The Ticket Collector

Ticket names to change.

As if you were not already confused by the huge number of different ticket names, the powers that be have decided to change the names yet again.

So say goodbye to the SuperSaver, the Saver, the Cheap Day Return, the Standard Day Return and say hello to Super Off-Peak and Anytime.

The new ticket types are as follows.

Severe weather warning - Friday 1st and 2nd February.

Severe weather conditions have been forecast by the Met Office for the UK for Friday 1 and Saturday 2 February. The weather warning is valid from 0001 Friday 1st until 0600 Saturday 2nd February.

The Met Office continues to forecast colder weather to spread southwards across the UK during Friday and at first on Saturday giving heavy snow in places. Areas most at risk include Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland from early on Friday, extending to northern and central England and much of Wales on Friday afternoon, and perhaps into southern areas on Friday evening. Northern areas could see accumulations of 10cm of snow, with up to 20cm on higher ground, and blizzard conditions and snow drifts could occur in strong winds. Southern areas could see accumulations of 2 to 5cm of snow by Saturday morning. Disruption to transport and power networks is likely and the public are advised to take extra care. This warning will be updated by 1200 Friday 1st February unless superseded by Flash warnings.

RMT Dispute brewing at Northern Rail

RAIL WORKERS who take time off work after being assaulted or abused by passengers are having their pay docked by Northern Rail.

Barely a year after RMT told the company it had to make a bigger effort to combat violence against staff, the union has demanded that Northern Rail abandon a unilateral change in policy that has resulted in victims losing money if they need time off.

The problem came to light after a conductor who had been physically assaulted and threatened with a bottle was told that he would receive only his basic pay rather than average wages, because the latest in a string of attacks on him had not been serious enough.

It seems that Northern Rail are only interested in their shareholders and dont care about their own staff.

Bob Crow said “Until last October the company’s policy had been to pay average wages to all staff who needed time off after suffering violence or abuse from passengers, but the company now says it will only give full pay to victims who receive “severe physical injury”.
This is shocking and completely unacceptable, and the union will do whatever is necessary to get this shameful policy change reversed, It is nothing short of despicable when a loyal worker who has suffered a string of assaults is told that the latest attack wasn’t serious enough to warrant paying his full wages while he recovered and is then told that he may lose his job if he is assaulted again.
Only last April the company reassured our reps that staff who needed time off after serious verbal abuse would receive average pay. but they are now saying that staff will receive only their basic pay if an assault does not result in severe physical injury.
Northern say they have merely clarified the rules, but the reality is that they are clamping down on the victims of abuse rather than those who dish it out, and I have had calls from members who are absolutely furious about the company’s hypocrisy.
We thought we had finally got the company to take seriously our members’ concerns about the growing level of violence they face every day, but it seems once more that they are more worried about their profits than the welfare of their staff,”

Based on Press Release from RMT

Poor weather conditions in Scotland and England

We have just been informed that their are bad weather conditions expected in the next few hours. Speed restrictions are expected on some costal lines. Also be aware that poor rail conditions will cause some delays.

We are also hearing that delays are expected for tomorrow morning, we will let you know as soon as we recive the information, as this has not yet been confirmed.

GNER cancelations today:
15:30 Kings Cross (London) to Edinburgh due 20:19 - no reason given

No Smoking on ANY UK station.

Smoking Ban finally arrives.

So its finally arrived, the national smoking ban. All of the railway companies have decided to make all of their premises and property completely smoke free areas.

If you are caught lighting up in a enclosed public area or on a railway station you will face a fine of £50. Railway stations are covered by existing bye-laws and belive it or not were smoke free before the new national smoking ban even came into force.

Also dont drop your fag ends on the floor as this will result in a fine of £80. There are lots of Enforcement officers just waiting around the corner to fine you.

Flooding in the Midlands

Ok so I come back off holiday in a warm sunny place (wish I could go back), and I come back to see everywhere flooded. Most of GNER lines have been affected and services still cannot stop at Wakefield due to the line still being under water.

The photo on the left is the Marshgate Bridge on the main East Coast Mainline near Doncaster. Services were suspended due to the water being over the safe height.

The second photo on the left is of adwick, on the main Leeds to Doncaster line. This is why services still cannot use this line to go via Wakefield.

GNER is on an emergency timetable until Tuesday, and possibly further into the week. Central Trains are not running between Mansfield and Worksop.

Before traveling it is advised to check the NationalRail website and the Train Company’s website.