Onboard Ticket Examiners & Litter

[bAzTNM]

Hi there! Just a wee question asking do the examiners have to make sure the train is spick and span at all times?

Saw a bit of an altercation on a Glasgow train today were a guy was heading off after eating a McDonalds meal on the train. Examiner stands up, he was sitting behind him, says to him "Is that your rubbish?". Guy is on the platform at this time. He says "Yes" and the examiner threw the rubbish at him. McDonald's wrappers and an empty can at him - "Take it with you next time!". Thought that was a bit out of order. Yes, he should have cleaned it up, but no need to throw it, especially the can.

Guy on the platform didn't look too happy at all. He was pointing at the examiner as the train moved away.

Thanks!

 

[Temple Meads]

I'd say he deserved that to be honest, it's hardly gonna hurt at the end of the day, and might have taught him an important lesson.

 

[sidmouth]

I'd say he deserved that to be honest, it's hardly gonna hurt at the end of the day, and might have taught him an important lesson.

Totally agree! I see no difference as dropping litter on the pavements, from which one would expect to be fined.

 

[Ferret]

I'd say he deserved that to be honest, it's hardly gonna hurt at the end of the day, and might have taught him an important lesson.

It is a bit naughty like - falls into the category of 'things we'd all like to do but aren't brave enough'!

 

[GadgetMan]

I've gotta say it annoys me too. Train goes into terminus. You then see the cleaning staff get on their hands and knees at times picking rubbish up because some passengers insist on squeezing it between seats and disposing of rubbish under seats etc. train then comes into service again and within minutes you'll observe a commuter peel their orange or banana and drop the peel onto the carpet. Absolutely no need for it. Yes the examiner in your example went a bit far, but at times it needs to be done.

You wouldn't believe how many parents out there will quite happily watch their kids drop biscuits and crisps onto the train carpet and crush it in with feet. Quite a significant number of our population have lost all sense of responsibility. They expect everything done for them to the point where they go out of their way to make things more difficult for others.

I often also come across adults who will turn newspapers or magazines into confetti and leave the carpet around them looking like a pig sty. When caught they are given the choice of picking it back up or leaving my train at the next stop. Absolutely no need for that type of behaviour.

 

[Bungle73]

Trains generally have bins, so why some people feel the need to distribute the train with their litter I have no idea.

 

[WestCoast]

Yeah some trains get in a right state. Some InterCity TOCs have staff collecting litter on certain trains, which helps in keeping the train tidy on longer journeys.

 

[trentside]

Yeah some trains get in a right state. Some InterCity TOCs have staff collecting litter on certain trains, which helps in keeping the train tidy on longer journeys.

I've actually seen some conductors do this on local services - not often, but I have seen it.

Was on an EMT HST set yesterday where someone had thrown a packet of biscuits on the floor and then obviously stamped on them... :roll:

 

[Greenback]

You wouldn't believe how many parents out there will quite happily watch their kids drop biscuits and crisps onto the train carpet and crush it in with feet.

Oh, I would! I used to wonder if they le ttheir kids do that at home, but now I just assume that they do!

I often also come across adults who will turn newspapers or magazines into confetti and leave the carpet around them looking like a pig sty. When caught they are given the choice of picking it back up or leaving my train at the next stop. Absolutely no need for that type of behaviour.

Some people are just disgusting. I have got on trains where half full cans have been on seats, having spilt most of their contents on to the cushion.

Of course, many people blame the TOC when they find seats and table in a messy and dirty state, but the chances are it was caused in the previous few minutes by people who just don't care enough to either find a bin or take their rubbish with them.

Perhaps the person in the OP will think again before leaving his rubbish behind next time. It's nice to think so, but I have my doubts.

 

[WestCoast]

I've actually seen some conductors do this on local services - not often, but I have seen it.

Yes, I've seen this too occasionally.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Some people are just disgusting. I have got on trains where half full cans have been on seats, having spilt most of their contents on to the cushion.

My pet hate is fresh (or old) chewing gum on the seat cushions or tables. Yuck!

 

[Greenback]

My pet hate is fresh (or old) chewing gum on the seat cushions or tables. Yuck!

Indeed, I've had that muck on my clothes, but fortunately only a couple of times in 20 years. It was murder to get off.

 

[CarterUSM]

TE's have train cleans written in to their diagrams to be done at certain locations, generally in headshunts and the like, or places away from major stations where there are no train presentation staff.

