Staffing on regional trains and intercity locals

[Clark F Morris]

What is the staffing on trains like the Norwegian line to Boda using
the tilting Talents and the German IC trains between Stuttgart and
Nurnberg. Swiss and French staffing on sets like the Bombardier AGC
dual mode equipment and the local trains would also be of interest as
would that for Swedish rural services. I am looking to compare this
to Via Rail and Amtrak Staffing.

Clark Morris

[Jishnu Mukerji]

Post by Clark F Morris
What is the staffing on trains like the Norwegian line to Boda using
the tilting Talents and the German IC trains between Stuttgart and
Nurnberg. Swiss and French staffing on sets like the Bombardier AGC
dual mode equipment and the local trains would also be of interest as
would that for Swedish rural services. I am looking to compare this
to Via Rail and Amtrak Staffing.
Clark Morris

I did the trip from Bodo to Trondheim and then to Oslo with a side trip
to Andalsnese several year back before the Talents went on that route.
On the classic equipment loco pulled train as far as I could tell there
were two conductors and whatever engine staff there was. That was it.

[bob]

Post by Clark F Morris
What is the staffing on trains like the Norwegian line to Boda using
the tilting Talents and the German IC trains between Stuttgart and
Nurnberg.  Swiss and French staffing on sets like the Bombardier AGC
dual mode equipment and the local trains would also be of interest as
would that for Swedish rural services.  I am looking to compare this
to Via Rail and Amtrak Staffing.

Local trains in CH generally run with the driver only, with occasional
checks by teams of ticket checkers who get on a strategic locations,
check the tickets, and get off to get on a different train in the
other direction. I'm not sure this applies to older stock, but
certainly newer units, such as the FLIRTs (similar to the SNCF AGC)
are operated in this way.

Robin

[Neil Williams]

Post by bob
Local trains in CH generally run with the driver only, with occasional
checks by teams of ticket checkers who get on a strategic locations,
check the tickets, and get off to get on a different train in the
other direction. I'm not sure this applies to older stock

Yes, it does. The doors on most of the EW I/IIs were changed to allow them
to be run as DOO.

To be fair, most of the Swiss system is almost DOO anyway, as the departure
procedure does not provide for feedback once the guard has closed the
doors. So while the driver doesn't close them, he has to look in a mirror
to see if they are closed before departing.

A quite dangerous (trains often leave with doors open, but most have been
modified to apply closure pressure automatically about every 30 seconds
when moving, so they close themselves soon enough) but quite fast method of
operation...

Neil

[Ales Casar]

Post by bob
Local trains in CH generally run with the driver only, with occasional
checks by teams of ticket checkers who get on a strategic locations,
check the tickets, and get off to get on a different train in the
other direction.

And how do you buy a ticket if you board a train at unmanned station?

Ales

[Neil Williams]

Post by Ales Casar

Post by bob
Local trains in CH generally run with the driver only, with occasional
checks by teams of ticket checkers who get on a strategic locations,
check the tickets, and get off to get on a different train in the
other direction.

And how do you buy a ticket if you board a train at unmanned station?

At the machine. These sell pretty much every domestic ticket possible and
accept cash and cards, so there is no excuse unless it's broken. They are
present at pretty much every station.

Essentially the entire of CH's domestic rail system operates Penalty Fares,
at a whacking rate as well (on current exchange rates about 80 quid on top
of the fare unpaid), and on local trains I think zero tolerance, though on
long distance trains with guards there are several official get-outs.

I write this from an SBB train near Olten...with a valid ticket! ;)

Neil

[bob]

Post by Neil Williams

Post by Ales Casar

Post by bob
Local trains in CH generally run with the driver only, with occasional
checks by teams of ticket checkers who get on a strategic locations,
check the tickets, and get off to get on a different train in the
other direction.

And how do you buy a ticket if you board a train at unmanned station?

At the machine. These sell pretty much every domestic ticket possible and
accept cash and cards, so there is no excuse unless it's broken. They are
present at pretty much every station.

