BBC Documentary 'The Railways'

[hairyhandedfool]

....but the charges seem astronomic to me but I really liked it when the girl taking the intiative and waiving the big bill for the man who was taken ill and left his laptop on the train, that is excellent customer service.

£20 was standard charge for a laptop fifteen years ago when I started on the railway. The maximum they can charge per item is £30, which, when you consider the cost of a new laptop, really isn't that much.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

Coming from an S&T background,I couldnt understand why the faults team were waiting for an investigation team to look at the tc failure,when the lads there knew what the problem was and could have had it re-terminated and tested within about 20 mins,thereby cutting down on the mahoosive delays.

EDIT:- to merge with post 634!!!

 

[Drsatan]

Is it me or did the girl at the lost property office remind me of a certain Big Brother contestant?

(the contestant in question applied for Big Brother but was instead placed on Celebrity Big Brother)

 

[gimmea50anyday]

Dont think HMRI or DOT would attend,more likely RAIB-but even then why?

There have been a couple of issues where freight trains have derailed while taking the crossing then re railing a couple of yards down the line, RAIB was called out o investigate wether this had happened again but as seen on the film they decided not to attend. The dithering obviously caused major delays as they couldn't fix the cables until the RAIB investigated then the RAIB decided not to turn up!

 

[eastwestdivide]

Did the lost property office girl have to end every sentence with "so......."?

Makes a change from "you know".

But I thought she was a good warning not to judge someone by their accent: she sounded a bit air-head, but her actions showed her to be someone with a bit of common sense and the ability to make the right decisions.

 

[Buttsy]

Originally Posted by Buttsy
We're not ALL miserable gits...

Which one isn't? I haven't met them yet

You said you didn't do Oxford services...

 

[Markos72]

There have been a couple of issues where freight trains have derailed while taking the crossing then re railing a couple of yards down the line, RAIB was called out o investigate wether this had happened again but as seen on the film they decided not to attend. The dithering obviously caused major delays as they couldn't fix the cables until the RAIB investigated then the RAIB decided not to turn up!

Ah right,cheers for that.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Makes a change from "you know".

But I thought she was a good warning not to judge someone by their accent: she sounded a bit air-head, but her actions showed her to be someone with a bit of common sense and the ability to make the right decisions.

Indeed. Particularly with the guy who was clearly trying to blag a phone. I thought she dealt with that very well.

 

[Monty]

Another good episode to follow on from the second, though while I thought (foolishly ) they would end it on a positive note after all that hard work done by Network Rail over the Christmas period with the bridge replacement. They (the BBC) couldn't resist slipping in a moan at the end about fares and delays.

 

[Westboy]

There was similar incident to the Cable incident on this show a month after at Reading West Junction, which RAIB did investigate, and released the report a few weeks ago.

http://www.raib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/130128_R022013_Reading_West.pdf

Looks like in that case also they didn't attend the scene, but the train which was stopped a long way down the line.

 

[CC 72100]

I'm surprised no-one else has mentioned it, but I did like the improvised tinsel on the Xmas tree in the BTP office!

 

[455driver]

Out of interest what was the train in footage of the 1980's footage of reading station (not the hst), the one waiting in a platform.

If its the one on the right of the screen it is a class 101 Metro Cammel DMU.

 

[Harbon 1]

A good series so far, but i'm looking forward to the episode with the team on the track advertised at the start, the one with the 'start tamping, son!' bloke

 

[IanXC]

I also had to smile at the girl in the Lost Property Office in Paddington who had her name tattooed on her wrist, priceless.

Perhaps its to help her colleagues, should she turn up as lost property...

 

[Ploughman]

The only bit of criticism I can make, would be at the Lad clearing away the dog.
Walking alongside the track just off sleeper ends with his back to traffic and on the phone.
OK he may have been in touch with the Signaller but even so If you do it then you will do it again when you aren't in touch.

Also have the requirements for getting your COSS certification changed?
He said he had been on the railway for 5 months, that used to be minimum 6 month before you were considered at all.

 

[Kt]

This episode was great, really enjoyed it.

I met Ben today (the lad who went out to the dog and fatality), and he is a great character and very enthusiastic!

 

[richw]

Also have the requirements for getting your COSS certification changed?
He said he had been on the railway for 5 months, that used to be minimum 6 month before you were considered at all.

Following COSS Initial Training delegates must have their competence assessed within 4 months and again at 9 to 15 months after the training

http://www.focusrailsafety.com/wp/courses/railway/controller-of-site-safety-coss/

This suggests they are 4 months to have their assesment,

 

[Kt]

The only bit of criticism I can make, would be at the Lad clearing away the dog.
Walking alongside the track just off sleeper ends with his back to traffic and on the phone.
OK he may have been in touch with the Signaller but even so If you do it then you will do it again when you aren't in touch.

The narrator stated that he was told he would have 2 minute window to retrieve the dog, so I would imagine that the signaller would have been informing him of approaching trains and guiding him to the location. I wouldn't think he would have been in any real danger.

The nearest access point was on that side and meant less lines to cross to retrieve the dog, so walking with back to traffic would be inevitable, and therefore being on the phone to the signaller is essential.

Also train drivers would sound their horn, which he would have heard.

 

[jimm]

Another good episode to follow on from the second, though while I thought (foolishly ) they would end it on a positive note after all that hard work done by Network Rail over the Christmas period with the bridge replacement. They (the BBC) couldn't resist slipping in a moan at the end about fares and delays.

