Any Train Conductors in here? Advice needed.

[richardmoore]

Are there any train conductors in here? I would be intrested to find out how much you like the job, what you like most and anything else you would like to add.

Thank you.

 

[mumrar]

I've been a guard ever since starting on the railways for Central Trains in 1997 (passed out 15th September) and I love my job. My desk has an engine and wheels, and the views from my office windows are spectacular. It's nice not to have my immediate supervisors always right by my shoulder, and nice to meet the 99% of people on the train who want to make a journey. That said, dealing with the 1% can get to you some days, but rough with the smooth really.

 

[CarterUSM]

I'd echo mumrar's sentiments there entirely. I really like my job too, especially the peace and quiet and the views out the window when I get time, though I lament the constant diluting of operational responsibility.

 

[mumrar]

though I lament the constant diluting of operational responsibility.

Well, quite, but that's more down to the financial agenda of ASLEF. You could chuck £1000 worth of pennies at an ASLEF conference and non would hit the floor. I'm obviously exaggerating, but still, a lot would quite happily see guards removed altogether. So long as the price is right, it's 'Come on down....'

 

[CarterUSM]

Couldn't have put it better myself.

 

[Bellwater]

Well, the best things i find are someone asks you a question and they're pleased at what you can tell them... Platforms(providing you're confident which the trains go off, and throw in a caveat)go down well.

99% of the time the people you work alongside(Drivers, Platform Staff, Train Crew Supervisors, Catering Staff) are spot on. you make the job as easy or hard as you want it to be.

The Downside is, as the other two posters are mentioned, is we get attacked from all corners as an irrelevance and expendable - Not by the passengers, i've noticed during my time in the grade a growing respect for the Guard - but by Company Executives and pen-pushers who want to make cuts during this economic downturn.

I feel for my colleagues in the Midlands and the South who have a lot to lose if the companies have their way. never mind passenger safety, we'll make all trains DOO and employ a few £6-a-hour Security Guards to try and reassure the passengers.

 

[313103]

Hi,

I have been a Guard / Conductor since 1987. I liked the role very much until DOO took away my love for the role.

The Companies insistence in the guise of ATOC in forcing Railtrack and then Network Rail to change fundamental roles contained within the rule book that the Guard had also helped take my love away from the job.

You get very few rewards from doing a Conductors job, most Conductors dont want to be Conductors, most conductors only do it because its a foot in the door for being a driver, drivers look and treat you as if your something they have just trod in, Management treat you with utter contempt, passengers regard you as a nuisance especially when your in their space, your criticised for doing your job and criticised if you dont. I could go on but that wouldn't achieve nothing.

As my General Secretary said a few years ago 'All these rail companies want Guards to be is glorified Kit Kat sellers' and im affraid that is where the role is going.

I once loved my role, but in all honesty i cant wait to retire, however redunancy may come before retirement. Such is the role now.

Sorry for putting the fire out.

 

[royaloak]

, drivers look and treat you as if your something they have just trod in.

Uh somebody had a bad day? I resent the way you paint a picture of ALL drivers looking down their noses at guards, I know of maybe 2 that are like that and 100s that don't. Maybe its YOU that has the problem with drivers!

Would you like to retract that statement?

Signed "A train driver"

 

[313103]

Uh somebody had a bad day? I resent the way you paint a picture of ALL drivers looking down their noses at guards, I know of maybe 2 that are like that and 100s that don't. Maybe its YOU that has the problem with drivers!

Would you like to retract that statement?

Signed "A train driver"

Actually i would like not to retract my statement but maybe slightly amend to 'Most Drivers' rather then All. After all it is borne out of being a Guard since 1987 and seeing people who walk into a Drivers job looking down on you.

In fact you will find the drivers that don't look down on you are those drivers that worked under BR. I don't particularly have a problem with drivers until they tell me how to do my job, then i let them know i have forgotten more then they know.

Just to show that i am not anti driver, some of my best work colleagues outside of work are actually Drivers. Actually i part own a Double deck bus where the other owner is a Driver for a leading Freight company.

 

[O L Leigh]

Perhaps it's just my natural defensiveness towards my own grade, but I would like to think that by "most drivers" you actually mean "some drivers", and that not all of the post-BR entrants would fail to garner your support.

I've never been in a position where I've worked with a guard, but quite a few of my colleagues who express a desire to have that second warm body onboard are, like myself, non-safeguarded.

Please don't mistake the lack of an expression of interest as being a lack of support for your grade. Don't forget that I frequent one of your messrooms (even when you're not there) and have never witnessed anything other than the good-natured banter between colleagues that you would expect to see in any other messroom. In fact, it's usually impossible to tell who are the drivers and who are the guards unless they are wearing RMT or ASLEF pins.

O L Leigh

 

[Bellwater]

I can't remember any "off the street" Drivers i've worked with looking down on Guards. or any Driver, to be honest.

I've had one accuse me and my colleagues of being Scabs, but there you go.