how early is acceptable to board train

[ivanhoe]

It happens at Skeg particularly in the summer(the regulars queue up, the Day Trippers sometimes barge through).

With an attitude like that, I'll get the coach thank you. It's quicker anyway from Loughborough.

 

[Bellwater]

Someone from Loughborough taking the moral high ground, that's a first.

 

[TDK]

I have asked my mate exactly what happened and this is it: boarded train and walked up the coach aisle where the cleaner was walking through with the large polythene rubbish bag. came up behind him and he knew full well i was standing there waiting to pass. he said nothing until he had reached the vestibule (i was walking up coach to be closer to buffet) and when he eventually moved his bag from my path to pass him, it was then he decided to say the exact words in the opening post. with regards to this all getting out of hand it is not a big issue and he did not complain. all i'm asking about is, should the train doors be locked out of use when the train is being cleaned.

Cleaners are not trained in customer service,maybe they should be! The doors are probably left open for the cleaners to board.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

all i'm asking about is, should the train doors be locked out of use when the train is being cleaned.

No.

Really, without knowing if any signs or announcements were made about not boarding the train then we can't really come to a conclusion.

 

[TheExmoorBeast]

I think train doors should be locked whilst the cleaners are on board a train, it makes perfect sense, because it allows them to work unhindered by passengers lugging suitcases et al & asking loads of questions, also trying to find which seats are reserved & which one aren't, then finding that they then have to move because they seat that they dumped themselves in is in fact reserved. :roll:

What if someone has been sick in the gangway or toilets that needs to be cleaned asap as cleaning sick up isn't pleasant nor a spectator sport, although projectile vomiting out of a window does seem to be! (Strange!)

Locking the doors means no blocked gangways, no hindrances, no questions, it just allows them to do a crap job to be done quickly, safely and efficiently.

 

[HSTfan!!!]

If the doors are open, it does not mean you can get on. If it was on the screens you could have.

From experience a large number of people pay no attention to screens, I've had people hanging off the doors of locked ECS moves merely changing ends.

 

[Vulcan]

I have seen class 333s being cleaned on the wing. All the cleaners need to do is collect litter up, empty the bins, and make sure the toilets are servicable, with enough soap, towels, etc. All of this can be done easily while the train is in service, and it seems a sensible way of doing it as it doesn't upset anyone. Anything more involved can be done on depot.

However, I have also been told to gerroff a 333 at a different time. It had arrived at Leeds and I got on it for its return journey. It wasn't being cleaned or anything, and it was being shown for its next journey on the screens. Is sitting down in the warm train rather then standing on the cold platform too much to ask? And the request to vacate could have been a lot more polite, a knock on the window and a thumb gesture However, this has only happened to me the once.

 

[yorkie]

If they're that rude, a simple and polite "Excuse me, how do I contact your line manager?" should suffice, and they may suddenly stop being rude...

It's clearly a problem that a significant minority in the industry are rude. They are very much in the minority but they do get noticed and threaten to give the industry a bad name, which is a shame.

And if people are like that on preserved lines act like that or think it's acceptable, then they're putting that line in jeopardy because people do not need to come back, and only do so of their own free will. If I felt that staff at a particular preserved line were rude then I'd choose to visit other lines that were more friendly.

Some staff need to bear in mind that, by all means be rude if it makes you happy as we can't force you to treat customers as customers, but remember that if you are representing a company or organisation there may well be concequences.

 

[Bellwater]

Yorkie, I find when I go to Preserved Railways and they find you work on the regular Railway,their attitude changes for the worst. Its as such you're a threat to their perfect world. Sometimes we get accused of running the railway not to suit the passengers, but as for some of them..

 

[ralphchadkirk]

And if people are like that on preserved lines act like that or think it's acceptable, then they're putting that line in jeopardy because people do not need to come back, and only do so of their own free will. If I felt that staff at a particular preserved line were rude then I'd choose to visit other lines that were more friendly.

I'm guessing that's aimed at me....

If you had looked at my post Yorkie, you would see that I said:

Having said that I prefer the Excuse me sir approach when dealing with a situation like that.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Yorkie, I find when I go to Preserved Railways and they find you work on the regular Railway,their attitude changes for the worst. Its as such you're a threat to their perfect world. Sometimes we get accused of running the railway not to suit the passengers, but as for some of them..