Sorry, but it's a TV programme, not an extended puff for the railways, and if you ask rail passengers in the Thames Valley what two things are top of their list of concerns, then it will be fares and delays, however much money is being sunk into improving the railway all around them for the next few years. Heroic engineering is all very well but if someone's train home is still 10 minutes late every night - like mine is, more often than not, for six years and counting now - then that's what they will talk about, not how impressive that bridge installation was.

 

[Stigy]

The narrator stated that he was told he would have 2 minute window to retrieve the dog, so I would imagine that the signaller would have been informing him of approaching trains and guiding him to the location. I wouldn't think he would have been in any real danger.

The nearest access point was on that side and meant less lines to cross to retrieve the dog, so walking with back to traffic would be inevitable, and therefore being on the phone to the signaller is essential.

Also train drivers would sound their horn, which he would have heard.

I found this a bit worrying too to be honest, although as you say, he was on the phone to the signaller. Nonetheless it's basic PTS stuff not to use a phone whilst on or near the line, especially as he was alone to all intents and purposes.

Regarding hearing the train horn, not necessarily if he's preoccupied on the phone, as you can almost be deaf to the outside world.

 

[A-driver]

I found this a bit worrying too to be honest, although as you say, he was on the phone to the signaller. Nonetheless it's basic PTS stuff not to use a phone whilst on or near the line, especially as he was alone to all intents and purposes.

Regarding hearing the train horn, not necessarily if he's preoccupied on the phone, as you can almost be deaf to the outside world.

I'm pretty sure he knew what he was doing and for all we know viewing the programme he already had a block on that line anyway.

 

[BestWestern]

I was surprised he was sent out at all to be honest, seems a complete waste of time to retrieve a clearly deceased domestic animal. While I'm sure the Driver who reported it probably meant well, it's hardly a major risk to trains. It was very kind of him to bag it up, I have to say I'd probably have left it in a bush myself! A nice piece of positive PR though I guess.

 

[ainsworth74]

I'm pretty sure he knew what he was doing and for all we know viewing the programme he already had a block on that line anyway.

I was wondering that. We saw trains go past but, whilst he was besides that line did any go past? I remember a HST going by but that was after he'd got he dog and was bagging it up.

It was very kind of him to bag it up, I have to say I'd probably have left it in a bush myself!

That's cause you're a heartless wotsit

 

[the sniper]

Walking alongside the track just off sleeper ends with his back to traffic and on the phone.

Yeah, I raised an eyebrow at that. As Stigy says, basic PTS stuff! Obviously we don't know the full circumstances though.

Was he a MOM or something else? NR seem to me to have a few grades that overlap, so I never sure who's doing what.

 

[Dave1987]

I thought the programme was excellent. Showed clearly to passengers what is going on in the background when there is major disruption. As the programme pointed out Britains railways are heavily congested and even a very small problem can cuase huge delays. But unfortunately some passengers can't or refuse to see the bigger picture. They dont realise that a set of points could have been pounded by 100's of trains a day for 10 years so failure will eventually happen. To a lot of passengers all they are concerned about is the fact they are being inconvinienced.

A lot of passengers complain that when their is disruption staff run and hide. Is it any surprise. I once stopped to talk to a passenger as I was walking up the platform. She wanted to know what had happened and why their were such huge delays. I told her what was wrong, and all I got in response was a load of abuse about how the trains are always delayed. Passengers want to know the cause but regularly respond with "there is always an excuse", "that old chesnut then" etc, etc. And you think why ask me what has happened if you are going to say that back.

 

[Monty]

Sorry, but it's a TV programme, not an extended puff for the railways, and if you ask rail passengers in the Thames Valley what two things are top of their list of concerns, then it will be fares and delays, however much money is being sunk into improving the railway all around them for the next few years. Heroic engineering is all very well but if someone's train home is still 10 minutes late every night - like mine is, more often than not, for six years and counting now - then that's what they will talk about, not how impressive that bridge installation was.

Sorry, but the last 60 seconds was edited in purely to create negative sentiment at the end of a largely positive episode. If the editors deemed the footage that vital why not include it when that woman was banging on about it being illegal to be 'packed in'?

 

[GospelOak117]

Watched all three episodes today and i'm instantly hooked, it's really good. The first rail programme I've really been into since RailCops some 8-10 years ago.

 

[A-driver]

I was surprised he was sent out at all to be honest, seems a complete waste of time to retrieve a clearly deceased domestic animal. While I'm sure the Driver who reported it probably meant well, it's hardly a major risk to trains. It was very kind of him to bag it up, I have to say I'd probably have left it in a bush myself! A nice piece of positive PR though I guess.

It's becoming more and more common to have pway sent out for domestic animals. Problem is the owners makung an attempt at retrieving them themselves causing bigger problems.

We had a train stopped specially to pick up the body of Emma buntons dog at Hadley wood a few weeks back as they had spotted people very interested in getting to it as I believe there was a reward out for the missing dogs return. Network rail wanted to act quickly to get rid if the body before someone tried some heroics to get the body back for a reward.

This is off topic but I know the rule book specifically states the job won't be stopped for dogs but the worry is more the owners wandering about further up the track looking for their beloved pet.

 

[Starmill]

When constructing the platform at Reading did they just place it over the existing track?
If so is this temporary or permanent?

I thought that was very odd. Clearly some very dodgy editing going on throughout the programme. Not as bad as the first episode when they basically said "A train was delayed by 90 minutes because its dirver was taking a break." but still.

In fact, I've heard a surprising amount of people around Manchester Pic recently talking about that. They seem to have believed it

 

[Harbon 1]

When constructing the platform at Reading did they just place it over the existing track?
If so is this temporary or permanent?

I was thinking the same thing!