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WCRC Suspended- Again

You are here: Home > Forum > Miscellaneous > The real thing (anything else rail-oriented) > WCRC Suspended- Again

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WCRC Suspended- Again 17/02/2016 at 18:04 #80735
Steamer
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West Coast Railway Company has had its operating license suspended by the ORR as of 18/02/2016, after failing to implement improvements following its previous suspension.

The decision letter from the ORR to WCRC can be read here:

http://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/20848/2016-02-17-decision-letter-to-west-coast-railway.pdf

It appears that lessons were not learnt and hints not taken...

"Don't stress/ relax/ let life roll off your backs./ Except for death and paying taxes/ everything in life.../ is only for now." (Avenue Q)
Last edited: 17/02/2016 at 18:05 by Steamer
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WCRC Suspended- Again 17/02/2016 at 19:24 #80737
jc92
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The NRM finally gets scotsman completed and then they haven't got anyone to crew it!

I'm suprised there hasnt been a rival company set up to supply charter services against WCRC. Theres plenty of places suitable and for sale (Crewe Diesel for instance) and players with the financial position to do it.

"We don't stop camborne wednesdays"
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WCRC Suspended- Again 17/02/2016 at 20:32 #80738
tjfrancis
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Do Drs have any steam train drivers or can we use heritage railway drivers just get then trained and insurance for mainline.
I am dyslexic so please consider this when reading my posts
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WCRC Suspended- Again 17/02/2016 at 20:38 #80739
valenta43002
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Crew diesel is leased to Jeremy Hoskings for his steam engines, there is a rumour he might buy West Coast out
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WCRC Suspended- Again 17/02/2016 at 23:45 #80744
Steamer
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" said:
Do Drs have any steam train drivers or can we use heritage railway drivers just get then trained and insurance for mainline.
To operate steam trains, the TOC must have steam traction on their safety case. The only TOCs to have this (as far as I'm aware) are WCRC and DBS. If DRS wanted to get into the steam market, they'd have to complete the necessary paperwork. Ditto heritage line drivers- they would have to be employed (if only on a zero-hours type contract) by a TOC and meet their requirements in terms of route knowledge, traction handling etc. There is the added complication that DBS won't touch vacuum-braked stock at present, so certain owning groups (Tyseley is one I believe) with vac locos are without an operator at present.

"Don't stress/ relax/ let life roll off your backs./ Except for death and paying taxes/ everything in life.../ is only for now." (Avenue Q)
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WCRC Suspended- Again 18/02/2016 at 09:36 #80750
Danny252
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" said:
Ditto heritage line drivers- they would have to be employed (if only on a zero-hours type contract) by a TOC and meet their requirements in terms of route knowledge, traction handling etc.
Although the ORR's letter implies that they aren't very keen on zero-hours contracts being used for that purpose, with WCRC being required to move their employees to a "more appropriate form of employment".

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WCRC Suspended- Again 18/02/2016 at 10:54 #80751
tjfrancis
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tyseley is run by WCRC but they was but they may be going to DBS as they do have some steam drivers as they do the belmond british pullman train and the railway touring e.l.c.
I am dyslexic so please consider this when reading my posts
Last edited: 18/02/2016 at 11:40 by tjfrancis
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WCRC Suspended- Again 18/02/2016 at 11:36 #80752
Danny252
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About the only correct statement in that post is that WCRC run the services from Tyseley. DRS do not run any steam services, do not run the Belmond British Pullman services (DBS run those), and do not run the Railway Touring Company services (WCRC run, or ran, those).
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WCRC Suspended- Again 18/02/2016 at 11:41 #80753
tjfrancis
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danny i thnk you miss read my post i did say DBS and Railway Touring Company services do use DBS on some tours but use
I am dyslexic so please consider this when reading my posts
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WCRC Suspended- Again 18/02/2016 at 12:30 #80754
headshot119
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" said:
tyseley is run by WCRC but they was but they may be going to DBS as they do have some steam drivers as they do the belmond british pullman train and the railway touring e.l.c.
DBS won't go near anything that doesn't have air brakes. Mainline steam isn't exactly my biggest area of knowledge (being in the DMU preservation movement) but aren't most of the WCRC locomotives and stock vacumn braked?

"Passengers for New Lane, should be seated in the rear coach of the train " - Opinions are my own and not those of my employer
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WCRC Suspended- Again 18/02/2016 at 13:05 #80755
Danny252
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" said:
danny i thnk you miss read my post i did say DBS
Perhaps after the edit timed after my reply, yes!

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WCRC Suspended- Again 18/02/2016 at 14:14 #80756
tjfrancis
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" said:
" said:
danny i thnk you miss read my post i did say DBS
Perhaps after the edit timed after my reply, yes!
text was not edit just putting some grammar in to the post.

