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

[pokemonsuper9]

Heritage railways do cab rides don’t they ?

On a 143 driver experience day the Wendsleydale railway people were allowed to move up front as much as they wanted.
But what is effectively a charter train is very different to a public service heritage train.

 

[InkyScrolls]

As a driver I certainly would not want random members of the public in the cab with me, even with a manager, and I suspect the overwhelming majority of my colleagues to feel the same. Furthermore there is some safety equipment on the secondman's side on, say a 158, so it wouldn't work even if you shut the door.

 

[70014IronDuke]

Would have to be accompanied by a driver manager and then only with the drivers permission.

Even in the 'relatively easy-going' days of BR, as engineering staff with cab passes, we would always ask the driver's permission. I think it was mandated somewhere in the rule book. Even if it wasn't, it was just plain respect. I was never refused, and I never heard of anyone qualified being refused, but you just did it. Otherwise, how was the driver to know who the hell the person was just seeking to barge into the cab?

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 think this is just one of the examples how societal norms have changed. In my experience, drivers were pleased to have someone responsibly behaved in the cab even when they had a second man on board to talk to. But no driver wants distractions or annoying behaviour. And with so many people today, I suspect the assumptions as to what they could and should not do in the environment of a locomotive cab are well beyond what most drivers would like. Especially with the higher average speeds of many trains.

 

[signed]

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.

Isn't the extremely high pricing of the Swiss ones basically a deterrent against that?

There are a lot of entitled rich persons, but I would expect someone (or like a group buy) that can spend £1250 for 4h train ride to be a lot more mindful of the environment.

 

[Egg Centric]

As a driver I certainly would not want random members of the public in the cab with me, even with a manager, and I suspect the overwhelming majority of my colleagues to feel the same. Furthermore there is some safety equipment on the secondman's side on, say a 158, so it wouldn't work even if you shut the door.

Is it not the case it's basically stuff (ie circuit breakers, isolation switches, etc) you would only need to access in non normal conditions at which point you could just apologetically (or gleefully) boot them out? Or is there stuff in there you would often need to get at?

 

[InkyScrolls]

Is it not the case it's basically stuff (ie circuit breakers, isolation switches, etc) you would only need to access in non normal conditions at which point you could just apologetically (or gleefully) boot them out? Or is there stuff in there you would often need to get at?

Plus some emergency equipment which I might need instant access to.

 

[Egg Centric]

Plus some emergency equipment which I might need instant access to.

Oh well there goes that plan then

Does anyone know if there are gangway units where this doesn't apply?

 

[bahnause]

Is it not the case it's basically stuff (ie circuit breakers, isolation switches, etc) you would only need to access in non normal conditions at which point you could just apologetically (or gleefully) boot them out? Or is there stuff in there you would often need to get at?

That reminds me of a journey during the delivery of a new class. The CEO at the time came along on a trip. The circuit breakers on this vehicle are mounted on the rear wall of the driver's cab, completely unprotected at the time. He then leaned against the rear wall and the journey ended abruptly until everything was switched on again. Gradually, the circuit breakers were fitted with small plastic covers to prevent accidental switching off.

As the owner of a Cab-Pass, I always register in advance, unless it's at very short notice. Then I ask there and then. Everyone has the right to refuse. So far, however, this has never happened. To bring a guest, prebooking is mandatory.

 

[30907]

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)

AFAIK the door is not normally open, but the blinds aren't shut - part of the retro experience (I was on said unit on Friday too).

 

[Bletchleyite]

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.

Merseyrail's 777s were to have had this feature but the Unions were against it so it was permanently frosted.

I've been on an ICE with the feature and you could see very little, it wasn't really worthwhile.

 

[Stossgebet]

Merseyrail's 777s were to have had this feature but the Unions were against it so it was permanently frosted.

I've been on an ICE with the feature and you could see very little, it wasn't really worthwhile.

I have done it a few times. Was absolutely brilliant on the Cologne -Frankfurt high speed line and Copenhagen to Hamburg on the train ferry between Denmark and Germany!

I wish i had done a few more journies. I guess i fell into the trap (should have known better) of thinking things won't change, even though the stock has plenty of life left.

 

[6Gman]

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?

In my experience most drivers left the blinds up in daylight, but generally lowered them at night. A few would pull the blind down regardless.

Times have changed and I think there would (sadly) be strong resistance now.

 

[Krokodil]

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!

I remember as a young child riding on my dad's lap in the secondman's side of a Wessex 153 from Looe to Coombe Junction. Only us, the driver and the guard onboard. Would never happen today, you'd almost inevitably get caught with social media and cameras everywhere.

 

[Crossover]

AFAIK the door is not normally open, but the blinds aren't shut - part of the retro experience (I was on said unit on Friday too).

I did think the door wouldn’t be open. Small world anyway - probably a fair chance our paths crossed as I spent a fair bit of time on the 101 overall!

 

[eldomtom2]

I've been on an ICE with the feature and you could see very little, it wasn't really worthwhile.

It's not worthwhile on streamlined trains with the driver sitting in the middle. On non-streamlined trains where the driver sits to the side, however, passengers can usually get a decent view (at least from the first couple of seats).

 

[Tomnick]

Is it not the case it's basically stuff (ie circuit breakers, isolation switches, etc) you would only need to access in non normal conditions at which point you could just apologetically (or gleefully) boot them out? Or is there stuff in there you would often need to get at?

On 15x traction at least, the most important thing in there is my bag, which contains my dinner – with the door swung around to open the gangway up and close the driving controls off, it really is cramped in there – it's only intended to be like that when it's buried and (in theory) unoccupied. I'd also be concerned about my ability to escape quickly in an emergency – the door, when closed against the vestibule, is designed to be able to push through to permit a hasty retreat. Any occupant of the secondman's side is in a pretty vulnerable position too in terms of structural integrity.