Any Metrolink Drivers On Here?

[Tomnick]

Safety always comes first, and if that means ignoring passengers or others for a short while, then so be it. I don't have to deal with the public very often, but I'd rather defend myself against a complaint from a member of the public than be facing a manslaughter charge...!

 

[Beveridges]

Sometimes it is possible to do two things at once. Despatch - unless it's in the hardest possible circumstances - is not a task that takes up all of the brains capacity to the extent that everything else must be completely ignored.

 

[Tomnick]

Neither does signalling, and indeed it's often necessary to be doing two or three things at once. No-one will thank you for letting yourself become unnecessarily distracted though, especially if you then have an 'incident' as a result - and a good number of serious accidents in the past have distraction as at least a casual factor. Each to their own, but I certainly wouldn't want to encourage others to take the same approach...

 

[Beveridges]

I don't know what the "Interview Perfect Answer" is. Just saying what happens in real life despatch situations.

 

[Tomnick]

Really? Most, from my observations, seem to quite deliberately ignore the person asking them a question, or at the very least briefly ask them to wait until the train's been dealt with.

 

[craigybagel]

It was safe enough.

Sometimes it is possible to do two things at once. Despatch - unless it's in the hardest possible circumstances - is not a task that takes up all of the brains capacity to the extent that everything else must be completely ignored.

It really does make me worried reading stuff like this from a safety critical member of staff. There is no such thing as "Safe Enough", there are set procedures that are safe, and that is what we follow. Yes, despatch is a relatively easy job 99% of the time, but that is no excuse. If the despatcher is talking to customers rather than focusing on the train during despatch, he might as well not be there, self despatch is going to be safer.

Pretentious hats on today again I see

As a former despatcher, and current guard, I reckon I've got justifiable reasons enough to question Beveridges remarks, especially on a thread started by someone new to the industry, thanks all the same.