WCRC Licence Suspended

Its not just us, but everybody who relies on WCRC for motive power and rolling stock -there's going to be a lot of pi_-ed off bunnies out there.............. and the problem for those customers is, that the other TOC's wont be able to bridge the gap over night, nor possibly the short or long term for any number of reasons!

 

I know we are not supposed to discuss the RAIB Tangmere SPAD incident, however from the NR letter this looks interesting

Introduce an effective, risk-based driver monitoring regime that includes proactively using

analysis of On Train Data Recorder downloads for a representative and sufficient sample of

diagrams;

2. Demonstrate there is in place an effective and secure system of tamper-evident seals for train

protection isolator cocks on all relevant traction;

3. Implement arrangements to accurately record, monitor and manage all train protection

activations (including Automatic Warning System and Train Protection and Warning System),

and provide clear instructions to all train crew, including support crew, on the actions expected

of them report and respond to train protection activation;

Looks like the data recorder wasn't working

 

Possibly, but only in the sense that their use of that incident in last year's discussions may give an insight into their approach now. I hope it doesn't.

The point I wanted to make is that the Ordsall Lane fire can't be used as evidence against WCRC, as they were the innocent party.

 

Belmond Pullman, Torbay Express and the occasional UKRT trip are the only DBS steam operations that I can think of.

 

West Coast Railways statement, from their facebook page:

"Network Rail and West Coast Railways

West Coast Railways are working hard to reverse the current suspension imposed by Network Rail by fully satisfying their concerns. Passengers booked to travel with West Coast Railways and on their associated trips should not be concerned, if necessary West Coast Railways will charter the service of another licensed operator using the same traditional carriages and trips will be unaffected, but West Coast Railways hope this won’t be necessary and trust any issues will be resolved to the satisfaction of network rail."

 

To paraphrase "Ruddy Hell, they called our bluff!"

 

and the very occasional Pathfinder trip,but yes thats it.

 

Thanks, that's what I was thinking... Bad day at the office...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Forgot about Pathfinder but like UKRT, steam tours are not their core market.

 

Well according to WCR statement on Facebook, quoted above by steam_mad, any tours due to be operated by them are safe, or at least, that's how I understand it.

 

That's all very well for DL-hauled day-trips and freight operations, but what about steam? Could they charter DBS to cover their commitments, even partially? Even if they could, how long could they afford to do that?

 

Seems a bit of a complacent and daft statement. Note no regret or contrition of any kind. Presumably there are many hundreds of passengers on the trips this weekend which are already cancelled who are very much "concerned",not to mention the tour promotors! Are they really going to pay DBS to operate steam trips,even if DBS were able and willing to? That seems unbelievable.

 

The monopoly WCRC have on the UK mainline steam circuit has been dreadfully exposed by this ban!

I am sure West Coast work very hard and this has got them where they are, but the whole industry seems to have "jumped into bed" with them in recent times.

 

Hope this is a wind up, if I were NR, this would only fan the flames, with the TOC, trying to circumvent a ban laid down at their door.

It might appear to being clever, the better way would be to put the house in order, and move on.

 

Not quite the whole industry, but it has had the effect of creating two "camps" in the tour market. Those like TBX/Pathfinder and UKRT who don't work with WCRC and accept one set of limitations on the scope and cost of their operations, and those like RTC and, lately, Steam Dreams who do and so accept another set of risks and limitations.

The WCRC offer is very attractive - crews, rolling stock, operations management, locos if you want them, all in one competitively priced package. The problem, it now appears, is the shakey magaement foundations. If they can get that sorted out, it will still be a good offer, though the price will no doubt increase - so long as they can keep their customers' confidence. Lose that, though, and they'll be toast.

 

That was a Network Rail failure and reported as such !

 

Indeed its arrogant even

Don

 

This thread's moving too fast, Fred. You need to read to the end before posting, or you'll just be saying the same thing as four more before you ;-)

 

Yeah, you've got to make a choice - West Somerset or West Coast. I defy anyone to keep up with both!

(ps - good luck to the mods over the next few days! )

Tom