On my railway, I am based where there is a mainline connection. It's nice to have their crews coming over for a chat, and they enjoy it too. In fact last weekend we had a deluge of mainline staff come for an "operating day" to see how we run our railway. I had a nice conversation with an FGW Train Controller about how it was silly of TOC's to take away station staff's PTS.

We aren't all like that. While I may air my views about situations on here, I always treat the customer with respect and politeness.

 

[142094]

Couple of observations I make at Newcastle:

1) When a EC arrives and is terminating at Newcastle, there is usually an announcement along the lines of "The next train at platform X terminates here, and is no longer in public service. Passengers at platform X waiting for xx.xx to LGX please keep back from this train." It's also put on the departure screens.

However of course there is always problems when someone arrives for the xx.xx, sees that train on the platform and gets on. After the passengers get off the terminating service, the doors are shut and locked apart from one, and the guard does a walkthrough. If anyone is still on the train they are asked to get off.

Easiest thing would be to not annouce the platform until the train is ready, but would probably cause congestion around the front of the station which is not ideal (such as at King's Cross).

2) Northern services terminate and are kept in the same platform for a further working and crew change. The doors are kept locked until around 5 minutes before departure. I've often been told this is due to H+S, so guessing there is a rule about not having passengers on a train when there are no staff nearby? Still you get people grumbling about the cold/rain/etc.

 

[yorkie]

We aren't all like that. While I may air my views about situations on here, I always treat the customer with respect and politeness.

I'm not going to dispute that, but I can't help wondering why it is, that if you can recognise that the way the OP was spoken to was less than the standards you expect, why you then defend those lower standards and indicate that they are acceptable?

If I was going out of my way to create a good impression to customers in a customer-facing role, I'd be less than happy if that good work was being damaged by someone else representing the industry.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

They are lower standards yes, but reasonable from someone not specifically employed in a customer facing role, probably being paid minimum wage doing a job they do not like. If it was from a member of station staff then that would not be acceptable.

 

[Geezertronic]

I'm not going to dispute that, but I can't help wondering why it is, that if you can recognise that the way the OP was spoken to was less than the standards you expect, why you then defend those lower standards and indicate that they are acceptable?

If I was going out of my way to create a good impression to customers in a customer-facing role, I'd be less than happy if that good work was being damaged by someone else representing the industry.

Maybe not everyone is as perfect as you Yorkie , maybe some people don't have the customer service skills as you do. Maybe people articulate themselves in different ways. It could be a social skills thing, I'm not qualified to say so. In my experience some people are rough and ready in the way they deal with situations, I wouldn't say it was personal or it is meant to offend but that's just the way they are

 

[yorkie]

I didn't make any claims about me being "perfect" or having good customer service skills, you made that up!

A plane pilot should be able to safely handle a plane. I can say that, and that does not mean I am in any way claiming that I have any such skills whatsoever, and anyone claiming that I am making such a claim is making it up.

 

[Geezertronic]

I didn't make any claims about me being "perfect" or having good customer service skills, you made that up!

A plane pilot should be able to safely handle a plane. I can say that, and that does not mean I am in any way claiming that I have any such skills whatsoever, and anyone claiming that I am making such a claim is making it up.

Nothing has been made up Yorkie, it's all about interpreting what has been written.

 

[313103]

i think yorkie should spend some time at Willesden Junction platform 4 when terminating trains arrive.
1. A station announcement is made that the next train to arrive on platform 4 terminates here.
2. The CIS screens also display 'The next train to arrive at this platform terminates here'.
3. Occasionally station staff on the platform tell passengers the next train is not in service.
4. All arriving class 378s announce whilst the train is in the platform 'This is Willesden Junction our final stop thank you for travelling with London Overground'.
5. The class 378s also have a rolling screen that displays the same message.

And yet what do you still get.....................?
Thats right passengers boarding the train. Is it any wonder when this kind of thing happens that staff get short thrift with same passengers. On some occasions when this has happen to me i am often sworn at and soemtimes threatened with assault all because ive asked them to leave a terminating train.

With regards to using the terminology of 'Sir' or 'Madam' you say it round this neck of the woods people look at you as if your mad!

