Post by Chris M on Aug 5, 2015 12:49:24 GMT
I've just read about the Assembly Tory's plan to run an emergency strike breaking service with "a few" drivers. This got me wondering what the absolute minimum number of staff required to run the absolute minimum service would be (note this is not the minimum safe or useful service).
For the purposes of this thread I'm defining the absolute minimum service as one train per line serving all stations. For the Jubilee that means one train, for the District three trains (Upminster-Ealing, Wimbledon-HSK, Richmond to Earl's Court; we can leave Olympia to the Overground). We can assume for simplicity that stations will not get dangerously overcrowded.
Each train needs exactly one driver per stint, so that's
*I'm being economical and running a Chesham-Watford service to reduce the number of drivers needed by 1
That's 18 drivers.
Meal breaks can be left uncovered as that would require more staff, however we will need 3-4 shifts of drivers to cover the whole day, let's cut things fine and say three. Which makes a requirement for 54 drivers.
Each train will need to be prepared. I have no idea how you prepare a train, but in the interests of unrealistic economy I will assume that one person can prep all the trains each line needs for this service, that no spares are required, a prep lasts all day, and nobody needs to verify their work other than the driver so that's 10 more staff, bringing the total to 64 so far. We'll ride our luck and say that no trains will break down today so no technicians are needed.
Each line will need at least one controller. Given how few trains there are, I think it realistic that one controller per line per shift will be sufficient. With three shifts that's another 30 staff, or 94.
Let's look at signallers next. The W&C will obviously only need one per shift, the Met will need more of course. On average let's say two signallers per line per shift (with only one train in service, one signaller can cover multiple desks if they are in the same room, but a signaller at Upminster can't operate a desk at Earl's Court). That's 20 × 3 staff bringing your total to 154.
Power controllers have their turn now. I know little about what is involved in power control, but I'm assuming that with this level of service that two per shift will suffice. That's another 6 staff - or 160 in total.
Station staff. This will be the big one! We can't ignore the law, so every station will need to have it's minimum complement of staff. For King's Cross that's a lot more people than Chesham, and I don't know the figures anyway so let's use averages again - four per station per shift is probably in the right ball park.
Wikipedia tells me that LU own 260 stations. They serve more, but they don't need to staff ones that others operate. 4 × 260 × 3 = 3120.
That brings our total to 3,280 staff required to run a one train per line service, assuming all my many assumptions are correct (and I've tried to underestimate). Some of these numbers will rapidly change with more trains in service (e.g. drivers) and others wont (e.g. station staff), but even a safe service will require many more people.
For the purposes of this thread I'm defining the absolute minimum service as one train per line serving all stations. For the Jubilee that means one train, for the District three trains (Upminster-Ealing, Wimbledon-HSK, Richmond to Earl's Court; we can leave Olympia to the Overground). We can assume for simplicity that stations will not get dangerously overcrowded.
Each train needs exactly one driver per stint, so that's
| Bakerloo | 1 |
| Central | 2 |
| Circle | 1 |
| District | 3 |
| H&C | 1 |
| Jubilee | 1 |
| Metrpolitan* | 3 |
| Northern | 2 |
| Piccadilly | 2 |
| Victoria | 1 |
| W&C | 1 |
*I'm being economical and running a Chesham-Watford service to reduce the number of drivers needed by 1
That's 18 drivers.
Meal breaks can be left uncovered as that would require more staff, however we will need 3-4 shifts of drivers to cover the whole day, let's cut things fine and say three. Which makes a requirement for 54 drivers.
Each train will need to be prepared. I have no idea how you prepare a train, but in the interests of unrealistic economy I will assume that one person can prep all the trains each line needs for this service, that no spares are required, a prep lasts all day, and nobody needs to verify their work other than the driver so that's 10 more staff, bringing the total to 64 so far. We'll ride our luck and say that no trains will break down today so no technicians are needed.
Each line will need at least one controller. Given how few trains there are, I think it realistic that one controller per line per shift will be sufficient. With three shifts that's another 30 staff, or 94.
Let's look at signallers next. The W&C will obviously only need one per shift, the Met will need more of course. On average let's say two signallers per line per shift (with only one train in service, one signaller can cover multiple desks if they are in the same room, but a signaller at Upminster can't operate a desk at Earl's Court). That's 20 × 3 staff bringing your total to 154.
Power controllers have their turn now. I know little about what is involved in power control, but I'm assuming that with this level of service that two per shift will suffice. That's another 6 staff - or 160 in total.
Station staff. This will be the big one! We can't ignore the law, so every station will need to have it's minimum complement of staff. For King's Cross that's a lot more people than Chesham, and I don't know the figures anyway so let's use averages again - four per station per shift is probably in the right ball park.
Wikipedia tells me that LU own 260 stations. They serve more, but they don't need to staff ones that others operate. 4 × 260 × 3 = 3120.
That brings our total to 3,280 staff required to run a one train per line service, assuming all my many assumptions are correct (and I've tried to underestimate). Some of these numbers will rapidly change with more trains in service (e.g. drivers) and others wont (e.g. station staff), but even a safe service will require many more people.
That is a super generous service you've timetable on the Bank branch, there. I thought you would've just gone for Edgware - Morden (via Bank); High Barnet - Kennington (via Charing Cross); Mill Hill East shuttle. Seems silly to have two trains on the Bank branch carting around fresh air... 
