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Post by PiccNT on Jun 6, 2020 7:09:09 GMT
"This door exits airside so you will be met by armed police." Fortunately it's Heathrow and not Minneapolis.
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Post by PiccNT on Jun 5, 2020 22:13:30 GMT
All new schedules/timetables have been prepared and now available for the night tube lines. For some reason all night tube duties remain as scheduled on a Friday and Saturday. Mod note: Edited to remove statements about activities undertaken between close of traffic and start of traffic. Your attention is drawn to this post where all members are reminded that this forum is read by various groups of people. We enjoy a good relationship with London Underground and do not wish to make them the subject of any negative press as the result of a member's postings - particularly where that member can potentially be identified from their profile.
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Post by PiccNT on Jun 5, 2020 13:25:06 GMT
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Post by PiccNT on Jun 2, 2020 0:53:37 GMT
On a lighter note, one of the drivers at work (with a sense of humour) is charging a tenner to say he'd been in contact with us if he tested positive so we get 2 weeks off :-)
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Post by PiccNT on May 30, 2020 14:02:59 GMT
Not too bad on the Picc. We're used to running with loads of cancellations so business as usual with us. I've been off for a couple of days but back later today so I'll see what Saturday night looks like. In terms of reversing to get back on time, I can't see any of our T/Op's refusing. They try and do this consistently throughout the year so now won't be any different!
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Post by PiccNT on May 27, 2020 13:09:21 GMT
Whatever it is, I would like our track maintenance guys to start working again as we have a line littered with 20mph TSR's (Temporary Speed Restrictions) and it's somewhat tedious. They're not not working. Priority is rightly being given to patrolling and urgent service affecting defects, and, just as control rooms and train crew depots are seeing reduced coverage through staff self-isolating, sick, or shielding, the maintenance areas are no different. Maybe I phrased it incorrectly. It wasn't meant to be a criticism but a light hearted observation of the difficulties that we face everyday.
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Post by PiccNT on May 27, 2020 10:38:34 GMT
Whatever it is, I would like our track maintenance guys to start working again as we have a line littered with 20mph TSR's (Temporary Speed Restrictions) and it's somewhat tedious.
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Post by PiccNT on May 23, 2020 11:38:09 GMT
The peak is 2-3 hours out of shift that can last up to 8 hours, that still leaves 3-5 hours of driving during the off peak. Cutting the number of trains during the off peak doesn't result in more drivers available for the peak, it just means you have loads of drivers sitting around the depot not driving trains.
I don’t see why it wouldn’t be possible to push some of the middle turns (which don’t really contribute much to either peak) either forwards or backwards, plus reduce the number of dead late duties. Likewise a heavily reduced service at weekends with more MF duties (which would presumably go down well with crews given how many hate working weekends). Difficult choices for sure, however sooner or later there’s going to have to be a massive push to get as many people as possible back to work, although of course the schools situation is another major roadblock to achieving this. Some lines are still experiencing massive numbers of cancellations. It’s no good to anyone limping along in that way. We don't have middle turns at Cockfosters during the week. We have no book on after 07:57 until 15:18. From what I see, it's only the morning peak that needs the maximum service and the evening is more widely spread in terms of punters travelling home. It is not difficult for our line to manage the normal WTT as we run in normal times with loads of ONA's that everyone in the control room and train crew managers are well used to dealing with stacks of cancellations! This weekend and Bank Holiday Monday we are running our normal WTT. It's bad enough during the week following the train ahead with 3 people on board, may well be even fewer over the next three days. I really can't see the point of running the full service, minus the normal cancellations on this Bank Holiday but what do I know!
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Post by PiccNT on May 23, 2020 11:29:50 GMT
All T4 trains tip out at Hatton Cross, run around the loop empty and wait at T4 until our booked departure time. As we are working the normal WTT, if T4 trains got diverted to T5, this would cause issues with trains running late/out of turn with the additional problem of drivers being relieved late and short meal reliefs etc.
And yes, the T4 closure could well be going on for quite a time. And it's certainly not worth bolstering up the T5 service and there's hardly anyone going or coming from there.
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Post by PiccNT on May 20, 2020 17:29:24 GMT
It's quite obvious that the Peter Principle is alive and well in London Underground. I believe the issue to be multifaceted. Not only does there seem to be a lack of clear managerial direction but the problems are also with a minority of staff members that will do anything possible to get out of driving a train. It hasn't helped this week with certain TU reps winding drivers up over not taking their train unless they are 100% sure they will be safe.
