michael adams wrote:

"Recliner" wrote in message
...

The wheel flats were not caused by lack of maintenance. They were
caused by drivers locking the brakes on slippery track, causing the
wheels to slide along the track, which creates a flat spot. That's a
combination of a possible lack of drivers' skills and LU's failure to
use the RAT frequently enough after Storm Angus brought down a lot of
leaves in a short period.

How is LU's failure to use the RAT frequently enough to keep the
track clear of leaves, not evidence of a lack of maintenance ?

You were saying that the train maintenance was being skimped, which is not
the case. LU was at fault for not realising that a big storm when most of
the leaves were still on the trees would cause an unusually high incidence
of leaves on the line, requiring more frequent RAT runs for the next few
days. BTW, where do you think the extra RATs that are compatible with the
line would come from?


Given that this number of flats and trains being taken out of
service had not previously resulted from drivers locking their
brakes on slippery track, this can't be the result of a lack
of drivers skills as such.

There were more new drivers than usual, plus perhaps some of the existing
ones were out of practice at the beginning of autumn with driving on
slippery rails?


It's surely more a case of the drivers not having been trained to
drive their trains in situations where the tracks are covered in
wet leaves. Possibly as a result of a decision not to run the RAT
often enough, or simply as the result of a breakdown of some kind.

Don't forget Angus.

So that's a clear failure of management on two counts.
First a failure to run the RAT often enough in this particular
instance. And second a failure to implement a training programme
allowing for the possibility that for some reason the line
might be covered in wet leaves or similar making it exceptionally
slippery.

OK, you win, every problem is by definition caused by evil, incompetent
management, and the drivers are all perfect human beings, incapable of any
human frailty. All of the occasions when they take industrial action are
completely justified, and the unions are there purely to look after the
safety of passengers.