I may have miss understood it but did that guy who said he blamed the unions for the engineering works at Easter not get told that he could travel to Manchester via Nuneaton but it would take 4hours? If so then its a bit if an over reaction. If they told him he can't get there at all and would be stranded for a couple of days then fair enough but I tight the was a way to get there, just taking double the usual amount of time.
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BBC Documentary 'The Railways'
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She was indeed. I noticed this also. Bit of creative editing!
I expect he's in some way involved with the production crew, so yes he probably did! Or else he was encouraged to say something crazy for the link to the next scene.
It might well have already been mentioned in the other pages - but it felt a bit like a Virgin promotional video! Where were the other TOCs and what happened to London Midland? Maybe they don't need any more bad press though..
There seems to be a lot of "virgin will have handpicked the staff" - of course they will. Before the documentary was filmed all of the affected companies will have been contacted and advised and then it's up to them how they would let themselves be portrayed.
I don't understand why we are bashing virgin because they did a better job at getting the right people to represent their company? I'd guarantee that fgw, east coast and northern also all hand picked the staff they wanted to represent them.
If anything I thought the workers on the track were a poor choice swearing at his staff every sentence!
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Makes sense also. The thought of the unknown with the franchise bid wouldn't help admittedly.
Apologies, i'm not intending to sound like i'm bashing Virgin. I would think that the staff that are happy to do these documentaries are the more enthusiactic memebers and are those that enjoy their job. I like seeing enthusiastic employees and doubt the doomsayers would ever agree to being on the show even if they were wanted. My comment was more in reference to it appearing that Virgin were the only TOC to operate on the WCML.BuhSnarf said:
FCC didn't seem to get very involved with the King's Cross programme (in terms of covering their trains and the issue of congestion on a commuter service).
As a result, the only mention of FCC was rather negative (from the EC staff member reluctantly using them to get in from Peterborough occasionally).
I do get the feeling that Virgin attracts better staff than some, because people want to work for Virgin. Likewise, as Virgin has tried to run its trains like its airlines - it has attracted people who probably feel they're more like an airline cabin crew than just working a train.
Sorry if that sounds like being a TM on a train isn't as sexy as working on a plane - but I guess that's the perception by most, even if a TM is more likely to get his/her hands dirty than a plane where things probably break down on the move rather less - hopefully!
As a result, the only mention of FCC was rather negative (from the EC staff member reluctantly using them to get in from Peterborough occasionally).
I do get the feeling that Virgin attracts better staff than some, because people want to work for Virgin. Likewise, as Virgin has tried to run its trains like its airlines - it has attracted people who probably feel they're more like an airline cabin crew than just working a train.
Sorry if that sounds like being a TM on a train isn't as sexy as working on a plane - but I guess that's the perception by most, even if a TM is more likely to get his/her hands dirty than a plane where things probably break down on the move rather less - hopefully!
Geezertronic
Established Member
But that is generally commonplace in that sort of work environment (in my experience anyway). You don't get TMs and drivers doing it because they are customer facing. The guys working the track don't have that issue
The S&T lads in the last episode were showing it how it is. The railway runs with plenty of tea, swearing and waiting about.
I'd rather watch a realistic portrayal like that, than a Showbiz-esque TM acting up to the cameras.
RPM
Established Member
Absolutely. I have been both surprised at the objections on this forum and delighted at the guts of the production company for not sensoring the language in this series. It is one of its better qualities.
Well the episode was clearly about ICWC, and wrongly named WCML. More of a production semantics issue than actually missing anything out.
Really enjoyed last nights episode I think it was the best so far to be honest. Loved the VT TM thought he was brilliant, especially the way he got so excited about getting to go track side (even if his passengers weren't so amused ). The VT RPI was also really good, I was really impressed by the way she handled the lady who'd bought the wrong ticket for a train twelve hours earlier (and how that trains TM handled it). And both the Stockport signaller and the track maintenance people were really interesting. I was a bit disappointed that more wasn't made about NR's track replacement train as that's a seriously impressive bit of kit. It would be been nice to get some figures about what it can do and what a traditional gang could do for comparisons sake.
The editing was interesting on this episode, especially when they were showing the catering on the VT service. We got shots of breakfast, evening meal, weekend, evening meal and back to breakfast in one after another at one point. The first time, I think, that the editing has been a bit dodgy (not that it matters as only people like us would spot it).
Does anyone know what the next is about?
). The VT RPI was also really good, I was really impressed by the way she handled the lady who'd bought the wrong ticket for a train twelve hours earlier (and how that trains TM handled it). And both the Stockport signaller and the track maintenance people were really interesting. I was a bit disappointed that more wasn't made about NR's track replacement train as that's a seriously impressive bit of kit. It would be been nice to get some figures about what it can do and what a traditional gang could do for comparisons sake.The editing was interesting on this episode, especially when they were showing the catering on the VT service. We got shots of breakfast, evening meal, weekend, evening meal and back to breakfast in one after another at one point. The first time, I think, that the editing has been a bit dodgy (not that it matters as only people like us would spot it).
Does anyone know what the next is about?