 

[MCR247]

I was at Willesden last week, a Richmond train was due, the screems said it was on-time, that time passed. It disappeared of the screens and the Clapham one came on. A 378 arrived with blank PIS screens. The staff on the platform didn't say anything unless he was asked. That is what you call confusing :?

 

[yorkie]

I was at Willesden last week, a Richmond train was due, the screems said it was on-time, that time passed. It disappeared of the screens and the Clapham one came on. A 378 arrived with blank PIS screens. The staff on the platform didn't say anything unless he was asked. That is what you call confusing :?

What do you expect - to be treated like a customer? How dare you! You're inconveniencing the running of the service! Now get off the station and stop bothering the staff! Can't you see we have a railway to run?!

 

[CarterUSM]

That would be nice not to get bothered by idiotic fools who shouldn't be out on their own! Nevertheless a bit of manners go a long way. I'm always happy to assist passengers throughout my working day, and equally happy ignoring the imbeciles that cannot ask a question that doesn't begin with Hey/Hoy!, You there!, Who is in charge here?, Where is my train? And others equally moronic. Cuts both ways i'm afraid.

 

[yorkie]

That would be nice not to get bothered by idiotic fools who shouldn't be out on their own! Nevertheless a bit of manners go a long way. I'm always happy to assist passengers throughout my working day, and equally happy ignoring the imbeciles that cannot ask a question that doesn't begin with Hey/Hoy!, You there!, Who is in charge here?, Where is my train? And others equally moronic. Cuts both ways i'm afraid.

I agree. If someone starts off being rude then it's going to get anyone's back up.

 

[ungreat]

A lot of passengers assume things...when told otherwise they kick off..time to shut up pax!

 

[Nick W]

I have an important question - are trains cleaned coach by coach?

If so, why not move passengers into the adjacent cleaned coach each time they start cleaning the next coach? Simple!

 

[royaloak]

Time, the train is only given a quick clean through, the time it would take to move some people would probably mean only half the train got cleaned.

 

[boing_uk]

What do you expect - to be treated like a customer? How dare you! You're inconveniencing the running of the service! Now get off the station and stop bothering the staff! Can't you see we have a railway to run?!

On the flip side, are staff to be expected to cater for every individual customers ignorance, despite the information being presented to them clearly anyway? Where do you draw the line? Sometimes, they really do just need telling to clear off.

Commuting by train I can completely sympathise with the shriftness shown by staff towards particularly irritating custards.

 

[Nick W]

Time, the train is only given a quick clean through, the time it would take to move some people would probably mean only half the train got cleaned.

Ah so it's just picking up rubbish, and emptying bins which, since people don't tend to sit on seats with rubbish, can be done with people on board?

 

[yorkie]

Ah so it's just picking up rubbish, and emptying bins which, since people don't tend to sit on seats with rubbish, can be done with people on board?

Most of the time yes, and on Railtours and some IC services people come round with bin liners during the journey and their job is usually made a lot easier by people actually handing them items to be disposed of (usually with a "thanks" too). But if they want to actually clean surfaces etc then obviously it's better that no-one is on board, and I don't think moving people from one coach to another is practical due to the time taken to do so.

 

[Geezertronic]

I think there is a bit more than just the train being cleaned when the board at Euston says "being prepared" (for example). Usually the train is being replenished with stock for the shop and onboard catering which comes via an electrical cart (and other stuff going on I imagine). There's always someone waiting to get run over by one

 

[flymo]

As an aside, many years ago when there were overnight TPO's running from Newcastle, despite many tannoy announcements telling the waiting Post Office staff not to board until the train had finished shunting*, as soon as the train stopped the doors were always opened up and staff boarded to begin their shift. It's not always just passengers that want to get on board as soon as possible

* I can't remember now what used to happen but I think it divided into 2 separate TPO's with one pulling a few yards away from the other.

 

[dfishw]

i dont know why the train doors werent just closed as surely anyone seeing open doors will just assume it is ok to get on! If the doors are closed and there is an announcement saying the train has terminated then people obviously arent listening.
I agree the manner was not professional i wonuldnt say "hey mate" to a customer! but on the other hand trains need to be cleaned and they cant do it when people are on it so i suppose he had to say something.