done through a third party (in this case Civica Election Services).
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 18, 2020 11:35:59 GMT
|
|
|
Post by aslefshrugged on Sept 17, 2020 23:56:46 GMT
95% of what? 100....1000....2000. They give no figures in that link. Even the government never gets 95% except maybe Belarus. Under the current legislation any industrial action needs the support of 51% of those eligible to vote, if the turnout was 70.9% as reported then 67.5% of all eligible voters supported strike action. Compare that to the 29.3% who voted for the current Tory government at the last General Election or the 37.4% who voted to leave the EU. If we don't have a mandate t for industrial action then who has support for anything? Ain't democracy great!
|
|