The smartphone apps also let you buy tickets on them. The standard
ticket machines are really very good (they sell all kinds of things you
might not expect to be able to get from a machine, like Snow 'n Rail
combined railway and ski lift passes). They also sell "local"
international tickets to places like Konstanz or Domodossola (I've
never tried to get longer distance international tickets, though it may
well be that they can do some of them too).

Post by Neil Williams
Essentially the entire of CH's domestic rail system operates Penalty Fares,
at a whacking rate as well (on current exchange rates about 80 quid on top
of the fare unpaid), and on local trains I think zero tolerance, though on
long distance trains with guards there are several official get-outs.

CHF 90 (about GBP 60) for a first offence. My experience is that the
ticket checkers are usually pretty reasonable. I have found myself
with the wrong ticket a couple of times. Once it was just after the
validity of a particular ticket type had been changed and I had not
realised, on which occasion he sold me the right ticket for the
difference in fares, the second time I had bought the late-night
supplement for the wrong region (Zug rather than Zürich) in error, on
which occasion the ticket checker called his colleague over so that
they could both have a laugh at the "dumb tourist" who made such a
silly mistake, before moving on.

Robin

[Neil Williams]

Post by bob
The smartphone apps also let you buy tickets on them. The standard
ticket machines are really very good (they sell all kinds of things you
might not expect to be able to get from a machine, like Snow 'n Rail
combined railway and ski lift passes). They also sell "local"
international tickets to places like Konstanz or Domodossola (I've never
tried to get longer distance international tickets, though it may well be
that they can do some of them too).

I would be wary of using the mobile app for ticketing because of the
swingeing PF if your battery runs out.

As for Konstanz and Domodossola, those are domestic for SBB's purposes.
(Interestingly I am typing this from a hotel room in Konstanz, and will be
passing through Domodossola en route from Milan to Brig then Vevey on
Monday!)

Freilassing to Salzburg is similar for DB's purposes.

Post by bob
CHF 90 (about GBP 60) for a first offence.

Sorry, I got mixed up. CHF 120 on some of the "private" railways.

Like everything in CH it is done professionally, though. None of the PFI
thuggery you often seem to get in the UK.

Neil

[bob]

Post by Neil Williams

The smartphone apps also let you buy tickets on them.  The standard
ticket machines are really very good (they sell all kinds of things you
might not expect to be able to get from a machine, like Snow 'n Rail
combined railway and ski lift passes).  They also sell "local"
international tickets to places like Konstanz or Domodossola (I've never
tried to get longer distance international tickets, though it may well be
that they can do some of them too).

I would be wary of using the mobile app for ticketing because of the
swingeing PF if your battery runs out.
As for Konstanz and Domodossola, those are domestic for SBB's purposes.
(Interestingly I am typing this from a hotel room in Konstanz, and will be
passing through Domodossola en route from Milan to Brig then Vevey on
Monday!)

They are SBB operated and included in the Swiss ticketing system, but
I'm pretty sure tickets to them are still marked as "CIV" (tickets to
Waldshut, which is in a similar situation certainly are). Perhaps you
are in a position to confirm this? I think I threw out the ticekt
form my recent visit to Konstanz last time I had a clear out of dead
tickets.

Post by Neil Williams
Freilassing to Salzburg is similar for DB's purposes.

I eexpect there are plenty of examples around Europe for similar
border crossings.

Robin

[Neil Williams]

Post by bob
They are SBB operated and included in the Swiss ticketing system, but
I'm pretty sure tickets to them are still marked as "CIV" (tickets to
Waldshut, which is in a similar situation certainly are).

Konstanz was on a normal SBB ticket, indeed the part of the station you
arrive in is I think legally in Switzerland and operated by SBB (probably
similar to the bit of Kent that if I recall is rented to the French).
Domodossola is harder to call as the main service is the EC Pendolino which
is global fare (with a curious plus/minus 48 hour validity) so gets issued
on a CIV ticket plus reservation in one go blank, though the ticket I have
is from Milan and thus would be anyway. If you travel on the regional
train to Iselle I reckon that would be a vanilla SBB ticket but I have
never bought one.

