MBTA Commuter Rail reports the 12:20 p.m. train to Providence is just sitting at South Station with its doors closed because of a "crew availability issue," i.e., they can't find anybody to work that train.
This was a huge issue a couple of years ago (pre-pandemic) with the commuter rail system in New Jersey. A large percentage of trips had to be cancelled due to not having enough staff available, for several months at least.
Yes.
It was at least partly an attrition issue - particularly engineers. Metro-North and possibly one or two other railroads were paying more for the same job grade. NJT had had some undersized or canceled training classes for a couple of years.
I forget if this was a causal-related problem, or just overlapping/aggravated by... A couple of years ago they also had the "summer of hell" and a sequel - construction & crash repairs at NYPenn impacted NJT platforms, and they had equipment & sometimes lines out of service as they staggered to the finish line on Positive Train Control. There were a LOT of schedule disruptions, and possibly some pushback from the union(s) on sick time and replacement shifts.
Comments
Wow
That's different.
Did they board passengers
Did they board passengers first?
New Jersey
This was a huge issue a couple of years ago (pre-pandemic) with the commuter rail system in New Jersey. A large percentage of trips had to be cancelled due to not having enough staff available, for several months at least.
Yes.
Yes.
It was at least partly an attrition issue - particularly engineers. Metro-North and possibly one or two other railroads were paying more for the same job grade. NJT had had some undersized or canceled training classes for a couple of years.
I forget if this was a causal-related problem, or just overlapping/aggravated by... A couple of years ago they also had the "summer of hell" and a sequel - construction & crash repairs at NYPenn impacted NJT platforms, and they had equipment & sometimes lines out of service as they staggered to the finish line on Positive Train Control. There were a LOT of schedule disruptions, and possibly some pushback from the union(s) on sick time and replacement shifts.
This problem must be studied extensively.
Call McKinsey.
Whispering:
Pay them more.
Both responses above...
One is necessary, the other will probably occur.