Zoidberg
Established Member
That's because I don't think they were invited to take part. The programme was about kings cross which is an east coast station primarily with very little FCC involvement. FCC have a handful of gate line, info point and dispatch staff there and that's about it. The drivers depot is technically at kings cross along with the related managers and rostering staff but to be honest kings cross drivers spend more time going to moorgate than the cross.
Plus I suppose they view east coast to be more interesting to viewers around the uk as a whole than focusing on a company that dosnt get any further north than Norfolk.
I thought it was said on here that First didn't want to be involved and restricted access to some staff? As a Network Rail operated station, I would have though that, while EC is a higher profile company, the programme could have done quite a lot with FCC, or indeed Hull Trains and Grand Central and not just EC.
In fact, the latter two might well have had a lot of interesting stories of their own as the 'underdogs' even if both are owned by big companies!
Perhaps they did film other people but kept with EC as they had a 'story' going with them.
In fact, the latter two might well have had a lot of interesting stories of their own as the 'underdogs' even if both are owned by big companies!
Perhaps they did film other people but kept with EC as they had a 'story' going with them.
notadriver
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I would personally class Virgins train managers as higher status than cabin crew who's main job seems to be to serve food and drink to passengers.
pinguini
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A bit like how a train driver just moves the lever one way to move the train and the other way to stop. Or is there more to it, I wonder... hmm.
notadriver
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Well why don't you tell us then ?
notadriver
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From
http://careers.easyjet.com/careers-in-the-air/cabin-crew-careers/training.aspx
Cabin crew course : 3 weeks.
Train guards course : 12 weeks.
http://careers.easyjet.com/careers-in-the-air/cabin-crew-careers/training.aspx
Cabin crew course : 3 weeks.
Train guards course : 12 weeks.
How does that 3 weeks compare to long haul operators such as BA or Virgin?
In anycase, length of the training course doesn't necessarily reflect any kind of "status".
306024
Established Member
Seems to be?
Now I'm all for a laugh and a joke but that really is insulting. I know a few BA cabin crew at Purser and Cabin Service Director level who would like to meet you and take you through their training. Hope you are good in a swimming pool, or in a confined smoke filled space, or can physically restrain someone.
Obviously this is a pro-rail forum (most of the time) but to compare the two jobs is frankly ridiculous.
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Statto
Established Member
Surprised the WCML franchise farce last Autumn didn't get covered a bit more than just a brief mention at the end, thought the Production company would have had time from filming to the air date add more of that farce in?
Sammy h
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This may just be me being super organised, but was anyone else shocked at the Liverpool fans turning up at Euston expecting a train?
If I'm going to a football game, especially in London, I would check to see what time the last train (if any) is? Maybe it's just me, but it's common sense IMO.
Best episode so far and makes me proud to work for Virgin.
If I'm going to a football game, especially in London, I would check to see what time the last train (if any) is? Maybe it's just me, but it's common sense IMO.
Best episode so far and makes me proud to work for Virgin.
My best episode so far for me was the one centered around Leeds, which seemed to have a lot of railway issues.
The Kings Cross episode was all about showing off how great the new station building is, and Laxman's life history. It felt a bit like the a soap about his personal life rather than about the railways.
The Virgin episode wasn't meaty and technical enough for me. It had the SRB gloss to it :P
The Kings Cross episode was all about showing off how great the new station building is, and Laxman's life history. It felt a bit like the a soap about his personal life rather than about the railways.
The Virgin episode wasn't meaty and technical enough for me. It had the SRB gloss to it :P
Statto
Established Member
Last ones from Euston to Liverpool on Saturdays are around 8pm, last years FA Cup final was 5:15pm kick off game would have finished about 7:20pm just enough time for those who left quickly to get back to Euston. Some might just have forgotten the line was off.
Was there a couple of sections of works on that day last year as only the Hartford one was mentioned, as found it odd the narrator mentioned Manchester trains where off yet they run nowhere near Hartford?
GatwickDepress
Established Member
The long-haired bloke working at the information point (I think his name was Tom) had just the right level of snark for a small crush to form. 
Why people just can't say "thank you" indeed, oh and the woman who was agape at a 20 minute wait for a train. It was nice seeing Euston at crush depth too.
It did very much seem to be an Intercity fluff piece. I would've liked to see London Midland and how they and Virgin operate together with very different services.
Also, am I the only who finds Beardie's smile somewhat unnerving?
Why people just can't say "thank you" indeed, oh and the woman who was agape at a 20 minute wait for a train. It was nice seeing Euston at crush depth too. It did very much seem to be an Intercity fluff piece. I would've liked to see London Midland and how they and Virgin operate together with very different services.
Also, am I the only who finds Beardie's smile somewhat unnerving?
I seem to spend far more time than is healthy trying to convince people that because they can drive a car, that does NOT mean they can drive a train! I don't know where his whole "anyone could just get in and do it" attitude comes from. Well, unless you're driving an 09 tube train, LOL (sorry
)!The long-haired bloke working at the information point (I think his name was Tom) had just the right level of snark for a small crush to form.
It did very much seem to be an Intercity fluff piece. I would've liked to see London Midland and how they and Virgin operate together with very different services.
Also, am I the only who finds Beardie's smile somewhat unnerving?
I think we all need a Tom if I was his boss I'd get him a raise and ask him to run a training session so a little of his magic rubs off on others.
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