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| Freightliner Drivers | ||
|---|---|---|
| 05:17, 08 February 2010: | Report | Quote | |
| The Gatekeeper Member Send a message Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 60 |
Can someone tell me why Freightliner drivers have been trained on 185's and are operating services to Scotland instead of TPE's own drivers? They are even wearing Firstgroup uniforms. | |
| 20:21, 08 February 2010: | Report | Quote | |
| Bedpan Member 
Send a message Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 685 |
There's a thought, FCC could have doen that instead of cancelling 50% of their trains before and after Christmas. Ah, but if they had done, it would have cost them money. Visit http://bedpan.fotopic.net. | |
| 20:54, 08 February 2010: | Report | Quote | |
| Dan-By-The-ECML Member Send a message Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 320 |
Isn't it something to do with route knowledge on the WCML? The TPE drivers mustn't know the whole route so they hire in Freightliner drivers. Been happening a while. Dan http://dan-by-the-ecml.fotopic.net My Youtube channel | |
| 05:25, 09 February 2010: | Report | Quote | |
| The Gatekeeper Member Send a message Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 60 |
That can't be the reason as this is a fairly recent thing. Glasgow and Blackpool North drivers used to work these trains to Preston but not sure about now. | |
| 21:26, 11 February 2010: | Report | Quote | |
| 175/185 Member Send a message Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 907 |
TPE used to hire Northern staff and units to work overnight Blackpool services, before the 185's started on that route. Not unusual for this kind of arrangement. | |
| 23:42, 12 February 2010: | Report | Quote | |
| Mr Noisy Member Send a message Joined: May 2007 Posts: 12 |
FTPE from the start of the Scotland to Manchester services have used Freightliner men between Glasgow and Edinburgh and Carlisle / Preston. The is no FTPE Driver depot at Glasgow only conductors. | |
| 12:19, 13 February 2010: | Report | Quote | |
| Paul Scott Member Send a message Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 2375 |
I wonder if the real reason for not setting up a TPE driver depot in Scotland is that they had already been tipped off by DfT that the service was to be transferred again following electrification? Thinking about that 'micro franchise' stuff reported last year, IYSWIM... Paul | |
| 16:50, 13 February 2010: | Report | Quote | |
| Class 170 Member Send a message Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 4222 News credits: 1 |
Surely though it would have been cheaper to hire drivers (and guards) from First Scotrail? I am sure they have depots at both Edinburgh and Glasgow Central. These are all personal opinions | |
| 20:03, 13 February 2010: | Report | Quote | |
| Paul Scott Member Send a message Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 2375 |
Only if FS had spare drivers, and would they have the route knowledge beyond Carlisle  anyway? Using Freightliner drivers was probably an advantage for F/L, possibly because they had spare drivers available due to the freight downturn. Weren't EWS drivers working the Milton Keynes - East Croydon service for SN, when the LM 350s were borrowed, this despite SN already having drivers trained on the route? SN drivers were not trained on the stock though - so it can be explained by EWS having spare drivers, while SN couldn't spare their own to gain the traction knowledge, AFAICS. Paul Number of edits: 1. Last edit: 18:51, 14 February 2010 | |
| 00:29, 14 February 2010: | Report | Quote | |
| Class 170 Member Send a message Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 4222 News credits: 1 |
I am confused by your Cardiff comment, neither TPE or Scotrail go there. Scotrail drivers would only be needed for the starts and finishes to / from Scotland unless TPE went for night turns but these are generally expensive and less productive than day turns on most TOCs. You are correct about the EWS drivers they learnt the route (or more likely knew it already) and the traction as Southern drivers wouldn't know and wouldn't usually need to know 350s and as you rightly pointed out the downturn would have left EWS with spare drivers. Regarding F/L drivers had the downturn started then? I thought it was at the back end of 2008 not 2007. These are all personal opinions | |
| 18:52, 14 February 2010: | Report | Quote | |
| Paul Scott Member Send a message Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 2375 |
Cardiff was written on autopilot, I meant Carlisle... Paul | |