Right time departure or poor customer service

[455driver]

Stood at Crediton yapping to the guard and some teen come up to us moaning that the train an hour earlier had left a minute early, our indifference had to be seen to be believed!

When asked why he had left it to the last minute to get to the station, that train doors will start to close 40 seconds before the departure time and wont be re-opened, was it a full minute early or just a few seconds really he just stood there not answering any of the questions before going to board the train.

 

[CC 72100]

Stood at Crediton yapping to the guard and some teen come up to us moaning that the train an hour earlier had left a minute early, our indifference had to be seen to be believed!

When asked why he had left it to the last minute to get to the station, that train doors will start to close 40 seconds before the departure time and wont be re-opened, was it a full minute early or just a few seconds really he just stood there not answering any of the questions before going to board the train.

Not suite sure how you can miss a train at Crediton towards exeter- it sits there for about 5 minutes!

 

[Aictos]

Best piece of advice I got when I as a dispatcher - it might be good customer service to small amount of people you're holding a train for, but what about the hundreds of people already on the train? They're your customers too.

Indeed, I've had people stroll up to specific doors ignoring the fact that the train is about to depart and they could have used any number of doors who then proceed to blame me for them not getting on, never mind the fact they left it to the last second literally to board.

As far as I'm concerned, once I start the process and once all the doors have closed unless there is a very good reason I don't ask for the doors to be reopened as that means I've delayed the train by having to restart the process all over again.

End of the day as I've explained countless times to people, it might be acceptable to one person to hold the train for them and their mate but what about the passengers already onboard who are entitled to a train leaving on time, are they not entitled to good customer service too?

That said every situation is different, I try my best to ensure departures from my workplace are right time everytime but sometimes it's not possible.

 

[Flamingo]

I've had somebody come up after I took the tip, I told them "Get in here" and they replied "I'm in Coach A, I'm walking up the outside" as they walked off (eight carriages away). So I took the second tip and left, leaving them shouting at the dispatcher about why wasn't the train held for them...

 

[najaB]

I've had somebody come up after I took the tip, I told them "Get in here" and they replied "I'm in Coach A, I'm walking up the outside" as they walked off (eight carriages away). So I took the second tip and left, leaving them shouting at the dispatcher about why wasn't the train held for them...

Got what they deserved! Unless I'm early for the train I always walk get on at the nearest door and walk down the aisle. It's not as easy as walking down the platform, but it's better than pacing up and down the platform waiting for the next train.

 

[timbo58]

I've had somebody come up after I took the tip, I told them "Get in here" and they replied "I'm in Coach A, I'm walking up the outside" as they walked off (eight carriages away). So I took the second tip and left, leaving them shouting at the dispatcher about why wasn't the train held for them...

Yep, done that!

Also finished watching the train out of the platform to have the people I've done a favour and shooed on at the last door/last minute (usually Paddington, usually the last train to Bristol) sat in 1st telling me that 'I said they could sit there!'

'Actually ladies & gents I said 'you can get on here or walk to Reading/Didcot/Swindon etc.......' bit of a difference!

 

[Flamingo]

Yep, done that!

Also finished watching the train out of the platform to have the people I've done a favour and shooed on at the last door/last minute (usually Paddington, usually the last train to Bristol) sat in 1st telling me that 'I said they could sit there!'

'Actually ladies & gents I said 'you can get on here or walk to Reading/Didcot/Swindon etc.......' bit of a difference!

Yea, "The man on the platform (me) said we could sit here".

I once had someone say "The man on the platform said I could travel on this train".
"No He didn't ".
"Are you calling me a liar?"
"Yes, I am, it was me you spoke to, and I said Off-Peaks were not valid"
Ching Ching.