Considering people like cleaners are agency staff on very poor money and terms and conditions and to them its no more than a job I think that's a bit unfair. That cleaner, for example, isn't in a customer facing role.
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BBC Documentary 'The Railways'
- Thread starter ralphchadkirk
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Considering people like cleaners are agency staff on very poor money and terms and conditions and to them its no more than a job I think that's a bit unfair. That cleaner, for example, isn't in a customer facing role.
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RailUK Forums
Interesting watch. My toes were curling in those customer service meetings. I have sat though too many of them, making their days and thinking like a passenger, and colourszzzzzzzz.
That guy who sat there taking all of the old boys stuff and walking in the GM shadows, i've seen him before on the railway, unless he is a clone that seems to infect a few middle manager types.
Busy trains, yes, but when the train left, I noticed that no one had moved down the coach, but again that is long distance trains carrying commuter type crush loads.
Some staff came out well, some bad. Shouted at the tv when they said 'union rules'. GRRRRRRRR. They are the law, and minimum at most. Welcome to a world where 2x 20 min breaks on a shift that runs from 17.45 to 02.50 are the norm, and are allowed within 2 hours from the start.
And i'm still not sure what was the point in the pass who opened the gate where it said no entry, went round to the ticket gate to came back in, then moaned his ticket did not open the barrier.
That manger might have been a david brent type in the edit, but when walking round the station he did know a lot of the staffs names.
As for the interview scenes, not easy thinking up replies when there is a tv crew there, but for the 'child' the answer, I want to be a train driver, not the correct answer.
All in all, could be worse.
That guy who sat there taking all of the old boys stuff and walking in the GM shadows, i've seen him before on the railway, unless he is a clone that seems to infect a few middle manager types.
Busy trains, yes, but when the train left, I noticed that no one had moved down the coach, but again that is long distance trains carrying commuter type crush loads.
Some staff came out well, some bad. Shouted at the tv when they said 'union rules'. GRRRRRRRR. They are the law, and minimum at most. Welcome to a world where 2x 20 min breaks on a shift that runs from 17.45 to 02.50 are the norm, and are allowed within 2 hours from the start.
And i'm still not sure what was the point in the pass who opened the gate where it said no entry, went round to the ticket gate to came back in, then moaned his ticket did not open the barrier.
That manger might have been a david brent type in the edit, but when walking round the station he did know a lot of the staffs names.
As for the interview scenes, not easy thinking up replies when there is a tv crew there, but for the 'child' the answer, I want to be a train driver, not the correct answer.
All in all, could be worse.
ralphchadkirk
Established Member
I thought the ticket clerk came out particularly poorly. He just didn't seem to be interesting in the film crew, his job or his customers. That doesn't necessarily make him bad at his job - a lot can be changed in the edit - but perhaps he may not have been the best choice for the programme.
(2 x 20m breaks in an 8 hour shift? Some people don't know how lucky they are!
)
EM2
Established Member
Why is it not the correct answer? I know him, and I know what question that was in answer to, and also what the position was for. He was very close to getting the job, too.
Also, calling him a 'child' is uncalled for. Yes, he's young but he's very good at his job.
I wasn't talking about all of them! If you've seen the programme, I think we would agree on the good and bad ones without any deviation!
I did feel the cleaner didn't have any aspirations to travel anywhere, first class or not. That's fine, but I got the feeling the way it came over on the programme was that she was really bitter (she did admit she hated her job, mind) and could never afford to travel on her wage. As I said before, I am sure she could easily bag a cheap first class advanced fare if she so wanted; rail travel isn't that expensive.
But perhaps that's the general theme the BBC wanted to get over - and encouraged her to get things off her chest? From the outset, it seemed that the whole programme was regularly highlighting the high costs - and possibly even trying to lay blame on the highly paid drivers!
We'll have to see the whole series to see if the BBC wanted some sort of political message. It's possible the BBC asked for this slant, even if the production company had other ideas...
No offence, he just looked very young for what seemed to be a quite imortant job. We have a manager that looks rather young and he is known as the 'man child'. The edit might have come out wrong, but if your interviewing for a job and someone says I want to be a driver, you think, mmm we might train him up, but he will be off as soon as possible, is it worth the bother. That reply alone might have been the reason where he was so close, but no cigar.
To be fair though, considering iss cleaners who east coast use don't even get paid a London living wage and, as they arnt directly employed by east coast, get absolutely no travel perks I doubt very much that she ever could afford to 'bag a cheap first class advanced fare'. I am guessing that putting food on the table, paying travel to get into work and paying the rent and bills will prevent any type of long distance rail travel.
