The Railway:First Great Western Series 2

[AmeralGunson]

Yeah obviously the platform bod cancelled the train so let's gave a go at him shall we! :roll:
People who don't work in a service industry seem to think shouting at the people actually trying to help them will make the situation better!

He's the company representative, he's the one that gets the flack. That's how it works.
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And that old classic The "Customers always right".
In my 35 years in the industry the customer is almost NEVER right-they just think they are.
The "Westcountry Chav" shouting out of the cab window rather demonstrates the herd mentality.

The customers is not always right but you have to understand the frustration of being mucked about.

 

[Flamingo]

He's the company representative, he's the one that gets the flack. That's how it works.

Yep, I've had pompus self-important gits try and tell me that before to justify their over-inflated egos and lack of common courtesy.

It's never ended well for them.

My ability to **** them about is MUCH greater than their ability to **** me about, and once they cross that invisible line (which they invariably are stupid enough to do) it becomes a public order offence and they are making their own way home after BTP are finished with them, as they will no longer be travelling on my train...

 

[swifty]

anyone know what camera the newsround crew where using?

I'm fairly sure it was a Sony PMW-EX1.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

anyone know what camera the newsround crew where using?

My first thought was a Sony PMW-200 Camcorder but now I see it's not exactly the same model. Definitely one of the smaller Sony pro models, probably an XD cam for broadcast quality, not AVCHD.

It has a couple of diversity radiomic receivers attached to the top by Velcro, but it is the HDSDI, timecode and genlock connectors built in that set it apart from the usual enthusiast's camcorder. It's probably an old model now though.

Headphones are Sennheiser HD 25 1-ll – industry standard here. (I need to get out more).

EDIT: Oops, beaten to it , sorry.

 

[Geezertronic]

He's the company representative, he's the one that gets the flack. That's how it works.

The customers is not always right but you have to understand the frustration of being mucked about.

There's one in every village and you are it. Being "mucked about" or not, no one has the right to verbally abuse staff especially if that staff are the ones tasked with making sure you get home.

I remember being at St Albans (City) during a large delay and some idiot (male) was verbally abusing a member of staff (female) - he soon shut his stupid gob when I started having a go back at him.

The staff are invariably only as good as the information supplied to them and if that is little to none, that is not their fault. It is the same in any customer-facing trade, some people take obvious pleasure in belittling staff - it's a form of bullying for the genitally & intelligently challenged

 

[GodAtum]

My first thought was a Sony PMW-200 Camcorder but now I see it's not exactly the same model. Definitely one of the smaller Sony pro models, probably an XD cam for broadcast quality, not AVCHD.

It has a couple of diversity radiomic receivers attached to the top by Velcro, but it is the HDSDI, timecode and genlock connectors built in that set it apart from the usual enthusiast's camcorder. It's probably an old model now though.

Headphones are Sennheiser HD 25 1-ll – industry standard here. (I need to get out more).

EDIT: Oops, beaten to it , sorry.

Thanks for the info. Off topic but I'm looking to shoot 4K video and thinking about the a7S.

 

[tony6499]

How do they choose the staff they shadow in the series ?

 

[thelongestroad]

He's the company representative, he's the one that gets the flack. That's how it works.

You sound just like a manager I used to have. Needless to say, that manager is no longer on the scene and loss all tangible respect from me after saying that.

 

[Flamingo]

The only person I tolerate shouting at me because they are having a bad day is my wife...
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How do they choose the staff they shadow in the series ?

Well, we were all surprised they followed Jody, not one of us bald fat middle-aged blokes...

 

[cossie4i]

Who is the stunning lady that works in the lost property office at Paddington ???

 

[ainsworth74]

The only person I tolerate shouting at me because they are having a bad day is my wife...

And you don't even get paid to do that!

I assume...

Well, we were all surprised they followed Jody, not one of us bald fat middle-aged blokes...

I would have thought a large pink bird checking tickets and dealing with the public would have made for great television? Or does your picture not accurately reflect you appearance?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The only person I tolerate shouting at me because they are having a bad day is my wife...

I would, however, hazard a guess that your wife does not throw a temper tantrum simply because her pile of Christmas presents is physically smaller than the ones the kids have...? ( Don't ask.... :roll: )

 

[Crossover]

Who is the stunning lady that works in the lost property office at Paddington ???

Can't remember her name, but I think her accent would annoy me after a while!

 

[Flamingo]

I would, however, hazard a guess that your wife does not throw a temper tantrum simply because her pile of Christmas presents is physically smaller than the ones the kids have...? ( Don't ask.... :roll: )

You've never met her then, I take it...
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And you don't even get paid to do that!

I assume...



I would have thought a large pink bird checking tickets and dealing with the public would have made for great television? Or does your picture not accurately reflect you appearance?