I am dyslexic so please consider this when reading my posts
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WCRC Suspended- Again 19/02/2016 at 12:52 #80775
Underwood
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No notice on their tour site surprisingly, all tours still available to book!

http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/railtours/

I booked the Penzance tour that's on at the end of April, probably won't happen now, in which case I'd want a refund and I'll just book the Mazey Day tour with Pathfinder instead

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WCRC Suspended- Again 27/03/2016 at 20:35 #81423
belly buster
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Rail ban lifted on 'near miss' steam train firm

Quote:
A rail ban on a steam train operator accused of posing a "serious risk" to the network has been lifted.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said it was now "satisfied" with measures taken by West Coast Railways.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35899187

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WCRC Suspended- Again 28/03/2016 at 08:46 #81430
BarryM
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" said:
Rail ban lifted on 'near miss' steam train firm

Quote:
A rail ban on a steam train operator accused of posing a "serious risk" to the network has been lifted.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said it was now "satisfied" with measures taken by West Coast Railways.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35899187
Does not say much about the Company & Driver having to face court over Health & Safety regulations.

Barry

Barry, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Last edited: 28/03/2016 at 08:47 by BarryM
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WCRC Suspended- Again 28/03/2016 at 09:53 #81434
Steamer
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" said:
" said:
Rail ban lifted on 'near miss' steam train firm

Quote:
A rail ban on a steam train operator accused of posing a "serious risk" to the network has been lifted.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said it was now "satisfied" with measures taken by West Coast Railways.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35899187
Does not say much about the Company & Driver having to face court over Health & Safety regulations.

Barry
Court proceedings are ongoing regarding the Wooton Bassett incident, and it sounds like they're going to drag on for a while.

"Don't stress/ relax/ let life roll off your backs./ Except for death and paying taxes/ everything in life.../ is only for now." (Avenue Q)
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WCRC Suspended- Again 28/03/2016 at 12:19 #81441
bfcmik
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The latest suspension was as a result of several less newsworthy breaches of HSE regulations and other protocols rather than the Wooton Bassett incident. There were accusations of management complicity in ignoring potential serious issues with locos and rolling stock in the interests of getting a train 'out there' and cutting costs.

These are what ORR says it is now satisfied with.

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WCRC Suspended- Again 17/04/2016 at 09:07 #81878
Peter Bennet
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Involved in another incident at Bath Spa I read the other day. Train stopped short then moved forward with the doors open.
Someone has now leaked the incident log which makes for interesting reading.


Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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WCRC Suspended- Again 17/04/2016 at 14:37 #81882
Dhassell
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Where can this be found?
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WCRC Suspended- Again 17/04/2016 at 15:06 #81883
Sacro
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On WNXX, free login is required, I'll post the Google Cache link when it becomes available.
Last edited: 17/04/2016 at 15:06 by Sacro
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WCRC Suspended- Again 17/04/2016 at 15:20 #81884
postal
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" said:
Where can this be found?
Well I put "WCRC Bath Spa doors open" into Google and 2 of the first 4 entries linked to the story.

In fairness to WCRC, further down the Google list is the link to the ORR Suspension Letter (https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=9&ved=0ahUKEwj1mt6i_JXMAhVHVRoKHRpZBhUQFghPMAg&url=http%3A%2F%2Forr.gov.uk%2F__data%2F) in which WCRC say they have no knowledge of such an incident. WCRC state that when brakes were released at departure there was a movement backwards but this after all passengers were on board and the doors locked.

“In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe
Last edited: 17/04/2016 at 15:29 by postal
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WCRC Suspended- Again 17/04/2016 at 16:01 #81885
Peter Bennet
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" said:
" said:
Where can this be found?
Well I put "WCRC Bath Spa doors open" into Google and 2 of the first 4 entries linked to the story.

In fairness to WCRC, further down the Google list is the link to the ORR Suspension Letter (https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=9&ved=0ahUKEwj1mt6i_JXMAhVHVRoKHRpZBhUQFghPMAg&url=http%3A%2F%2Forr.gov.uk%2F__data%2F) in which WCRC say they have no knowledge of such an incident. WCRC state that when brakes were released at departure there was a movement backwards but this after all passengers were on board and the doors locked.
That's an old incident, this one allegedly occured last Wednesday. The leak is also reporduced on Scot-Rail forum.
I'm reluctant to link or reproduce but like celebrity gagging orders they can be found if you look.

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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WCRC Suspended- Again 17/04/2016 at 21:25 #81889
RainbowNines
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I've read the incident log as reproduced on WNXX. It is... Illuminating. What a mess!

Be interested to see if RAIB consider it worthy of investigation - it doesn't really fit their mandatory criteria but given the circumstances in the incident log, and with the backdrop of WCRC's recent escapades, I have a suspicion they might pick it up. Their Wootton Bassett report is now in consulting stage so they're unlikely to make reference to this incident in that.

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