National Express: More Bad Publicity

[MCR247]

The Latest Story

Any Comments?

 

[The_Rail_WAy]

A bit embarassing for NE although I think its a combination of failure to adequately check/model the uniforms before dispatch and mostly due to purcasing cheap fabric uniforms. Fair play to the staff though for standing up to it, no way should they be expected to wear such uniforms its great to see that they take pride in looking smart and proffesional at work.

 

[yorkie]

I see NXEC have the usual pompous reply from their unnamed spokesman who realises he'd be ridiculed if he ever put his name to his pompous quotes. Where do they get these people from - do they send them on a "how to be pompous" training course or something?

 

[delt1c]

Could a trip on the east Coast be forth comming

 

[SqUaShIe P]

Could a trip on the east Coast be forth comming

I was just thinking exactly the same thing

I cant believe NXEC staff are still wearing GNER uniforms after 15 months, thats poor!
But then again, theres loads of people at NXEA that still wear the ONE uniform

Must be a national express thing!

 

[spoony]

Reading that article I had to laught at the phrase "wearer trials." Dear god, how can it be so hard to test a fabric

 

[Mintona]

Reading that article I had to laught at the phrase "wearer trials." Dear god, how can it be so hard to test a fabric

More to test comfort than how good the fabric is. Surprised no one at NXEC said anything during the trials, and it's only come out now the money has been spent. If I wasn't so cynical I would say the unions were stirring up trouble again.

 

[Darandio]

More to test comfort than how good the fabric is. Surprised no one at NXEC said anything during the trials, and it's only come out now the money has been spent. If I wasn't so cynical I would say the unions were stirring up trouble again.

That is exactly what NXEC have said as reported by the BBC article on the subject. "Mischief Making" is the quote.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7896509.stm

 

[Spaceflower]

What an advert

 

[O L Leigh]

I'm afraid that this shows most people are commenting solely on the article rather than on what has actually happened.

The shirt fabric on the trial uniform was much thicker than necessary. It would have been great in the winter but not so good at any other time of the year. This wasn't a question of cost but of providing a uniform that was going to be practical and comfortable in all seasons for all staff. In this they were acting on what the employees selected for the trial had told them. There were other details that are different between the trial uniform and the final uniform also as a result of this feedback from staff. In any case, a thinner fabric does not necessarily mean a cheaper fabric.

I am surprised at this development, though. I know this uniform is coming from a different company than supplied the 'one' uniform, but the shirt fabric for the existing uniform is the same whether it's in a men's shirt or a lady's blouse, and there have been no problems reported with that. I guess the problem is that this new fabric is a bit too flimsy and shows a lady's undergarments a little too clearly through the fabric.

Then again, what say did NX have in the selection of the fabric? I expect they specified a thinner fabric and this is simply what the supplier came up with. I can't see any company that is about to pay out heaven knows how much money for a new uniform for all their employees across all sectors being happy with having to return potentially thousands of garments while waiting for a solution.

O L Leigh

 

[spoony]

Is it just me that wonders how a company cant actually get it right when choosing a fabric for its uniforms? Surely as a human race we have now have a few thousand years experience of wearing garments and know what shows what. How had can it be choosing suitable materials to make a uniform. Even more worringly for NXEC it shows a disregard for staff that they thought they could get away with scrimping on clothes for staff.

 

[O L Leigh]

Who says they are scrimping...? Who says that NX had any say in the final choice of fabric (apart from specifying something thinner than the trial shirts)...?

More NX bashing, it seems.

O L Leigh

 

[spoony]

Who says they are scrimping...? Who says that NX had any say in the final choice of fabric (apart from specifying something thinner than the trial shirts)...?

More NX bashing, it seems.

O L Leigh

No not NX bashing at all, but surely any business when they order staff uniforms know what they will be like they turn up? Saying that when I worked for Sainsburys as a student, I used to wonder who the hell ever had the bright idea to authorise that particular design of ties.

 

[tbtc]

I cant believe NXEC staff are still wearing GNER uniforms after 15 months, thats poor!

...but if they'd introduced new uniforms at the start of the franchise then some people would be criticising them for wasting money on clothes rather than improving the train service.

Same with people who criticise NXEC/ AXC for not having reliveried all of their trains yet - they'd have been outraged if lots of money had been spent on this though!

 

[Mojo]

It's normally the case that the TOCs either have to, or like to, consult their staff over uniform changes, which is why staff for some companies like London Midland wore the former TOCs' uniforms for a while. I heard something about Virgin not allowing XC to keep their uniforms, the current uniform is only temporary and I believe XC staff will be wearing the new uniform in the next few months - certaintly order forms have been sent out in the past week or two.