Perhaps. I don't know how much or little they get paid. She did smoke though - so I bet she'd be a lot richer if giving up.
I could never afford to smoke today (not that I ever really did much when I was younger) if I wanted to do just about anything else!
As I said, it's very likely she was put up to it and made to get things off her chest and have a good rant. If she hadn't, she might not have featured and they'd have found someone else instead.
I wonder how many other people they followed, who said different things and had a different outlook, that never made the final cut. They must have recorded a significant amount more than was ever shown.
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Yeah of course that's how documentaries work, particularly ones such as this that follow many people. All are very selectively edited to portray a particular narrative. The aim is almost never a true representation but a sensationalised account. The editing in this was pretty blatant though. Not much attempt at subtlety.
EM2
Established Member
It was for a six-month secondment, so they knew he was unlikely to be staying there. He also told me after the interview that the question was 'Where do you see your career on the railway going'?'
I had to turn it off halfway through , mainly for the voice over comments which were just getting on me tits and from watching some of the passengers. Was surprised to see that skag head still knocking about there then - we didnt think she would last much longer when I last saw her.
Was also surprised to still see some of the younger staff still working there in some of the same roles too.
And Laxman is probably the nicest and most knowledgable railway man I have ever had the pleasure to work alongside in my whole career. I hope he enjoys his retirment because he has properly earned it.
Was also surprised to still see some of the younger staff still working there in some of the same roles too.
And Laxman is probably the nicest and most knowledgable railway man I have ever had the pleasure to work alongside in my whole career. I hope he enjoys his retirment because he has properly earned it.
Searle
Established Member
The high salary comes not from the fact that not many people want to be train drivers, the fact that it takes a long time to train them up, and that there's always a need for them, gives them a high salary. Much like doctors, but not as extreme.
Also, the moustached guy who worked on the ticket desk at KGX was so miserable it made me laugh
IanD
Established Member
Well, we know which unhelpful ticket clerk to avoid when using King's X. What a miserable git. Couldn't even be bothered to clearly ask the next person to come to the counter in case he upset the TV crew.
Also, wasn't it that being a member of the union ensured that you actually got to take the breaks you were entitled to rather than union rules dictate that you must have a break at set times?
Thought the male manager was an @rse.
Cringed at the interview process - but it's the same everywhere. Some HR guru has decided that those are the best type of questions.
Should have let Laxman keep his collection.
That woman on the gateline singing her awful songs - how do they always managed to find such people for thes sorts of programmes?
Also, wasn't it that being a member of the union ensured that you actually got to take the breaks you were entitled to rather than union rules dictate that you must have a break at set times?
Thought the male manager was an @rse.
Cringed at the interview process - but it's the same everywhere. Some HR guru has decided that those are the best type of questions.
Should have let Laxman keep his collection.
That woman on the gateline singing her awful songs - how do they always managed to find such people for thes sorts of programmes?
As a commuter I enjoyed the programme. Had fond memories of Laxman as a pleasent "fixture" of King's Cross and the ticket guy was the one who helped out when everybody else was having problems doing my season ticket changeover - seemed a genuinely nice bloke.
In general staff seemed to have a real concern for passengers and it's up to us to make sure that that is reciprocated.
In general staff seemed to have a real concern for passengers and it's up to us to make sure that that is reciprocated.
I wouldn't be surprised if a few people asked for her autograph this morning, she came accross as the star of the show. It's obvious that the slightly more eccentric types tend to be the ones they concentrate on, it 'adds colour'.
CC 72100
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Certainly came across that way! Alexis from FCC (or possible FHT - not sure!) also came across well.
The bloke in the information centre didn't, nor did the customer having a good moan about 'the system' 5 or so minutes in.
Ok the East Coast boss did seem a bit brash and too slick for his own good, but was he that hateable?
Evvy73
Member
If anyone is interested, it is also the choice of the Metro's TV critic in today's paper (p.46).
His review pretty much echoes what has been said on this thread already - "...the middle management were paid-up members of the Cult Of Misplaced Positivity and graduates of the David Brent School Of Sleazeball Charm.....".
(The Critics words - not mine!).
His review pretty much echoes what has been said on this thread already - "...the middle management were paid-up members of the Cult Of Misplaced Positivity and graduates of the David Brent School Of Sleazeball Charm.....".
(The Critics words - not mine!).
CC 72100
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Spot on too!
Nope, its a legal requirement whether you are in a union or not, the unions just make sure management dont put pressure on staff to cut their breaks short.
Cliveblackpool
Member
I hope they do a follow up on Laxman, such a nice knowledgeable guy from the old school. (Surprised they didn’t take his shaving kit!!)