It's interesting that the DoT will be looking at absenteeism. Since my depot has been open, almost 4 years now, we've had an average 20% of drivers unavailable. I'm not sure it's absenteeism they need to look at and more about the number of drivers that should be driving and aren't! No such thing as a spare turn at our place!
The place needs a good shake up. If passengers don't start coming back, things will definitely have to change.
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Post by PiccNT on May 20, 2020 9:05:14 GMT
It seemed quite relaxed, staff wise, on the late shift last night. I went through Kings X at 17:15 to find one passenger on the platform. My final trip from Uxbridge to Cockfosters I had one guy on from Uxbridge to Ruislip, one got on at Hammersmith and off at Green Pk and my 3rd and final punter on at Finsbury Park and off at Wood Green.
I still managed to get back late as the signaller appeared to spectacularly screw up a stock and crew procedure that I witnessed sitting outside Arnos Grove at PJ2's. I could see the stick off at the east end of the platform and headlights pointing towards me. And then trains coming into Cockfosters after me being allowed into the depot before me. Now that is annoying!
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Post by PiccNT on May 19, 2020 10:07:41 GMT
On the late shift on the Picc, the service was up the wall due to an earlier track circuit failure between Southgate and Arnos Grove WB. Even with loads of trains cancelled, it was very quiet on the whole line even with 10 minute gaps between trains. In terms of drivers, I understand there were issues with some drivers refusing to have their meal relief at a "foreign" depot and therefore refusing to pick up their train. I'll keep my opinion of this, especially as we are bound to be coming under increased scrutiny by the DoT, to myself for now!
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Post by PiccNT on May 14, 2020 8:49:29 GMT
Getting back on topic, we’ve officially been told the District line will be reverting to its normal working timetable from Monday. But only on weekdays - we’ll continue with our current arrangements at weekends. Whether or not we have the driver availability across the line to run it I don’t know; nor am I going to speculate on whether health & safety objections will poo poo it. I believe all other lines are planned to also revert to their full working timetables from Monday. I’m just stating what is planned by senior management and am not getting involved in the politics or whatever around the combine. That certainly applies to the Picc although I haven't heard about the weekend as yet. I've also heard that night tube drivers are being asked if they want to be seconded to full time so this could possibly be the end of night tube for the foreseeable. As Colin stated, this is the plan, it's a long time between now and Monday and any number of decisions can be taken and reversed in that time!
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Post by PiccNT on May 12, 2020 17:53:18 GMT
It can be done if the train is being driven in manual mode. Can it be done on S stock? I believe the answer is no. It’s certainly possible on 95 stock, although as you say it requires the train to be driven manually (which puts 95% of drivers off straight away!). It’s also a little frowned upon, whilst not officially forbidden it’s a bit of a grey area, and certainly having the door open can lead to dirty looks. I gather some lines have local agreements regarding having the instructor’s side door open, however not all lines do. We are permitted on the Picc to have our offside door open but not if there is anyone else in the cab. Not likely to have anyone else in the cab for the foreseeable.
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Post by PiccNT on May 12, 2020 8:58:25 GMT
On the BBC London News last night, there was an RMT official saying that the tube should be shut. All that would do is make the buses unmanageable as not everyone can drive, walk or cycle to work. He did say that any of his members that refused to work, they would support 100%. Looking forward to collecting my masks next week.
Mod note: Post edited to remove political statements - you have been warned about this before.
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Post by PiccNT on May 11, 2020 10:16:08 GMT
Or in the case of my mate last Friday, he's just hit 90's down at Acton. Oops.
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Post by PiccNT on May 11, 2020 9:15:16 GMT
I'm on leave at the moment. Was it busier during the morning peak and was social distancing observed?
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Post by PiccNT on May 10, 2020 12:57:44 GMT
Reading and listening to the government briefings regarding limiting the numbers on trains, I can't quite fathom out how this will be achieved. If the train has the maximum number on to comply with social distancing, what happens at the next stop? There's not a hope in hell that passengers will comply with this and there is certainly not the resource to police this.
Anyone have any ideas on this?
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Post by PiccNT on May 8, 2020 10:30:16 GMT
I remember waiting patiently at Mill Hill East on the first day of the 72's (not sure if that's a possessive or plural). An extremely exciting day. I also seem to remember that on the Mk1, initially you could drop the handle in Rheo 1 and hold at any speed without it exhausting the train line air. They modified this a short time after. Or is my memory deceiving me!