 

[yorkie]

Same with people who criticise NXEC/ AXC for not having reliveried all of their trains yet - they'd have been outraged if lots of money had been spent on this though!

Well, people who moan that liveries and uniforms are not changed for new franchises are just daft IMO. I actually think it's a waste the way they throw away so many good things just because it has connections with a sophisticated age where the customer mattered, rather than the image of a glorified bus company.

How many other countries get rid of things just because of image? it's not sustainable. In most of the world things get used for as long as they're good for.

 

[O L Leigh]

My uniform is knackered. I need the new one. Quite frankly it can't come soon enough.

O L Leigh

 

[yorkie]

My uniform is knackered. I need the new one. Quite frankly it can't come soon enough.

O L Leigh

Yeah but National Express have held that franchise for a very long time. WAGN was National Express and I can't remember who was before them! So the blame lies with National Express on that one

At least we know they won't be replacing these uniforms on the East Coast for ages!

Edit: WAGN was originally Prism rail. Nat Ex bought them out in 2000.

 

[MCR247]

I dont get it why people moan about TOCs not repainting their trains straight away. Whats the point? I think a vinyl of the logo, on an unbranded version of the previous livery will do, because by the time they are all repainted, it will be the end of the franchise! Like in the days of CT, they didnt repaint any MML 170s, FTPE 158s, 170 397/398. (399 carried a variety of adverts)

 

[O L Leigh]

Yeah but National Express have held that franchise for a very long time. WAGN was National Express and I can't remember who was before them! So the blame lies with National Express on that one

At least we know they won't be replacing these uniforms on the East Coast for ages!

What I meant was that I need to get rid of my uniform not because of it's image but because it's been used for as long as it's good for, to paraphrase your own words.

O L Leigh

 

[yorkie]

What I meant was that I need to get rid of my uniform not because of it's image but because it's been used for as long as it's good for, to paraphrase your own words.

O L Leigh

Yep I know what you mean! I'm just saying that NX are spending a lot of money replacing uniforms that are not worn out on the ECML, but they are not replacing your worn out uniform - and they can't blame anyone else for not replacing yours as they've held the franchise for 8 or 9 years!

If they were a bit more resourceful and caring they'd replace the older ones like yours rather than ones that had the wrong logo.

 

[O L Leigh]

They are replacing it, just as they are across all NX operations.

I've been told that we'll be taking delivery of them during the course of next week and will be expected to wear them starting from the first week in March.

My bag will still have the wrong name on it though.

O L Leigh

 

[SqUaShIe P]

...but if they'd introduced new uniforms at the start of the franchise then some people would be criticising them for wasting money on clothes rather than improving the train service.

Same with people who criticise NXEC/ AXC for not having reliveried all of their trains yet - they'd have been outraged if lots of money had been spent on this though!

Well, people who moan that liveries and uniforms are not changed for new franchises are just daft IMO. I actually think it's a waste the way they throw away so many good things just because it has connections with a sophisticated age where the customer mattered, rather than the image of a glorified bus company.

I didnt mean it so literally, I understand how it is, and I wernt NX bashing, I love NX really
I know they cant change it all at once, and if they did, Then people would say they are wasting money and all that.
I was just thinking more along the lines of them having a new franchise (sopose its not new anymore) and it being a new start, a new begining, and things like having a new uniform and a new livery makes both the employees and customers feel the change. And also, I like walkin round seeing everyone in their matching uniforms, rather than seeing some people in nice new ones, and other people in scruffy old ones.

Anyone else get ma drift?

 

[whoshotjimmi]

I didnt mean it so literally, I understand how it is, and I wernt NX bashing, I love NX really I know they cant change it all at once, and if they did, Then people would say they are wasting money and all that.
I was just thinking more along the lines of them having a new franchise (sopose its not new anymore) and its being a new start, a new begining, and things like having a new uniform and a new livery makes both the employees and customers feel the change. And also, I like walkin round seeing everyone in their matching uniforms, rather than seeing some people in nice new ones, and other people in scruffy old ones.

Anyone else get ma drift?

You make a good point. Public perception of the company has to count. Intercity corporate image anyone?

 

[WillPS]

No not NX bashing at all, but surely any business when they order staff uniforms know what they will be like they turn up? Saying that when I worked for Sainsburys as a student, I used to wonder who the hell ever had the bright idea to authorise that particular design of ties.

The one with the pictures of fruit on it? I'd have taken a tie were it not for that crazy pattern they insisted on!!

 

[SqUaShIe P]

The one with the pictures of fruit on it? I'd have taken a tie were it not for that crazy pattern they insisted on!!

One of my good mates works in sainsburys, he has to wear on of those ties...

I feel for him!

Couldnt say I would ever wear one