The cleaner, (doing an essential, but thankless task for a pittance) was one of the stars too. So spot on - gave me a few laughs too!
The singing lady, always smiling.
The cleaner, (doing an essential, but thankless task for a pittance) was one of the stars too. So spot on - gave me a few laughs too!
The singing lady, always smiling.
phil8715
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The problem is that most of the young managers of today are still wet behind the ears. They come out of university and they get all the top jobs. Years ago you started at the bottom and you worked your way up the ladder.
These new breed of managers have probably never had a job on the railways or know how railways were run.
These new breed of managers have probably never had a job on the railways or know how railways were run.
I didnt see it as boredom, more that he wasnt sure how to act, and wanted to get out of an awkward situation a soon as possible. Remember that Mr Laxman had probably worked on the railways since before he was born.
The new concourse looks nice, however I dont like the overuse of 'Arrivials' and Departures.
phil8715
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jonmorris0844:1366708 said:
As I've previously said I knew the Cleaner as I worked with her, she was employed by GNER until it was contracted out to ISS, when it was GNER she would have got priv pass as I did, we whether she used her pass I don't know, I certainly used mine, I was almost certain she's also ex BR where she would almost certainly got priv.
Unless they had their priv taken off them when ISS took over. But surely their terms and conditions would have been transferred by tupe.
Aictos
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Totally agree, I've more respect for these managers who have the experience and who've worked up the ladder then the new breed of managers who have no experience at all and who get the top jobs but who are utterly clueless.
Good to recognise some faces, some of whom I've worked with at other stations
the sniper
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Erm, every industry/service has these people. Should these people be universally unemployable? Have you considered that the Clerk for instance may have started as a cheery soul when he started on the railway, but has been worn down by years of rude and aggressive customers, frequent chaos caused by disruption to services and feeling the effects of poor management decisions at various levels? Should he now be sacked?
Personally I liked the program. I thought it gave a reasonably fair overview of the railway and the people who work on it. The driver PNB bit was just ridiculous though, shame they took such a negative angle on drivers.
Iss didn't take over. East coast (or who ever was running it then) would have got rid of all its cleaners and then hired in iss to take over. The cleaners could have applied to work for iss but they didn't transfer so it won't come under tupe.
Bad wording on my part. When I said it's a shame that people like this were working on the railway, I wasn't suggesting them being sacked! It's just sad to see anyone that unhappy in their job, although there's the fact that the editing might make people seem a lot more grumpy than in reality. Of course, we might know about selective editing but what about Joe Public? They believe stuff like TOWIE is totally real!
When I ran a business, I dealt with the 'great unwashed'. The best way to cope with nasty or malicious customers was to rise above it and always remain friendly, polite and professional. Not easy for everyone to do, but keeping positive (especially if your job was more likely than others to deal with complaints) is the only way to stay sane.
WillPS
Established Member
I think overall the documentary was very good.
I didn't see the Ops Manager as being cold/bored at all - more shocked with the amount of relics he'd collected and perhaps not sure what to do with it! The whole segment for his send-off was very emotional indeed, and it's great to see the upper management personally seeing him off, lovely touch.
Perhaps on the negative side for East Coast; the entire training/HR department seemed massively out of touch with life in the front line. Okay so the bloke who threw her the 'what should passengers actually expect' curb-ball was clearly over hardened through experience but it was a fair point which I don't feel she was able to counter with anything other than deflection. You have to keep things relevant, and I feel the only way to do that is to get your HR people to shadow the people they train on a regular basis.
I didn't see the Ops Manager as being cold/bored at all - more shocked with the amount of relics he'd collected and perhaps not sure what to do with it! The whole segment for his send-off was very emotional indeed, and it's great to see the upper management personally seeing him off, lovely touch.
Perhaps on the negative side for East Coast; the entire training/HR department seemed massively out of touch with life in the front line. Okay so the bloke who threw her the 'what should passengers actually expect' curb-ball was clearly over hardened through experience but it was a fair point which I don't feel she was able to counter with anything other than deflection. You have to keep things relevant, and I feel the only way to do that is to get your HR people to shadow the people they train on a regular basis.
Nah that's not true, I'm afraid.
From what I remember of my time at the cross way before the demise of gner is that the cleaners back then were iss too. Had been contracted out for years.
Interesting to note that the black lad who you caught a glimpse of trying to sort out the pax in travel centre at the start of the show started as an agency security guy for NR in there and transferred to gner as he was good at his job so they hired him. Good to see he is still there and still doing a good job.
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