taxman Posted June 2, 2018 Share Posted June 2, 2018 Has anyone else tried to book train travel to say, Manchester, Southport, Llandudno, Liverpool etc on the National Rail website only to find they can't gaurantee train services? We are trying to book weekends away, and although the train going is OK, when we try to book a return we are told that they cannot confirm a return journey will be available. So how are we supposed to book a holiday then? Their excuse is that it only affects people who want to buy tickets more than 6 weeks in advance, bullplop..I'm trying to buy tickets for a months time and am still getting told there are no trains. Before pishing billions down the drain on HS2 etc why not try dragging the railways into the 20th Century before the 21st? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgksheff Posted June 2, 2018 Share Posted June 2, 2018 (edited) At what stage of the process is that happening. I can go all the way to just before purchase, and it is giving me specified trains. ..... tried it for a week later, and now see what you mean. Could it be anything to do with the closure of Liverpool Lime Street? https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jun/02/liverpool-lime-street-station-closes-for-major-upgrade Edited June 2, 2018 by cgksheff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alchresearch Posted June 4, 2018 Share Posted June 4, 2018 Its the timetable change that's caused the problem and has been for a few weeks: Northern has aborted about 2,000 services since new timetables started on 20 May, with more than 200 cancelled or heavily delayed on Friday. The operator has now introduced a temporary timetable that removes 165 daily services until 29 July. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-44347990 http://www.wired.co.uk/article/northern-rail-emergency-timetable-cancellations Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Cid Posted June 4, 2018 Share Posted June 4, 2018 Its the timetable change that's caused the problem and has been for a few weeks: Which has been chaotic due to poor management by Chris Grayling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alchresearch Posted June 4, 2018 Share Posted June 4, 2018 Which has been chaotic due to poor management by Chris Grayling. I didn't realise he was in charge of Northern Rail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoatwobbler Posted June 4, 2018 Share Posted June 4, 2018 I didn't realise he was in charge of Northern Rail. Plenty of blame to go round on this one! Not to mention a few instances of bad luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Cid Posted June 4, 2018 Share Posted June 4, 2018 I didn't realise he was in charge of Northern Rail. He is in charge of everything; and Northern Rail are locked in strike action against new rules being brought in by the Secretary of State for Transport. The Secretary of State for Transport is Chris Grayling, or if you are reading this on Tuesday, he is the ex-Secretary of State for Transport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alchresearch Posted June 5, 2018 Share Posted June 5, 2018 He is in charge of everything; and Northern Rail are locked in strike action against new rules being brought in by the Secretary of State for Transport. I think you're a little confused here. He's only Transport Secretary, he doesn't control the Northern Rail company who decided to change their timetable without having enough drivers. And I don't think the strike is anything to go with new government rules, but replacing guards on the new train fleet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Cid Posted June 5, 2018 Share Posted June 5, 2018 (edited) I think you're a little confused here. He's only Transport Secretary, he doesn't control the Northern Rail company who decided to change their timetable without having enough drivers. And I don't think the strike is anything to go with new government rules, but replacing guards on the new train fleet. I think you need to do some research. The timetable change in May 2018 was four times bigger than normal. This level of change depends on infrastructure upgrades, rolling stock to be available, drivers to be trained and crews to be rostered. Under normal circumstances, such a timetable change would be a massive, complex, piece of work. However on this occasion, the challenge has been compounded by several different factors: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/how-rail-timetabling-works/ ---------- Post added 05-06-2018 at 11:06 ---------- The broader context of this strike action is that government has been looking to cut costs and bring in more automation on the rail network. Trains have been ordered with a view to driver-only operation, and franchises structured on the basis such changes are made. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/dec/13/when-where-why-southern-rail-strike-industrial-action Edited June 5, 2018 by El Cid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nightrider Posted June 5, 2018 Share Posted June 5, 2018 Has anyone else tried to book train travel to say, Manchester, Southport, Llandudno, Liverpool etc on the National Rail website only to find they can't gaurantee train services? Yep, same problem. Had to book a taxi to the airport because Northern Rail won't guarantee the train will actually run on the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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