Poor reliability

There seems to be an increasing difference between whats on paper and what the service is like in reality.

On paper, the service is getting 'better and better' but in reality, the service is getting worse and worse.

My perception is that there are less trains then ever. Woodford yesterday on my way home from work: 1. Hainault 1 min 2. Special 13 mins 3. Epping 14 mins.

Going home from Stratford after work, it is highly variable how often the trains come. Sometimes, they are one after the other, but sometimes there is a gap of 5 minutes. 5 minutes is quite a long time on the eastbound at Stratford in the rush hour. Compounding matters, train after train jerks during departure as people are squashed up against the doors, occasionally causing the train to crawl along at walking pace until the driver applies the brakes and restarts the train so that it departures normally.

Hainault this afternoon, around 4.30pm, having got on at Roding Valley:

The outgoing driver left, got some water, returned as a passenger.
No replacement driver turned up. Few minutes passed.
Outgoing driver went back to leading end of platform, made a call from his mobile, (very kindly) got back into the cab and made a PA to apologise for the delay.
Few minutes later a driver arrived and we set off.

I wouldn't blame the driver if it was an isolated incident of running late (happens to all of us), but it is the second time I have experienced this type of delay at Hainault.

There didn't seem to be anyone there to sort it out - only by the goodwill of the outgoing driver passengers were kept informed and a mobile phone call was made. It must be pretty frustrating for an outgoing driver who wants to go home if he can't leave the train - I'm sure he wouldn't be expected to wait there indefinitely?

The incoming motorman should be phoning the local duty manager as soon as there's no relief, although there is the possibility the train had arrived early in which case the incoming driver is required to remain in charge of the train until the booked relief arrives.

There would definitely be a manager on duty in the train crew depot to oversee things, however this relies on him being told of the lack of relief. Upon being made aware he would identify who the relieving driver should be and try and locate them. It's also possible that the allocation of a spare duty can be overlooked.

In all cases of delayed crew relief there will be an investigation carried out by a manager and a report written, although this doesn't help resolve the situation at the time of course.

Speaking more generally I'd say instances of drivers not being in position due to error on their own part are frustratingly high on parts of LU - this is one area train operators could perform better. Needless to say there are some people who do it once in a blue moon, but for every one of them there's sadly another who does it on regular basis.

The correct procedure is that a driver should remain with the train until relieved, if their relief fails to appear at the specified time they should contact the Manager on the desk. In the case of Platform 1 at Hainault there is a phone behind the signal in a yellow box, you pick it up and it puts you straight through to the Duty Manager's desk.  It's then up to the Manager to find the driver who's late or send a spare out to cover.

If anything the driver was at fault for not contacting the manager sooner.  Some Hainault drivers seem to be very lackadaisical about picking up trains and the managers don't seem to be too bothered about it.

Its unlikely the train could have been early, there's a semi auto at Grange Hill (GRH 9260) and another half way between Grange Hill and Hainault (HAI 6780) protecting the points into the depot, neither signal would clear unless Wood Lane cleared them early.

Yesterday, I was on a Hainault bound train from Ealing Broadway when we got held up outside White City. After spending a few minutes waiting, we ended up getting sent into the centre road at White City because there was an Epping train stuck in the usual Eastbound platform. However, it wasn't clear whether it had broken down or was simply in need of a driver.

Are they planning on sorting out the driver issues? Or just carrying on pretending that there isn’t an issue?
aslefshrugged Do you know how often the line runs a full 78 train peak service?

This morning was another disaster. I got to South Woodford ; everything went from 100% fine to totally suspended Liverpool St --> Leytonstone/Newbury Park.
The driver sounded a bit exasperated ' "i'm very sorry, ladies and gentleman. we have lost all control of the signalling in the Leytonstone area. I know its not what you want to hear on your way to work on a Monday. I know the central line has been a bit dodgy lately...".

What made it very annoying for me was that I know that the 179 bus goes from South Woodford to Ilford (to pick up TfL rail) but didn't know where the bus stop was. The station assistant denied all knowledge that the 179 called at South Woodford. I eventually found the right bus stop, hidden around the corner, but it wasn't great - a big double-decker bus that was half empty and linked to a TfL rail station in about 20 minutes, which station staff seemed unaware existed.

Not sure what your final destination was / if this'll help, but when the central line goes down we tend to walk up George Lane to the north circ., get the 123 from there to Blackhorse Road and down the victoria line into town. The 179 is quiet at the mo because it's the school holidays; can be rather busy in term time. Also, if you prefer the route from Ilford into Liverpool Street then the 123 bus is more direct to Ilford from South Woodford (on the north circ again but in the opposite direction).

It seems that things aren’t any better. Seems like daily signal failures. Why is the signalling so unreliable? After all, it’s only around 20-25 years old.

Back in February this year the Guardian were reporting that TFL will be facing upto a £1Bn deficit next year - and that was before the news that Crossrail had been delayed. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/feb/12/fall-in-journeys-leaves-tfl-facing-near-1bn-deficit-next-year so without that revenue they were hoping for and with virtually no increase in fares due to the Mayor's manifesto pledge the purse must be even more in debt. Journeying yesterday on the Victoria (very dirty seats) Piccadilly line (filthy in and out, very slow and large gaps in service), Jubilee (good clean train (still under contract refurbishment?) good service) and the Overground (very good service (H&I to Canada Water) and newly refurbished train (under contract)) you can see where they are penny pinching which lead to even more problems in the future. Oh and has anyone seen the state of Manor House station recently? it had a deep clean a few years ago but hardly anything subsequently - the light diffusers particulary in the ticketing hall are almost black with dirt creating a very dim and dingy look! If there is no money to even do basic cleaning what hope is there for many other more critical systems?

There is a 'central' team that deals with the signalling on the 92ts. This team was created when the signalling came in, and as time passes, the team members get older and nearer retirement age. I do not believe people are being replaced. Maybe stuff like this is to blame for the failing signalling?

True, but it’s still some way short of it’s planned design life,