 

[Yew]

of course its not helped by some toc's not having tables (I'm looking at you Northern) a spilt drink on a table is a bit annoying but not a major problem, but novody is going to was to sit on a seat covered in some unknown liquid...

 

[tsr]

Indeed, I've had that muck on my clothes, but fortunately only a couple of times in 20 years. It was murder to get off.

I had that happen to my school uniform, back when I was, er, at school. It had just sunk in to the manmade fabric too much for any remedy to be of any use, but I am told that ice in a thin plastic bag will get minor gum infestations off clothes, if this is applied to the fabric ASAP. If this happened on a train with a buffet car, I suppose you could ask for some ice on the off-chance that they might be able to help.

 

[Bellwater]

Oh, I would! I used to wonder if they le ttheir kids do that at home, but now I just assume that they do!



Some people are just disgusting. I have got on trains where half full cans have been on seats, having spilt most of their contents on to the cushion.

Of course, many people blame the TOC when they find seats and table in a messy and dirty state, but the chances are it was caused in the previous few minutes by people who just don't care enough to either find a bin or take their rubbish with them.

Perhaps the person in the OP will think again before leaving his rubbish behind next time. It's nice to think so, but I have my doubts.

At one major station it irritates me that passengers pile on the train as it arrives, stopping the train cleaners cleaning and putting reservations on.
They only get asked to go back onto the platform.

The ones who pile on are normally only going 3 stops and make it worse for the passengers going Long Distances.

I've seen Scotrail's TEs in action they're like Irn Bru - made in Scotland from Girders.

 

[dvboy]

Virgin Trains often has a cleaner walk through between the last few stops. On the 1849 bhm-wvh there are Evening Standards everywhere. i hope theyre recycled

 

[43167]

I once saw someone eating an apple and proceded to pile the peel up on the table.

Surprise, surprise when he got off, the apple peel didnt. Luckly I had a plastic bag and removed it so the next passenger didnt have to look at for their journey.

 

[trentside]

I once saw someone eating an apple and proceded to pile the peel up on the table.

Surprise, surprise when he got off, the apple peel didnt. Luckly I had a plastic bag and removed it so the next passenger didnt have to look at for their journey.

I once saw a guy eat half a banana, put it inside a copy of the Metro and then squash both together in the fold down table. After he got off I threw it in the bin - thought I'd save someone trying to read the paper the surprise of that falling in their lap!

 

[Bungle73]

I sat down on a Chiltern service a while ago, only to find when I stood up to get off at Marylebone that I had a damp patch on the seat of my trousers because some idiot had spilt something or other on the seat. I had to put up with it until I got home, and I live in Kent. God knows what other people thought when they saw it.

 

[Greenback]

At one major station it irritates me that passengers pile on the train as it arrives, stopping the train cleaners cleaning and putting reservations on.
They only get asked to go back onto the platform.

The ones who pile on are normally only going 3 stops and make it worse for the passengers going Long Distances.

I've seen Scotrail's TEs in action they're like Irn Bru - made in Scotland from Girders.

I've been prevented from boarding trains that are turning around in places such as Manchester and Portsmouth so that reservations can be placed and the trains cleaned. Even when it's cold I don't mind waiting a bit as it means getting on a train that has been cleared of other people's detritus!

 

[jon0844]

I really feel for the train cleaning team that work bloody hard to clean some incredibly dirty trains - that haven't simply got messy during the course of the day, but possibly just one journey by a group of arrogant tossers.

I'll often help clean up, and as long as there's nothing wet and messy, it's no harm to pick up some cans, cups and packets and put them in the bin.

It does make me angry that people don't care and you know that it's 100% guaranteed that when they get on a train that was treated the same way that they did, they'll comment on how filthy the trains are and why doesn't the company do something about it. To be honest, anyone that moans about dirty trains and blames the TOC is obviously of the same mindset and can **** off.

I see mess and blame other passengers. There's an obvious difference between all of the mess you regularly see and things like dirty windows or dust on advertising boards etc. But, I've seen the quality control staff walking through doing checks of all surfaces and making notes, so if people took a bit more care themselves, most trains would be pretty spotless.

 

[tsr]

I really feel for the train cleaning team that work bloody hard to clean some incredibly dirty trains - that haven't simply got messy during the course of the day, but possibly just one journey by a group of arrogant tossers.

I'll often help clean up, and as long as there's nothing wet and messy, it's no harm to pick up some cans, cups and packets and put them in the bin.

