Recent content by Krisj159

Nope - when SWT were awarded the franchise last time and we went to an hourly service to Exeter. I didn't work the last Paignton train but I was lucky enough to work the last one that Saturday morning - 6 car hybrid 159s.

Huh!? I'm talking about 159s which were always serviced at Salisbury.

Ah but we're not just suburban, we're long distance too, Portsmouth, Weymouth and Exeter. When the guard is in one place during disruption and the driver another things inevitability fall apart.

Could be but that's not what the old steam boys told me.

Yes DaFT took away the Paignton and Plymouth from us. Used to love the Paignton turns from Salisbury.

Train Crew Supervisor - BR days used to be an ex driver or a driver as a panel man but gradually towards the end they used guards. DSM - Driver Standards Manager. DRM is a Driver Resources Manager - a small number of these in more remote locations replaced the TCSs but unable to make decisions...

I've heard the rumour that SWR are thinking of reinstating the TCS role but the management haven't said anything. The problem we have is control insists on running every train and won't normally cancel one because of the penalty charge. They then block up major arteries by having too many trains...

We've not had ressies for years down 'ere on SWT/SWR. Parents should sit their children on their lap the way we used to when I was little many, many, moons ago. Basic manners nowadays - that's a rarity I'm afraid.

Have one big company to run the trains and maintain the lines. Have enough staff on standby and decentralise the control centres. Have enough stock to run relief trains or strengthen them. Let trains wait to make connections without penalties. Run right time trains in front of late trains...

There has been a TSR there for roughly 10 years or more on and off - more on. I've often said that they might as well make it a PSR. I think that very few trains actually use that crossover and they could possibly remove it. I don't remember any speed restrictions there under BR but then we...

We have some trains that are 'Set down only' and not advertised to the public from those stations. As a guard in the past, I used to go through the train and see if we had any passengers for those stations and if not - tell the driver and keep going. Nowadays as a driver I have to stop...

I've been driving them for over 20 years and the padding as far as I'm aware has never been changed before and have always been the most comfortable seats on the railway.... probably.

Probably a future TFL livery : D

To the passengers who say there are no seats.....give me £50 for every seat I find you (they don't move to the rear/front of the train depending on direction of travel and won't ask people to move bags/coats etc.)

Make every passenger who compares our railways with European ones pay a supplement and book a seat in advance the way you have to on most high speed European trains.