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Post by superteacher on Aug 16, 2008 22:25:45 GMT
I was wondering how things are done, in terms of crewing, when a line has to switch to a special service because of a service suspension.
Today, the Central was suspended from Holborn to Liverpool Street for several hours due to a "one under" at Chancery Lane. Obviously, as soon as this happens, the timetable goes out of the window, since trains are being reversed short of their destination.
Special services are always given away by the set numbers on the trains being different from usual i.e. numbered in the 2xx, 3xx, 4xx series. How do they allocate drivers to these - is it a casr of whoever happens to be available drives one?
What about train crews who are stranded at the wrong end of the line i.e. a Hainault driver being west of Holborn when the suspension happens. Do they continue driving until their shift is over, then make their way home by other means? And finally, when the suspension is over and they start to reform the special train numbers back into timetabled trains, how do they get the rostered driver back onto the rostered train? Or is it a case of "drive whatever you are on" until you are relieved?
A lot of questions I know, but all very interesting!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2008 0:33:10 GMT
When these services are brought in Each depot usually runs a self contained service. For example on the District, Upminster drivers normally run the Upminster Richmond services, Acton drivers do the Ealing Tower Hill services and Earls Court do the Edgware Road Wimbledon services.
If the line is suspended the services are different but generally still self contained.
The drivers at the wrong ends are eventually relieved and either use an alternative route back if possible, if not get taxied back.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2008 8:44:12 GMT
In addition to what Jim said, on some lines it's very difficult if not impossible to get a special service out again. This is certainly the case on the Northern, which is why we will limp along adjusting the timetabled service wherever possible - in 2 years as a controller on the Northern I've run a special service only once.
In contrast the Victoria line (which sits on the other side of the same control room) use special services a lot - because it's a short line with only one traincrew depot the Vic can often go in and out of a special in a couple of hours. On the Northern, if a special gets put in the only chance of getting it out would be with the afternoon book-ons, otherwise it's in until close, and with a special we tend to run very short of available drivers in the last couple of hours. This is because of the length and complexity of the line it's impo.ssible to get drivers back in the right place at the right time.
On the Northern, our "normal" special service would be Edgware-Kennington (via Charing Cross) which is run by Golders drivers, and Barnet-Morden (via Bank) which is run by Finchley and Morden drivers, plus a Mill Hill Shuttle. However the only time I've run a special it was due to a failure of 20 points at Camden which left them secured up so we could only run to Barnet from the Charing Cross Branch so we ran the special the other way round - you've always got to be able to "think on the hoof" and revise plans as necessary.
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solidbond
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'Give me 118 reasons for an Audible Warning on a C Stock'
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Post by solidbond on Aug 17, 2008 10:15:48 GMT
Well I can tell you what we did at Leytonstone yesterday, as I was the DMT on the desk when it happened.
Basically, Hainault ran a Hainault to Liverpool Street service (numbered 600 - 6??) Leytonstone T/Ops were doing a five train Epping Leytonstone shuttle, numbered 400 - 404. Obviously one the operational problems is getting drivers back to their respective ends to finish. I had about four trains coming towards Leytonstone, all with West Ruislip drivers due to finish at Ruislip, so had to get spares out to move the trains, some going to Woodford, some to Loughton and some to Hainault. I left at 1400, and I understand the service wasn't restored until about 1730 or so. Not sure if the service was ever recovered, or if it was kept as a special service to close of traffic.
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Post by superteacher on Aug 17, 2008 11:43:03 GMT
Well I can tell you what we did at Leytonstone yesterday, as I was the DMT on the desk when it happened. Basically, Hainault ran a Hainault to Liverpool Street service (numbered 600 - 6??) Leytonstone T/Ops were doing a five train Epping Leytonstone shuttle, numbered 400 - 404. Obviously one the operational problems is getting drivers back to their respective ends to finish. I had about four trains coming towards Leytonstone, all with West Ruislip drivers due to finish at Ruislip, so had to get spares out to move the trains, some going to Woodford, some to Loughton and some to Hainault. I left at 1400, and I understand the service wasn't restored until about 1730 or so. Not sure if the service was ever recovered, or if it was kept as a special service to close of traffic. What about Loughton drivers - what did they do? The service was recovered - I happened to be on the first train through on the eastbound - the driver was told at Holborn that he could go through to Hainault. There was a mix of special numbers and booked numbers for a while. Line was operating with severe delays until later in the evening. |
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solidbond
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Post by solidbond on Aug 17, 2008 14:07:40 GMT
I'm not sure what the Loughton drivers were doing - probably trips as as and when needed from Leytonstone - as the special service wasn't actually started until about 1300, and I left just after 1400. Hainault sent a number of their drivers down to Leytonstone to help out as well, but again this was just before I left.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2009 15:20:12 GMT
Jim,
Can you just clarify, do the drivers pay for their taxis or is this out of LUL money?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2009 15:32:29 GMT
Jim, Can you just clarify, do the drivers pay for their taxis or is this out of LUL money? Taxis are provided by the company. |
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Post by upfast on Feb 8, 2009 22:14:37 GMT
Jim, Can you just clarify, do the drivers pay for their taxis or is this out of LUL money? Taxis are provided by the company. You just get in the (correct) taxi and get out at your destination station. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2009 22:27:08 GMT
I was wondering how things are done, in terms of crewing, when a line has to switch to a special service because of a service suspension. Today, the Central was suspended from Holborn to Liverpool Street for several hours due to a "one under" at Chancery Lane. Obviously, as soon as this happens, the timetable goes out of the window, since trains are being reversed short of their destination. Special services are always given away by the set numbers on the trains being different from usual i.e. numbered in the 2xx, 3xx, 4xx series. How do they allocate drivers to these - is it a casr of whoever happens to be available drives one? What about train crews who are stranded at the wrong end of the line i.e. a Hainault driver being west of Holborn when the suspension happens. Do they continue driving until their shift is over, then make their way home by other means? And finally, when the suspension is over and they start to reform the special train numbers back into timetabled trains, how do they get the rostered driver back onto the rostered train? Or is it a case of "drive whatever you are on" until you are relieved? A lot of questions I know, but all very interesting! On the Met, the Ricky drivers go missing and the Neasden drivers do all the work, thats what normally happens.  |
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