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Post by PiccNT on May 6, 2020 22:47:44 GMT
We have just been told that from 17 May we will be back to our normal duty rosters (WTT70) but we will still be running "emergency service". The suspicion is that they'll be looking to reintroduce "full" service either from 24 or 31 May. Normal WTT duty times? That will be interesting. Even more interesting when they try to introduce the service with half the staff furloughed or missing for whatever reason. Plenty of "no relief driver, stick it in the yard"! I'm back from annual leave on the 18th so I'll look forward to some chaotic scenes.
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Post by PiccNT on May 6, 2020 14:55:06 GMT
I think I'm beginning to understand this now. When my Trains Manager tells me my train is at PM2's, what he means therefore is my train is at PM2's signal. That right? newer train managers would say approaching oakwood which would mean oakwood station They should then be ignored as that's PK2's ;-)
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Post by PiccNT on May 6, 2020 12:22:18 GMT
I think I'm beginning to understand this now. When my Trains Manager tells me my train is at PM2's, what he means therefore is my train is at PM2's signal. That right? Yes. He’s probably also unknowingly telling you that he’s been on the job for a while, or at least has picked it up from such a person, as it’s a form of expression which has tended to fall out of use over time - on the operating side at least. How quaint that you still have signals to refer to! ;-) And long may they last :-)
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Post by PiccNT on May 6, 2020 11:11:05 GMT
I think I'm beginning to understand this now. When my Trains Manager tells me my train is at PM2's, what he means therefore is my train is at PM2's signal. That right?
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Post by PiccNT on May 4, 2020 22:49:56 GMT
Which brings me to my next question. I have asked a few people and not received an adequate response. When I was growing up on the Northern line as a kid and used to bum the odd cab ride, I remember some of the motormen used to pluralise the signal number such as Y2 becoming Y2's. A signal that was often spoken about.
Now working for LU, I hear this from the more experienced T/Op's and on occasion over the train radio by the Controller/Signaller. Tom above used this way of describing points and just wondered why it's done?
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Post by PiccNT on May 1, 2020 12:45:05 GMT
More to all of this than I imagined. Thanks for taking the time with the above explanation. I presume that the new Picc trains will be built bearing in mind that they have to run with our existing signalling for quite some time so they will be compliant in terms of the track circuits. Would be nice to think that anyway.
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Post by PiccNT on May 1, 2020 12:36:38 GMT
At today's ACAS meeting LU management agreed that new timetables will not be introduced until 18 May with... • No cushion work on any duty (travelling to or from one location to another in the main body of the train) • All booking on and off must be at home depots • All meal reliefs must be at home depots with a control on the numbers of train crew in the accommodation at any given time Great. That's my first day back from annual leave. A fair bit will no doubt change between now and then but I'll look forward to signing for my mask upon resumption to duty.
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Post by PiccNT on Apr 30, 2020 13:31:01 GMT
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-52481522BBC have inside info! The fact that the lockdown will ease but social distancing probably won't, we'll need to significantly ramp up services for the increased demand. Can't see this being implemented easily with the RMT intending to ballot for industrial action, great timing, and the to'ing and fro'ing of duties between local management and local reps. Nothing in London Underground it seems is easy.
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Post by PiccNT on Apr 30, 2020 9:10:30 GMT
I was sort of aware that there are different types of track circuits and something peculiar with the circuits on the Rayners branch but that's as far as my knowledge goes. I know we're venturing off topic so maybe a track circuit thread should be created. Tom seems to be the guy in the know (amongst others I'm sure) but could someone post a laymans explanation as to the different types we have and why they need changing? Also, I presume you're talking about the Picc needing signal modification because of sighting. Particularly interested in this.
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Post by PiccNT on Apr 25, 2020 0:54:02 GMT
Met line timetable to change again from Monday. Watford and Uxbridge services to remain the same, but Amersham and Chesham trains will now be extended through to Baker Street, semi-fast (calling all stations BST-HAR, fast to MPK, then all stations), all day. Two additional trains are also available to run as required in both peaks between Aldgate and Harrow only. I believe amendments are also planned for the C&H, but I have not been advised of these yet. We are running as we have been for the past few weeks. We'll call in the day before to arrange what we're doing the following day. In my case, I take the same train every evening and book on at about 21:30. Oh well, we nearly had a new timetable but no surprise that the plan fell apart.
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Post by PiccNT on Apr 24, 2020 10:44:19 GMT
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