Arriva Trains Wales drivers on bank holiday strike

No trains will run on Valley Lines on Monday as Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) drivers strike in a row over pay and conditions.

No services will run to or from Barry, Treherbert, Merthyr, Aberdare, Rhymney, Coryton, Penarth and Cardiff Bay.

Monday's 24-hour strike was called after The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union described ATW's pay offer as "paltry".

ATW apologised for the inconvenience to passengers.

It said it had also been unable to run services between Cardiff and Maesteg, Cardiff and Swansea, Cardiff and Ebbw Vale and Cardiff and Cheltenham Spa.

Cross country trains were calling additionally at Severn Tunnel, Caldicot, Chepstow and Lydney on the Cardiff to Cheltenham Spa route.

A statement on the company's website said: "Arriva Trains Wales is disappointed that RMT and its driver members have chosen to announce industrial action for 24 hours on Monday, 27 December despite the significant pay offer which has been made.

"Regrettably, due to this industrial action, no Valley Lines services will operate on Monday, 27 December and passengers are advised to make alternative transport arrangements.

"Arriva Trains Wales intends to run a full service on all other routes on the network.

"Arriva Trains Wales would like to apologise for the obvious inconvenience this will cause to passengers."

The RMT union said 85% of members backed the industrial action.

ATW said drivers had been offered a pay increase of 12% taking their basic pay from £34,824 to £39,117 in two stages.

The offer also changed the obligation to work on Sundays from a voluntary to a contractual basis, said the train operator.

It said train drivers were represented by two trade unions, Aslef and RMT, and that Aslef had recommended the latest pay offer to its members for acceptance.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow has said the offer would leave union members "out of pocket".

"Our members would have ended up with inferior working conditions for a de facto pay cut," he said.

"Arriva Trains Wales have shown us in the clearest possible terms that they have no wish to properly reward the hard work and loyalty to the staff and are motivated solely by the drive for bigger profits to line the pockets of the shareholders."


Arrivatrainsnails says.......


Yet again, there is no consideration to the extra inconvenience that will be caused to passengers by these strikes and cancellations. A great part of the ticket prices that passengers pay go towards paying the wages of train staff and yet again we are forced into the situation of more price increases. Thanks very much Arriva Trains Wales and staff!

A MESSAGE

Arriva Trains Wales drivers vote for strike action

Today, our source at ATW revealed that It's shortly to be announced that drivers on Arriva Trains Wales have once again voted for strike action in a dispute over pay and work conditions.

The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said 85% of members backed the industrial action

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow described the company's offer as "paltry". He added: "It would have left our members out of pocket and which was loaded with strings.

Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) say that they are "surprised and disappointed".

"Our members would have ended up with inferior working conditions for a de facto pay cut".

"Arriva Trains Wales have shown us in the clearest possible terms that they have no wish to properly reward the hard work and loyalty to the staff and are motivated solely by the drive for bigger profits to line the pockets of the shareholders".

"That is why we have balloted for industrial action and why our members have delivered this overwhelming mandate," Mr Crow added.

Last month a planned stoppage at Arriva Trains Wales by members of the drivers' union Aslef was called off.

An ATW spokeswoman said: "We are surprised and disappointed that the RMT has chosen to ballot for industrial action, based on a previous pay offer which has since been superseded by a significantly improved offer."

The spokeswoman added that ATW train drivers were represented by two trade unions, ASLEF & RMT, and that ASLEF had recommended the latest pay offer to its members for acceptance.
 
Arrivatrainsnails thinks...........

It is time that we, as paying passengers did something to try and make things better for the future. We are entitled to a good service, but all we seem to get is poor service. Why should we have to put up with bad customer service, delayed/cancelled services, over crowded carriages and hiking ticket prices??
 So the train drivers are not happy with working conditions? Well us passengers are not happy with travel conditions!

£22m railway station fails to impress passengers

IT was billed as the £22m jewel that would welcome the world to Wales for the Ryder Cup.

But after a string of complaints about Newport railway station, city council and regeneration bosses are demanding a meeting with Network Rail to end problems dogging the Assembly Government-funded site – which publicity posters insisted make the industrial city look like a futuristic Tokyo.

Gareth Beer, chief executive of Newport Unlimited, the company responsible for regeneration of the area, said: “There are concerns that have been expressed about some aspects of the station, from members of the public themselves who use the station.”


Passengers have complained the bare metal building – about 200 yards from the old one – has no clocks, is cold, has poor signage and no information desk.

Some have been unimpressed the cafe is still located by the old station and that they have to go to the back of the new premises to visit the relocated WHSmith.

On platform one the electronic sign announcing when the next train is due is still outside the old station building.

Staff sources at the site have admitted they dislike it.

One Twitter user – dubbed Arrivatrainsnails – has even devoted their page to criticism of the station and rail service.

