Dealing with awkward passengers when working as a TM/conductor

[Horizon22]

The same was achievable quite professionally as a DOO driver if someone was attempting to train surf or otherwise behaving unsafely, by simply informing the passengers of the reason for the delay (as required): “ladies and gents, I’m afraid it’s unsafe for me to move the train while person X is standing next to my cab ranting at me/holding doors open. So unfortunately we shall be remaining here until they stop doing it”.

Cue doors flying open, lots of swearing, and the person/s would invariably stop what they were doing and make themselves scarce - indeed on one occasion three off duty policemen frogmarched one troublemaker off the platform to applause from the train!

Indeed I don't think its necessarily "unprofessional" to use other passengers its just a bit of social pressure to get things moving along. Often the person causing the issue isn't too keen on being delayed themselves,

 

[bramling]

Indeed I don't think its necessarily "unprofessional" to use other passengers its just a bit of social pressure to get things moving along. Often the person causing the issue isn't too keen on being delayed themselves,

I don't have a problem if things are at a standstill over a safety or anti-social behaviour issue.

What I have more of an problem with is when there's a revenue dispute, as was the case in the famous Scotrail incident. I find it unacceptable to hold the rest of the train to ransom over that, frustrating though it is for someone to be getting a free ride, it simply isn't justifiable to delay everyone else - especially coming out with "I'm getting paid for this, they're not", or "I'm going to get the overtime for this", or "I have all day mate" - all three of which I've seen used on occasions.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Mar 2022 ==

There are some TMs who used to think nothing of physically removing passengers who were misbehaving, and roughing them up on the process! Quite honestly I can understand the sentiment, and a good hiding is exactly what some of the anti social idiots on today’s network badly need. However, rightly or wrongly, clearly that isn’t acceptable these days and is also probably at lot riskier given how behaviour has worsened and the likelihood of someone producing a knife etc.

As well as the likelihood of a knife appearing, there's also the issue that nowadays there is more likely to be both CCTV and the presence of others who will record it on their camera phone and post on social media. A lot of things were possible in the past which aren't such a good idea nowadays, for better or worse.

 

[Fishplate22]

Social pressure works and I was taught exactly that in my training I have used a train full of people wanting to go have a night drinking stop the train pass comm been pulled for the third time in quick succession by saying the right words in the right area, also had a trouble causing * youth * escorted off the train by two builders just trying to get home after a hard days graft again by saying the right words this also works when people are travelling on advanced tickets for £3 when you’ve just checked others for the same train for around the £20 mark they then either buy a new ticket or enjoy the train ride and await a letter, still there is a fine line between delaying a train and making sure the people who actually buy a ticket don’t feel ripped off by watching people get a free ride without a challenge

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I guess the issue with fare evaders now is it's not just the odd one, it's starting to get a little better on my patch but it's been around 50% at certain times through the most of the last 18 months.

I'm not normally one for delaying over fare evaders, and my TOC has quite good RPIs that can be fairly easily deployed to problem routes (Stafford/Rugeley/Nuneaton).

 

[BrokenSam]

Walk away to the back cab is the best thing to do.

This. Duty of care never trumps your own safety.