Today, I’m “spare”.

Our service only runs between Dartford and Kentish Town today, so the likelihood of being used is very slim.

#TrainToot

I was “spare” today but when I checked online earlier, I saw that I had been given a bit of Luton work right at the end of my day, so I rang the Resource Manager to ask if I could come in later; he agreed.

I drive from Gillingham to London Bridge and then travel back home for the day.

#TrainToot

Today, I’m on the same job which I had on Wednesday. I drive from Gillingham to Rainham and up to West Hampstead Thameslink (where the service terminates) before taking the unit as ECS to Cricklewood Sidings via the Wash Road and berthing it there. I then have a 2 hour break.

After the break, I’m supposed to travel to London Bridge to relieve a Luton driver and drive back to Gillingham, but instead I’ll travel back to St. Pancras International and relieve them on their way to Kentish Town (which is where that service terminates before heading back to Gillingham) so that they can get away earlier. Today, the driver is a Luton driver and I know I can do them a favour.

I drive back to Gillingham (where the service terminates) and I’m done for the day, so get a taxi home.

#TrainToot

Yesterday, I couldn’t do a favour for a Luton driver as their job was being covered by a Gillingham driver due to a staff shortage. As the Gillingham driver had to come back to Gillingham anyway, they did me a favour and drove my last train back so I got to head straight home from Cricklewood.

Today, I definitely can do someone a favour.

I drive from Gillingham to Rainham and then up to London Bridge. Ordinarily, I’d travel back on the next train and have a 1.5 hour break at Gillingham, but instead I’ll drive that train to Rainham and back to Gillingham, finishing the other driver’s job for him, meaning he can head home 1.5 hours earlier. I’ll then take a 1 hour break before driving from Gillingham to Dartford (where the service terminates) and then drive the unit as ECS back to Gillingham depot, where I berth the unit for the night and get a taxi home.

#TrainToot

I’m back for the start of my week of late shifts.

Today, I drive from Gillingham to Rainham and up to West Hampstead Thameslink (where the service terminates) before taking the unit as ECS to Cricklewood Sidings via the Wash Road and berthing it there. I then have a 2 hour break.

After the break, I’m supposed to travel to London Bridge to relieve a Luton driver and drive back to Gillingham, but instead I’ll travel back to St. Pancras International and relieve them on their way to Kentish Town (which is where that service terminates before heading back to Gillingham) so that they can get away earlier.

I drive back to Gillingham (where the service terminates) and then travel home, but I believe I’ll have another driver travelling back on my train from London Bridge who said I could jump out at my home station and he’ll drive the train back to Gillingham for me.

#TrainToot

I’m in for some overtime today, but only to cover part of a Luton job.

I travel from Gillingham to Luton and drive a train from there back to Gillingham, where I’m done for the day. That’s it 🤷🏼‍♂️

#TrainToot

I’m in for an extra Sunday today. All Sundays are optional and paid at an enhanced overtime rate, but we get rostered a lot of them anyway. Most of us just work them for the extra money but because they’re optional, we can opt out of working them.

Today, I travel to London Bridge and then drive an amended Three Bridges to West Hampstead Thameslink service to West Hampstead Thameslink and back to London Bridge again.

I have a 2 hour break before driving my regular service to Rainham and back up to Gillingham, where I’m done for the day.

As our service is running hourly today, the turnaround time at Rainham is 45 minutes instead of the usual 15.

#TrainToot

I’m in for overtime today, on our second-earliest shift (04:14 book-on).

I get a taxi to Rochester and prepare the unit berthed there before driving it as ECS to Dartford. From there, I drive in service to Gillingham, where I have an hour break.

After the break, I drive from Gillingham to West Hampstead Thameslink (where the service terminates) and then as ECS into Cricklewood Depot via the Wash Road before travelling home.

#TrainToot

I ended up cancelling my service back from Luton to Rainham at St. Albans City due to a faulty air-conditioning unit in the cab, which was making such a groaning noise that I couldn’t concentrate properly. When the first 700s came into service, a lot of them had this issue so Siemens had to replace faulty parts in them… this particular unit had decided to play up again!

From St. Albans City, I took the unit as ECS into Cricklewood depot and then travelled home as at that point, there was no way to make my time back up and put the service right.

#TrainToot

RE: https://rear.train.cab/notes/alx3kk2brgye0001

Good morning!

Today, I get a taxi to Rochester Down Loop and prepare the unit berthed there before I drive it as ECS to Rainham. From Rainham, I drive in service to Luton, where I have an hour break.

After the break, I drive back to Rainham and up to Gillingham, where I’m done for the day.

#TrainToot