wrote in message ...

As a consequence of everything being so tight, a driver requesting time
out "or special leave" as it's known) may be refused. This is the same for
whether the special leave is at the beginning or end of the duty, or for a
day or more. If it's for a day in advance and cover is available, it might
be possible for that person to arrange to take a day or more of their
leave at that time. In which case, that time off would be shown as leave
and he would be paid as normal and it wouldn't go against them. This is
normally the case if more than the allowed time off for funerals is
required.

One of the few exceptions for not granting special leave would be a
funeral. A driver phoning in to say that they have to wait in because
somebody is late turing up, a plumber etc. is late finishing, they have to
pick up their children from school etc. will normally be given short
shrift and told to "be in on time or you'll be booked" because if they're
not in on time, it may be that their train (or another train later because
a spare is already being used) is cancelled.

Is it possible for drivers to agree to swap shifts with each other?

Peter Smyth