It does make me angry that people don't care and you know that it's 100% guaranteed that when they get on a train that was treated the same way that they did, they'll comment on how filthy the trains are and why doesn't the company do something about it. To be honest, anyone that moans about dirty trains and blames the TOC is obviously of the same mindset and can **** off.

I see mess and blame other passengers. There's an obvious difference between all of the mess you regularly see and things like dirty windows or dust on advertising boards etc. But, I've seen the quality control staff walking through doing checks of all surfaces and making notes, so if people took a bit more care themselves, most trains would be pretty spotless.

I was just about to post something similar when I noticed your post. I agree that we should all be grateful to the staff who have to clear up passengers' mess.

Although it is a very poor excuse, and one that I don't endorse, the bins on some trains are very small and cannot accommodate much waste, so it would be hard to fit everyone's free Metros in the bins on a morning peak 377 in the London area, for example. Before you suggest that people should hang onto the paper and dispose of it elsewhere, just you try finding a bin (or a litter picker) at London Victoria, or at some other terminus. There really aren't many of them. That said, I can always find a bin at my destination, and it's hardly like it's hard to carry a newspaper or something, so why can't other people hang onto their litter? (Rhetorical question!)

 

[Yew]

Personally I dont view newspapers like the evening standard and metro as litter, as its posssible someone else might read it on a later journey, and a folded up tabloid doesnt take much space on a table.

 

[scotsman]

Personally I dont view newspapers like the evening standard and metro as litter, as its posssible someone else might read it on a later journey, and a folded up tabloid doesnt take much space on a table.

I quite like the idea of Ticket Examiners popping them into the racks, which are see through. That way, if someone's left behind a paper, someone else can easily see there's one available and the paper doesn't make a mess

 

[Bellwater]

I used to work a train that ran ECS for one part, the majority of the ECS i spent tidying the Metros up(putting them in the luggage rack or in a pile for the travelling cleaners later).

When you find a Manchester Evening News trampled on the floor though it has to go in the bin(along with the Sun which always goes there!)

 

[GNER 373]

As a Passenger I HATE unclean or messy Trains whilst travelling so as and when I get a break in checking tickets I'll do a litter pick between stops! Working for XC we can have trains running from Penzance to Glasgow/Aberdeen so you can be assured there's a lot of rubbish to be seen (and the largest selection of regional newspapers available on any mainline service!)

Although it is not in my job description and we do have cleaners board at terminating stations, I wouldn't like to sit in the mess so why should anyone else!

 

[lookingforit35]

It is a bit naughty like - falls into the category of 'things we'd all like to do but aren't brave enough'!

A while back I encountered a sausage roll eating youth with his mucky feet up on the seat opposite him. Dont know what came over me but as I passed down the train I felt the urge to give his boots a quick thwack with the Evening Standard. Understandably I didnt stop to chat but I heard his chav mates give him a hard time for being embarrassed by a middle aged commuter.

Looking back it was a tad foolish, but somehow seemed the right thing to do.

 

[Crossover]

As with others, I have seen some trains in a right state, mainly late evening turns where they head off to depot after.

Was on a TPE last night which had a lengthy waitover in York before heading towards Manchester and evidently hadn't had any attention from cleaners. Not the worst I've seen but not great.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Was pretty impressed though that the TM did a bit of tidying as she came round doing ticket checks. Having started with the old reservations on our table, she turned to the adjaccent table only to find an empty discarded carrier bag...luck and slight irony, me thinks!

(PS Double post due to posting on WAP and being character limited )

 

[chris89]

Virgin Trains often has a cleaner walk through between the last few stops. On the 1849 bhm-wvh there are Evening Standards everywhere. i hope theyre recycled

On the Birmingham - Edinburgh/ Glasgow services, the cleaners come through a few times during the journey to collect rubbish etc what is a very hand way to do it.

Yes i do put it the 'magazine net' thing when on the train, to keep it out the way, but as soon as the cleaner comes past i will hand it to them to put it in the bags they carry.

Trains are a pain for rubbish my bigger pet hate are in food courts, fast food places, where people just get up and leave rubbish behind and don't bother taking it to the bin. Just is pure lazyness to me. Also on that note, people on the street/ or even next to a bin and fail to put it in.

Chris

 

[jon0844]

It isn't just people being lazy, but trying to act hard - especially if there's a group.

If there's a female in that group, or nearby, it seems that they feel obliged to act like even bigger t**ts!