Circle Line

[SE13]

As the name suggests, the line is a circle, so do the trains quite literally just go round and round and round?

If so this must be monotomy for the drivers! also if this is the case, how do the crews get round the monotony?

[citysig]

Yes, apart from positioning moves in the early morning/late evening, they do spend their day going round and round - 7 trains on each side.

It is very soul-destroying for the drivers. I don't think there is any way to overcome the boredom in an official sense.

[tom2506]

It must be even worse for drivers on the Glasgow Subway because the route there is a circle and the trains are ATO + there are only 15 stations.

[Colin]

The drivers on the Circle line also work the Hammersmith and City line.
As far as I know, wherever possible, only 1 half of a duty is spent on the Circle's with the remainder on the H & C.

[chris]

I think W&C would be awful to drive.

[Deleted]

I think the ruling is a driver can do no more than 4 Circles in one part of a duty, and no more than 7 in a whole day. Mind you I should imagine that's enough for anybody

[solidbond]

alexh said:

I think the ruling is a driver can do no more than 4 Circles in one part of a duty, and no more than 7 in a whole day. Mind you I should imagine that's enough for anybody

Before OPO, they could do 4 Circles on one train, on either or both halves of a duty. When OPO came in it was limited to 3 Circles on a train, then at least a 10 min break, and a max of 6 Circles on a duty.
When Company Plan came in, the 6 Circle limit was removed, and, due to changes in rostering, it was possible, and indeed happened, that there were duties with 2 Circles before meal relief, followed by 3 and 2 Circles after meal relief - and these could all be in the same direction . There was one Saturday duty that had 5 Circles before the meal relief (3 + 2), another 2 Circles after AND a Whitechapel and back to Edgware Road .
However, during the mid-90's, the union reps at ERD were given the opportunity to write their own sheets, and were asked if there were any parameters they wished to have included. The RMT rep suggested that a max of 6 Circles be restored, but also that duties should be limited to no more than 4 Circles on either half of a duty, and no more than 4 Circles on one side in the course of a duty, although H&C work could be included in addition to the above, it would at least provide some variety. The reps were given 2 weeks to write their own duties, while duty schedules were also working on them.
Whilst compiling the sheets, the reps picked up on a couple of 'awkward' parts in the timetable, which could be easily resolved by re-timing a couple of trains. This was suggested to management, who agreed that they would change the timetable to suit.
On completion of the exercise, the union reps and duty schedules people met with line management, and each side presented their sheets. Needless to say, duty schedules picked lots of holes in the sheets the reps produced, although the reps countered that had they been given FULL information, they could have worked round a lot of them. In the event, the reps sheets were deemed not usable - HOWEVER - duty schedules were very concerned at how well the sheets had been prepared, with all trains manned at all times, and no trains with more than one operator booked on it at a time! And given that the reps had NEVER written a duty sheet in their lives, they considered this quite impressive ;D and were concerned that their own jobs could be at risk. As a result, although the reps sheets were discarded, the rostering parameters that they had suggested were implemented, and they still exist to this day.
The Train Crew Manager at the time was asked how much Duty Schedules had expected the reps to do in the 2 weeks. He replied 'about 50% of the M-F sheets' The reps had ACTUALLY finished the M-F sheets, and were halfway through the Saturday sheets ;D ;D


BTW - the RMT rep at the time was yours truly ;D ;D

[Deleted]

SB, you don't fancy trying to work out some new sheets for Acton Town abolishing the remote booking on and off, do you?

[Deleted]

chris said:

I think W&C would be awful to drive.

The drivers don't only work the W&C they also work on the Central line as they work from Leytonstone Depot.

[Deleted]

jim said:

The drivers don't only work the W&C they also work on the Central line as they work from Leytonstone Depot.

But for most of them, the only time they see the central line is when they have their refresher that they have to have!!

[igelkotten]

So, do W&C drivers get issued with a bottle of sedatives with every paycheck to keep them from going insane with boredom?

[Deleted]

igelkotten said:

So, do W&C drivers get issued with a bottle of sedatives with every paycheck to keep them from going insane with boredom?

Most of the W&C drivers do it day in, day out as its all arranged for them as thats what they like. I would say its an easy life down there, compared with mainline driving on the central.

[SE13]

The Circle question answered, and thanks for that.... BUT then just to further whip open the wasps nest, how about The East London Line drivers? Do they also work on different lines, or again the monotony of switching between Shoreditch-New Cross and Shoreditch-NCGate? (But seeing as I am from Lewisham, I can only imagine it to be a pure pleasure to drive there!!)