They wanted to follow me http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=2002989&postcount=90

 

[ainsworth74]

They wanted to follow me http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=2002989&postcount=90

Ah well I suppose keeping your Witness Protection going is probably more important in the grand scheme of things!

 

[AmeralGunson]

There's one in every village and you are it. Being "mucked about" or not, no one has the right to verbally abuse staff especially if that staff are the ones tasked with making sure you get home.

I remember being at St Albans (City) during a large delay and some idiot (male) was verbally abusing a member of staff (female) - he soon shut his stupid gob when I started having a go back at him.

The staff are invariably only as good as the information supplied to them and if that is little to none, that is not their fault. It is the same in any customer-facing trade, some people take obvious pleasure in belittling staff - it's a form of bullying for the genitally & intelligently challenged

Well, I could counter that by suggesting that there's one in every company and you...........
"having a go back" means that the discussion is already lost and it's now a slanging match.
The staff ARE only as good as the information (and training) supplied. If staff are getting harassed by customers - as the railway quaintly calls it's passengers nowadays - then it's a sign that their management aren't fit for their purpose. It's not too much for people to expect a service that they've (often) paid good money for. Unfortunately this is still a foreign concept for some people who often think that a complaint against the company -who whilst on duty and wearing a uniform they are the representative of - is a personal slight upon themselves. Anyone in a customer facing job whether a £12,000 PA sales assistant or a £25,000 PA airline flight attendant will tell you the same.
Incidentally, I watched the episode again and I couldn't see where the station man got verbally abused. He was shouted at and received a proper ear bashing but there was no abuse that I could discern.

 

[455driver]

Well, I could counter that by suggesting that there's one in every company and you...........
"having a go back" means that the discussion is already lost and it's now a slanging match.
The staff ARE only as good as the information (and training) supplied. If staff are getting harassed by customers - as the railway quaintly calls it's passengers nowadays - then it's a sign that their management aren't fit for their purpose. It's not too much for people to expect a service that they've (often) paid good money for. Unfortunately this is still a foreign concept for some people who often think that a complaint against the company -who whilst on duty and wearing a uniform they are the representative of - is a personal slight upon themselves. Anyone in a customer facing job whether a £12,000 PA sales assistant or a £25,000 PA airline flight attendant will tell you the same.
Incidentally, I watched the episode again and I couldn't see where the station man got verbally abused. He was shouted at and received a proper ear bashing but there was no abuse that I could discern.

So you appear to understand that its the information and management at fault but you still feel you have the right to shout at the staff on the ground!
As its apparently okay to shout at people why cant we shout back at you?
This just shows what a complete and utter <deleted> you are!

 

[NX]

When it goes pear shaped I always attempt to help my passengers the best way I can, with the information I have. However I will not be shouted at nor abused.

I couldn't care les if they've had a bad day etc etc bla bla. Yes I'm a pleb on the front line, but the second you raise your voice to me, you can forget any assistance, and if you continue to shout or abuse me you can forget travel on my train, as a male found out on xmas eve!

NX

 

[Flamingo]

Well, I could counter that by suggesting that there's one in every company and you...........
"having a go back" means that the discussion is already lost and it's now a slanging match.
The staff ARE only as good as the information (and training) supplied. If staff are getting harassed by customers - as the railway quaintly calls it's passengers nowadays - then it's a sign that their management aren't fit for their purpose. It's not too much for people to expect a service that they've (often) paid good money for. Unfortunately this is still a foreign concept for some people who often think that a complaint against the company -who whilst on duty and wearing a uniform they are the representative of - is a personal slight upon themselves. Anyone in a customer facing job whether a £12,000 PA sales assistant or a £25,000 PA airline flight attendant will tell you the same.
Incidentally, I watched the episode again and I couldn't see where the station man got verbally abused. He was shouted at and received a proper ear bashing but there was no abuse that I could discern.

Here is some good advice for you; When you are in a hole, stop digging...

 

[Kite159]

I guess that would be one local coach company which won't be high up on the FGW list for replacement coaches for the next few weekends when the line is closed.

As for there being more passengers than seats on the coach? Ah well, mistakes with planning numbers happen, and at least they didn't get dropped off at Severn Tunnel Junction

 

[Mag_seven]

Unfortunately the experience shown in this episode with the rail replacement bus is all to common. RRBs appear to be a law unto themselves when it comes to departure times etc.

 

[bussnapperwm]

Anyone noticed how disputed blanking out the Operators name, it's obvious who owns the coach from the livery....

 

[AmeralGunson]

So you appear to understand that its the information and management at fault but you still feel you have the right to shout at the staff on the ground!
As its apparently okay to shout at people why cant we shout back at you?
This just shows what a complete and utter <deleted> you are!

