Paid-for cab rides, would they be allowed in the UK?

[signed]

In Switzerland, a lot of the major scenic mountain railways will offer, for a steep price, a cab ride

You can do the Gottard Train for CHF1400 (1 train every day of the week, and it's extremely popular to the point that all SOB (not only Gottard Train) cab rides are full for the month of June), the Bernina Express for CHF950 and probably a lot of others.

In the UK, would that be feasible/allowed with the security and other regulations?

 

[skyhigh]

Not easily.

 

[Gemz91]

Some tocs offer cab rides for auctions/raffles, so to an extent it must be possible.

Not sure how likely it is we’d ever see them, not sure what ASLEF’s view would be on them for a start.

 

[skyhigh]

Some tocs offer cab rides for auctions/raffles, so to an extent it must be possible.

Generally for charity/good causes, often requiring a specially-selected driver and driver manager present. Fine for a rare occasion, not practical as a regular thing.

 

[Peter0124]

What would peoples opinions be on having transparent walls on cabs so that passengers can look through? Something similar to DLR.
Would this be too intrusive and distracting for drivers?

 

[greatkingrat]

Sounds like a good way of causing a national strike!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

What would peoples opinions be on having transparent walls on cabs so that passengers can look through? Something similar to DLR.
Would this be too intrusive and distracting for drivers?

We used to have those all over the place...

 

[AndrewE]

We used to have those all over the place...

... and latterly the drop-down blinds were almost invariably closed!

 

[whoosh]

As the class 777s were proposed to have a glass screen behind the driver, but this was changed - perhaps we have our answer!

 

[InkyScrolls]

What would peoples opinions be on having transparent walls on cabs so that passengers can look through? Something similar to DLR.
Would this be too intrusive and distracting for drivers?

Yes.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

... and latterly the drop-down blinds were almost invariably closed!

Many drivers compromised by leaving the blind raised on the second-man’s side.

 

[Crossover]

We used to have those all over the place...

Indeed. This photo was from a 101 I was on yesterday (not a public service day, so not sure if it’s always like this)

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

What would peoples opinions be on having transparent walls on cabs so that passengers can look through? Something similar to DLR.
Would this be too intrusive and distracting for drivers?

As an enthusiast yes!!!!
In the real world no, at night modern lighting would cause too much glare on the windscreen - possibly even through any blinds fitted, whilst in the day everyone and his dog would be banging on the wall trying to distract the driver.

 

[Bornin1980s]

I recently saw a window behind the driver on a bus (57 reg Optare Solo). Never seen it on another modern bus.

Why did drivers of old MUs often prefer to put the blinds down?

 

[Egg Centric]

Clearly never going to happen in the IETs etc, but I do wonder if a sufficiently entrepreneurial TOC could isolate the secondman seat from the driver on gangway multiple units without that much extra work (basically just installing a door?). While 1400 CHF (1225 GBP) seems unrealistic as a price for this in the UK (certainly for that I'd be wanting to actually drive the thing a bit) an extra £200 or so seems plausible and would pay for itself. The isolation between the driver and the enthusiast on the experience should prevent safety concerns.

It may even already be separated already on e.g. 153s, looking at some photos I just googled.

 

[Stossgebet]

What would peoples opinions be on having transparent walls on cabs so that passengers can look through? Something similar to DLR.
Would this be too intrusive and distracting for drivers?

Whilst in Germany a while ago, i asked about the front passenger seats of the ICE-T and ICE 3, which had what they called a 'panorama lounge'. The front 3 rows of seats having a forward view through the drivers cab. The driver had the ability to turn the glass between the cab and saloon opaque whenever they wanted privacy.

I was told that upon refurbishment, all the glass was permanentely opaque now, because of passenger complaints about reserving the seats and not having a view, and a nasty fatality, witnessed by a passenger in the front row, that resulted in legal action by the passenger.

And i think that's the key point. How to resolve an issue where a member of the public witnesses something they can not unsee.

 

[Egg Centric]

And i think that's the key point. How to resolve an issue where a member of the public witnesses something they can not unsee.

I don't think that's key at all. If you see something terrible happen as a member of the public having voluntarily taken the risk of doing this pretty much for jollies then that's what happens, same as in any other aspect of going about your life taking risks. It's a completely different situation to a driver who has no choice but to risk this and is at the pointy end all day. An analogous situation is that you can go out on a ride with your local police if you want to (the MET scheme is here for example). If you happened to see something distressing when doing it, well that was the risk you took riding with the police.

 

[skyhigh]

Clearly never going to happen in the IETs etc, but I do wonder if a sufficiently entrepreneurial TOC could isolate the secondman seat from the driver on gangway multiple units without that much extra work (basically just installing a door?).

Then how do you instruct a trainee with a door in the way?

 

[sir_gummerz]

What would peoples opinions be on having transparent walls on cabs so that passengers can look through? Something similar to DLR.
Would this be too intrusive and distracting for drivers?