As for Freilassing DB issue all tickets, domestic or international, on CIV
blanks so that distinction isn't visible.

Post by bob
I eexpect there are plenty of examples around Europe for similar
border crossings.

I reckon so.

Neil

[Neil Williams]

Post by bob
CHF 90 (about GBP 60) for a first offence. My experience is that the
ticket checkers are usually pretty reasonable. I have found myself with
the wrong ticket a couple of times. Once it was just after the validity
of a particular ticket type had been changed and I had not realised, on
which occasion he sold me the right ticket for the difference in fares,
the second time I had bought the late-night supplement for the wrong
region (Zug rather than Zürich) in error, on which occasion the ticket
checker called his colleague over so that they could both have a laugh at
the "dumb tourist" who made such a silly mistake, before moving on.

On trains carrying guards, clueless tourist errors are one of the
documented specific exemptions where a PF need not be issued.

Neil

[Oliver Schnell]

Post by Clark F Morris
What is the staffing on trains like the Norwegian line to Boda using
the tilting Talents and the German IC trains between Stuttgart and
Nurnberg.

On these IC trains: 2 conductors, 1 driver. In former times, when those
trains had a bistro car / trolley service: additionally 1 steward.

Other long-distance trains: 1 driver, up to 4 conductors, up to
3 stewards (if there is a full-service restaurant car) and 1 cleaner.
Depending on train capacity, expected passenger demand;
may vary along the route, the weekday and by saison.


Oliver Schnell

[TimB]

Post by Clark F Morris
What is the staffing on trains like the Norwegian line to Boda using
the tilting Talents and the German IC trains between Stuttgart and
Nurnberg. Swiss and French staffing on sets like the Bombardier AGC
dual mode equipment and the local trains would also be of interest as
would that for Swedish rural services. I am looking to compare this
to Via Rail and Amtrak Staffing.
Clark Morris

Short answer - Amtrak is ridiculously overstaffed. VIA is probably similar.

[Philip Richards]

Post by TimB

Post by Clark F Morris
What is the staffing on trains like the Norwegian line to Boda using
the tilting Talents and the German IC trains between Stuttgart and
Nurnberg. Swiss and French staffing on sets like the Bombardier AGC
dual mode equipment and the local trains would also be of interest as
would that for Swedish rural services. I am looking to compare this
to Via Rail and Amtrak Staffing.
Clark Morris

Short answer - Amtrak is ridiculously overstaffed. VIA is probably similar.

No surprise as the trains have catering and sleeping car crews. You
might want to look at the number of staff say on a City Night Line or
Elipsos overnight service as a comparison.

[Oliver Schnell]

Post by Philip Richards

Post by TimB
Short answer - Amtrak is ridiculously overstaffed. VIA is probably similar.

No surprise as the trains have catering and sleeping car crews. You
might want to look at the number of staff say on a City Night Line or
Elipsos overnight service as a comparison.

CNL used to have 1 extra crew member per sleeper or couchette car.
For the time being now 1 crew member is responsible for up to 2 of such cars.
Plus 1 driver, 1 conductor and (if applicable) 1 staff member for the
restaurant car.
Oliver Schnell

[Jishnu Mukerji]

Post by Philip Richards

Post by TimB

Post by Clark F Morris
What is the staffing on trains like the Norwegian line to Boda using
the tilting Talents and the German IC trains between Stuttgart and
Nurnberg. Swiss and French staffing on sets like the Bombardier AGC
dual mode equipment and the local trains would also be of interest as
would that for Swedish rural services. I am looking to compare this
to Via Rail and Amtrak Staffing.
Clark Morris

Short answer - Amtrak is ridiculously overstaffed. VIA is probably similar.

No surprise as the trains have catering and sleeping car crews. You
might want to look at the number of staff say on a City Night Line or
Elipsos overnight service as a comparison.

Amtrak Regional trains have neither sleeping cars nor diners. Only long
distance trains do, and for that too there are exceptions like the
Palmetto, which does not.