Mr Beer is hoping to meet Network Rail in the next week to 10 days with Newport Council managing director Tracy Lee.

He said: “We are in the process of compiling a list of issues.

“Some of them are about the construction, painting has not been finished off after the effort to get the station finished for the Ryder Cup.

“But also I think some of the things are about organisation and signage.

“It is not immediately clear how you get from one platform to the other, where the exits are.

“Some of these are perhaps really simple things to deal with but perhaps (arose) because it was completed in a rush towards the end.

“I think it was always aimed toward the Ryder Cup, but there are always delays. They finished the station for the Ryder Cup, but I suspect the focus was in getting the project finished rather than making sure every little detail is perfect.”

Ms Lee said: “This is a key gateway to the city and it is important that it creates the right impression.

“The railway plays a vital part in our public transport strategy and we do not want people to be deterred from using the trains.”

Angela Roberts runs The Pot Cafe in Newport Arcade, near the old station.

The 49-year-old’s takings are down from £5,000 to £2,000 a week since the relocation.

Branding the station a “disgrace”, she said: “People used to come in for breakfast on the way to work but that has all stopped. There are times now when we don’t get anyone in here.”

Simon Pickering, from train watchdog Passenger Focus Wales, said: “Passengers have raised concerns with us about some aspects of the new station. We have raised these issues with the industry and have been assured that passenger issues are being addressed.”

In response to the council’s desire to meet, a Network Rail spokeswoman questioned whether it was accountable to the authority, saying: “They don’t own the railway.”

She added: “Since the station opened we have received much positive feedback and we have also started to see passenger numbers rising.”

She claimed some issues were the responsibility of Arriva Trains Wales.

A spokeswoman for Arriva said complaints about the infrastructure should be referred to Network Rail.

*Story published by the Western Mail. Read it here* 

Quiz

Question:

How many men does it take to change a lightbulb???

Answer:

SIX - One to change the bulb, Two to hold the ladder, Two to hold the old bulb and One to stand and supervise!

IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH

CITY bosses are demanding urgent talks with Network Rail to discuss the increasing number of complaints being made about Newport’s new train station. The new station opened to much fanfare in September as part of a £22 million improvement programme. But since then the council has been made aware of an increasing number of complaints about the facilities and services offered.

According to Network Rail much of the feedback has been positive. But passengers have complained that the lack of information desk and the fact that there is only one ticket desk is a problem and they have complained that the main concourse is cold and not passenger friendly. Others say the cafe and WH Smith shop are now too far away from platforms two and three to be any use. They say there is a lack of signs and the lifts are often not working.

The situation has become so bad that Newport council's managing director Tracy Lee and Newport Unlimited chief executive Gareth Beer are calling for a meeting with Network Rail to try to address the problems as quickly as possible. Ms Lee said: “This is a key gateway to the city and it is important that it creates the right impression. “The railway plays a vital part in our public transport strategy and we do not want people to be deterred from using the trains.”

Mr Beer added: “Newport railway station is crucial to the regeneration of the city. We welcomed the investment by Network Rail but want the station to offer the best possible environment and facilities for those living, working and visiting Newport.”

Regular commuter Zack Marston, aged 21, of Marple Avenue, Chepstow, said: "The crossing to get to the shops and cafés has moved and it is a bit out of the way if you want to use them whilst waiting for a connection." Meanwhile city traders remain unimpressed.

Angela Roberts, who runs The Pot cafe in Newport Arcade, said her trade had been hit since the entrance was moved.

Phae Cole, of gift shop Bethan Ltd, said the lack of signs and the distance of the shop from the platforms showed a serious lack of planning.

Jane Turner, 53, who runs The Butcher's Table fast food outlet on High street, said: "The crossing is further away from the shops, which puts people off shopping here. People ask me where the new entrance is. It’s confusing for the elderly and disabled if they need information and there is no one to speak to."

A Network Rail spokesman said the upgrade of Newport station had brought many benefits for passengers and since the station opened it had received much positive feedback.

Source taken from South Wales Argus, Click here to view

How to waste £22 million

This video shows you how £22 million was easily wasted

Welcome to the Arrivatrainsnails Blog

The Arrivatrainsnails website has been created by me - Steve and a few passengers who are tired of being insulted and spoken to with a real bad attitude by unhelpful station staff and we're giving others the chance to speak up and make the management and staff sit up and take notice that we are no longer willing to put up with it.

Arrivatrainsnails.co.uk will enable passengers who have also suffered the bad customer service to tell the world their story. So why not send us details of your experiences at Newport and we'll publish them on our site. Tell your friends and colleagues about us and ask them to visit Arrivatrainsnails and help us to change things for the better and start shaming those with poor customer service!

This blog will be updated on a regular basis, trying to keep you updated on whats happening @ Newport