Worth noting that this is the norm in many countries, Japan comes to mind firstly. Also metrolink trams in Manchester also have a glass screen, you can see the driver and out the front

 

[Egg Centric]

Then how do you instruct a trainee with a door in the way?

You would only have a couple of units for cab rides (at least unless they became super popular) so this needn't arise.

 

[dk1]

Would have to be accompanied by a driver manager and then only with the drivers permission. Train operators really wouldn’t need to do such things to make a few extra quid.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

We used to have those all over the place...

Technically, we still have that on a current train (the 139),

 

[scotraildriver]

What would peoples opinions be on having transparent walls on cabs so that passengers can look through? Something similar to DLR.
Would this be too intrusive and distracting for drivers?

The problem these days is that everyone would be filming on their phones and the drivers every move would be posted on YouTube. I'm not sure anyone would want themselves posted on social media doing their job, no matter what job it is. I quite regularly let kids in the cab at a terminal station if there's time but they all want to film it, and it has ended up on tiktok more than once. I still let them on but make sure I'm well out of sight now.

 

[yorkie]

The problem these days is that everyone would be filming on their phones and the drivers every move would be posted on YouTube. I'm not sure anyone would want themselves posted on social media doing their job, no matter what job it is.

The reality is that's unavoidable in many other jobs. It's also unavoidable for drivers from the opposite direction (i.e. facing towards the cab from the outside).

 

[dk1]

What would peoples opinions be on having transparent walls on cabs so that passengers can look through? Something similar to DLR.
Would this be too intrusive and distracting for drivers?

No thank you. I don’t want passengers watching me snacking and scratching my bottom.

 

[notadriver]

What’s the difference between passengers having a front seat view in a coach and of the driver compared with a train ?

My other answer is WiFi access to forward facing cctv. Then you can get a view regardless of where you are on the train.

 

[AlterEgo]

and a nasty fatality, witnessed by a passenger in the front row, that resulted in legal action by the passenger.

I've seen this explanation a few times now and it makes little sense, and has never been substantiated every time I've asked for some evidence of it.

And i think that's the key point. How to resolve an issue where a member of the public witnesses something they can not unsee.

It wouldn't be the key point at all. It makes no sense - passengers witness fatalities all the time. That a passenger has a forward view is immaterial.

 

[popeter45]

What’s the difference between passengers having a front seat view in a coach and of the driver compared with a train ?

My other answer is WiFi access to forward facing cctv. Then you can get a view regardless of where you are on the train.

that would be my suggestion too, similar to what the A350 has with its Tailcam that passengers can view

 

[Discuss223]

Even members of the on-board train crew, such as Customer Hosts and Revenue Protection Officers are not allowed in to the cabs.

There is something called a "Cab Pass" that's required.

It used to be more relaxed, I remember as a child being allowed in to the cab of a Midland Mainline HST and even being allowed to press the engine start button!

This would have been about 20 years ago now though.

For the original poster and those who are interested, I know that the National Railway Museum occasionally hold open days where members of the public are allowed to ride in the cabs on the short section of track that they have.

I can't see anything that specifically mentions cab-rides at the moment but it would be wise to keep checking the following page for upcoming events. https://www.railwaymuseum.org.uk/whats-on

All events, activities, exhibitions and galleries​

https://www.railwaymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/nrm-50

The National Railway Museum is on Leeman Road in York and can be accessed directly from York railway station by heading West along the station footbridge.

A Road-Train shuttle also operates to and from the Museum and leaves and arrives from Duncombe Place (York Minster) between 11:15 and 16:15 on days when the museum is open and also leaves the museum between 11:00 and 16:00 on days when the museum is open.

Fares are payable.

Entry in to the museum is free but donations are gladly accepted.

 

[notadriver]

Even members of the on-board train crew, such as Customer Hosts and Revenue Protection Officers are not allowed in to the cabs.

There is something called a "Cab Pass" that's required.

It used to be more relaxed, I remember as a child being allowed in to the cab of a Midland Mainline HST and even being allowed to press the engine start button!

This would have been about 20 years ago now though.

For the original poster and those who are interested, I know that the National Railway Museum occasionally hold open days where members of the public are allowed to ride in the cabs on the short section of track that they have.

I can't see anything that specifically mentions cab-rides at the moment but it would be wise to keep checking the following page for upcoming events. https://www.railwaymuseum.org.uk/whats-on


The National Railway Museum is on Leeman Road in York and can be accessed directly from York railway station by heading West along the station footbridge.

A Road-Train shuttle also operates to and from the Museum and leaves and arrives from Duncombe Place (York Minster) between 11:15 and 16:15 on days when the museum is open and also leaves the museum between 11:00 and 16:00 on days when the museum is open.

Fares are payable.

Entry in to the museum is free but donations are gladly accepted.

Heritage railways do cab rides don’t they ? Apologies if this has been mentioned before.