I do wish that you would learn to read and understand what is typed. The point that I'm attempting to make is that if a person is in a customer facing job then they must be expected to deal with all forms of life and attempt to understand why people get upset when they are let down by a supposed service. I'm not and haven't suggested that it's right to shout at staff. What I've tried to explain is that it's going to be expected when things go wrong.
I've tried to explain to you that it's not you personally that people are having a go at, it's whatever organisation that you represent. Why can't you accept or understand that? You seem to be under or give the impression that this is something that's unique to the railways. Go out into the big wide world and you'll see that it's no different for any other service - as I explained in a previous post which, like so many you've managed to misinterprete. You've now resorted to insult me by imaginary name calling which not only shows a lack of vocabulary but a lack of respect.

 

[Flamingo]

I do wish that you would learn to read and understand what is typed. The point that I'm attempting to make is that if a person is in a customer facing job then they must be expected to deal with all forms of life and attempt to understand why people get upset when they are let down by a supposed service. I'm not and haven't suggested that it's right to shout at staff. What I've tried to explain is that it's going to be expected when things go wrong.
I've tried to explain to you that it's not you personally that people are having a go at, it's whatever organisation that you represent. Why can't you accept or understand that? You seem to be under or give the impression that this is something that's unique to the railways. Go out into the big wide world and you'll see that it's no different for any other service - as I explained in a previous post which, like so many you've managed to misinterprete. You've now resorted to insult me by imaginary name calling which not only shows a lack of vocabulary but a lack of respect.

No, you said it was acceptable. (And just so you know, respect has to be earned - so far, you haven't done a lot to earn any).

 

[AmeralGunson]

No, you said it was acceptable. (And just so you know, respect has to be earned - so far, you haven't done a lot to earn any).

You see, there you go again. Nowhere in any of my posts - I've just gone carefully backwards and carefully read them all - have I said or suggested that it is acceptable to shout at staff. It simply isn't but people do it because they get frustrated and front line service industry staff must anticipate that and accept that it will happen. Please understand that and stop trying to read between the lines and interprete something into which it isn't.

 

[SamYeager]

Incidentally, I watched the episode again and I couldn't see where the station man got verbally abused. He was shouted at and received a proper ear bashing but there was no abuse that I could discern.

Priceless. Of course this would still be your view if you were on the receiving end?

 

[Flamingo]

You see, there you go again. Nowhere in any of my posts - I've just gone carefully backwards and carefully read them all - have I said or suggested that it is acceptable to shout at staff. It simply isn't but people do it because they get frustrated and front line service industry staff must anticipate that and accept that it will happen. Please understand that and stop trying to read between the lines and interprete something into which it isn't.

yes you have said and suggested it is acceptable to shout at staff - at least that is the interpretation that I and pretty much every other poster who has replied to your inane drivel has put on them. So bugger off and annoy somebody else, your input is not contributing anything here.

 

[Bletchleyite]

yes you have said and suggested it is acceptable to shout at staff - at least that is the interpretation that I and pretty much every other poster who has replied to your inane drivel has put on them. So bugger off and annoy somebody else, your input is not contributing anything here.

It is different to say something is acceptable and to explain why it occurs and will occur whatever is done. People get stressed and frustrated when things go wrong, and as they are animals that will cause them to shout. It doesn't make it nice, but it's hardly surprising that it happens, and it isn't going to go away even though we would all prefer it did.

Neil

 

[AmeralGunson]

Priceless. Of course this would still be your view if you were on the receiving end?

Verbal abuse is calling people names and insulting them, questioning their parentage, abusing their race. Merely shouting at them is not.
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yes you have said and suggested it is acceptable to shout at staff - at least that is the interpretation that I and pretty much every other poster who has replied to your inane drivel has put on them. So bugger off and annoy somebody else, your input is not contributing anything here.

Please do not mis-quote me to suit your apparent attempted bullying of me. I repeat, I have not anywhere said or implied it is acceptable to shout at staff. I took pains to carefully write a reply explain this. You have totally ignored this and continue to harangue me whilst deliberately - it seems - misreading my reply. The bloke in the episode was being shouted at, that is not acceptable but it is a fact of life during the situation portrayed. He was not being verbally abused. Being shouted at is not verbal abuse - or has the dictionary definition changed since I sat a G.C.E. "O" level English paper in 1966? It seems to me that people nowadays are a little more sensitive than we post war baby boomers. Or perhaps as a woman I just have a little too much common sense for you.
I originally came on to this web site to try and obtain some help for a ticketing question. I thought I'd stay and try and find out more about the "how things work" side of the railways that I commuted to London and back on for over thirty years. All I've really learned is that apparently:
passengers are a nuisance
passengers should never complain
passengers should always be grateful no matter how bad it is
the railway staff are always right

 

[HowardGWR]

@Ameral Gunson
You aren't the Ameral Gunson by any chance?