West Somerset Railway General Discussion

As a point of comparison, I'm a member of 2 departments on the GWSR, during lockdown each department's VLO (Volunteer Liaison Officer) rang round everyone in the department to check up how we were all doing at least once, I think more often in the case of those known to be living alone or not connected to other folk via social media etc. There was a survey at the beginning of June to find out what volunteers thought about coming back, and since we've started our phased re-opening there has of course been lots of contact informing us of what's happening now, next, what we're allowed to do and when we can come in. I've no idea how that compares with the WSR as if it happened, it's not the sort of thing I'd expect to show up here anyway, but thought it might be interesting.

 

oh dear!

 

The survey was done on Surveymonkey, which is a "freemium" type thing; you get the basic stuff for free but you can pay for more advanced stuff. The WSR survey didn't feel very advanced to me...

Like I say, I'd be happy to be corrected if I've misinterpreted PO as Purchase Order and it's something else, as I'm a little puzzled otherwise.

 

But Alex the difference is you are part of a railway that is going places, knows what it wants, and how to achieve it with a happy volunteer workforce with very few paid staff unlike the WSR!

The fact you can take on new staff and finish the Gotherington slip is proof of the financial propriety of your business

Being the established railway we can only hope the WSR learns how to do it from you

 

So if that is the case why would a purchase order be required other than to cover a payment?

Assuming that PO does in fact constitute a Purchase Order - undoubtedly we will find out!

 

Ah, I have answered my own question. The free survey only lets you view 40 responses. If you have more than that, you have to pay to see them. The cheapest way I can find of doing that is to pay a 1 month fee of £99. Beyond that, you have to pay yearly, the cheapest price being ~£380 from what I can see.

 

Yesterday I said

Not unreasonably I have been asked where the abrupt transition was, and I now have to admit to being mistaken. I have re-watched the video. I have watched the first minute or so (which was where I thought I'd seen it) more than once.
Either it was a glitch in the video stream reaching my computer or it was a glitch in my brain.
Sorry people!

 

I would say that this is a direct consequence of the poor management by the PLC board. When Covid hit other lines set about developing strategies to secure their lines, attract donations and to prepare for reopening. We can see that the elite lines like the Ffestiniog, SVR, TR, Bluebell, GCR, IOW and GWSR are all either running in some form, or preparing to run very soon. These are different lines in different parts of the country with different tourist markets, different problems to sort out before running and they have all managed it. All these lines have been creative in how they have adapted to the challenges them.

No doubt many thought that people might not be willing to travel due to concerns about covid and also economic insecurity. However, it is clear that people are willing to travel and to travel on preserved trains. Lines like the SVR, FR, etc have all been there ready to welcome them with a high quality, covid safe experience to reap the financial rewards.

While this was going on around the country, the PLC board was more concerned with picking unnecessary fights, alienating potential supporters, issuing solicitors letters against critics, and engaging in macho posturing in the railway press.

The upshot is that time has been lost, opportunities have been missed. And now when there are tourists in Minehead, the WSR is in no position to capitalise. a position the WSR cannot afford to be in.

All around the country, organisations are preparing for different scenarios. I can see that where I work we have four versions: it gets a lot better, it gets slightly better, it stays the same, it gets worse. I have no doubt that those lines that have been flexible are going to carry on being flexible and will adapt. I see none of that from those in charge of the WSR.

The PLC board are happy to claim the credit for everything but unwilling to take any responsibility for the mistakes that have left the WSR behind the curve. There are all the excuses that their defenders trot out but it doesn't wash.

That the WSR is not in a position to benefit from the surprising upsurge in UK tourism is a failure of WSR management.

 

I agree, and said similar at the time. Unfortunately, my point was we are now past the point where anything can realistically be done to correct this in time for the summer tourist season, so there's little point in spending time speculating on what could be done. We can leave it at something could have been done, but wasn't.

 

>>>...However, it is clear that people are willing to travel .....on persevered trains.....

Are those the ones which get there in the end despite all the odds ? Could do with some of those for MD - BA shuttles......

 

From reading the thread it seems that several of the paid staff who would be needed to do the work needed for the line to reopen have left for pastures new

 

Flexible furlough, where a full-time employee could come back part-time and be furloughed for rest of the week, actually kicked in on 1st July.

 

With AGM season approaching rapidly I can find no mention of when WSR plc AGM is due to take place. Year end was 31st March, so shouldn't AGM take place by end of September?

Last year's EGM approved a change of articles to allow the proposed 21st September 2019 AGM date to be delayed until December. There is no reason to delay again this year, is there?

WSSRT AGM is 19th September and WSRA AGM on 26th September.

 

I've answered my own question! WSR plc AGM is to be held on the same day as the Association AGM, 26th September 2020:

www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/shareholders

That's how other railways do it, support charity and operating company AGMs on the same day. A welcome sign of preparation for organisational change perhaps?

 

I have had eMail updates through the HOPS system on a fairly regular basis.
I guess some volunteers will be waiting until it is obvious they are needed, and then make decisions based on the nation's health , their own health, their family responsibilities, and their enthusiasm levels. A loco driver with minimal contact with the public may not have the worries that a booking office clerk may have. Some will have been thinking about 'retiring' for some time, and may feel this is the break which makes it sensible to go now. Many will be itching to come back, regardless of issues aired on this site. I think its a bit early to be approaching all the volunteers for a 'still in' or 'out' decision, as there are so many unknowns.

 

I recall a while back there was a sneery post by a board supporter that none of the other lines in the vicinity were Premier League, unlike the WSR. Let's see how those inferior lines are doing:

ESR open
L&B open
DFR open and G2G
AVR cafe open, running weekends August
GWSR opening soon
PDSR open
Swanage open
M Shed closed
SDR no trains. Buckfastleigh open and engineering open.
Plym Valley closed.

 

From WSR website ...... "AGM 2020 – Saturday 26th September 2020 the format of the meeting will depend on advice current at the time about Covid19."

 

It did, but the question asked if it is applicable to WSR staff?