Big bosses must read this forum

[strange6]

I posted a thread about 10 days ago about the use of 'RA' on station platform signals and how Manchester Victoria guards were still buzzing for the off, point being what was the point of the RA in situations like this.
This week, I have noticed that once the doors were closed on the train, the driver set off with no buzzing by the guard; only on illumination of the RA template.
Now is this coincindence or what?

 

[ralphchadkirk]

I bet you it's nothing to do with this forum. Probably just a coincidence.

 

[strange6]

I bet you it's nothing to do with this forum. Probably just a coincidence.

Probably. Although I bet a few senior managers do browse this forum you know to see what people are saying

 

[TDK]

Probably. Although I bet a few senior managers do browse this forum you know to see what people are saying

yes indeed

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Probably. Although I bet a few senior managers do browse this forum you know to see what people are saying

Yes, I'm sure they do. But too many people draw the wrong conclusions from it. One one of my sites, a large number of Russian IP's from Moscow access it. But it doesn't mean the Kremlin or the FSB log on!

 

[strange6]

Yes, I'm sure they do. But too many people draw the wrong conclusions from it. One one of my sites, a large number of Russian IP's from Moscow access it. But it doesn't mean the Kremlin or the FSB log on!

Indeed it doesn't but if I knew a few of my employees posted on a forum connected with work, then I would defo be interested in the comments!

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Indeed it doesn't but if I knew a few of my employees posted on a forum connected with work, then I would defo be interested in the comments!

Yes, as I said, I'm sure managers do read it. Though they will be far more interested in reading a site like Railchat than this.

 

[strange6]

Yes, as I said, I'm sure managers do read it. Though they will be far more interested in reading a site like Railchat than this.

True; I suppose that's where most of their staff hang about

 

[ralphchadkirk]

True; I suppose that's where most of their staff hang about

And where most of the operational chat goes on. People over there (and indeed any rail forum) have to be careful about what they say. You never know who's reading it.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

WSMR's MD (Andy Hamilton?) is on here (no real need though ), as is 'London Midland', I think an official account. You have to be really careful what you say on here; don't say if you were given free upgrades, a look in the cab etc, you never know who is looking. Some perfectly good staff member could get a bollocking for doing something out of the good of their heart for a curios rail enthusiast.

 

[bluenoxid]

I bet the mods have an interesting list of people reading the forum. More interesting and senior than you expect.

 

[Hydro]

I bet the mods have an interesting list of people reading the forum. More interesting and senior than you expect.

I'm flattered.

 

[Mojo]

Not too sure about the coincidence with the OP, unless a guard can say they have recently had a staff briefing, but we already know that a number of senior management individuals in Tocs, Atoc, DfT, etc. read this forum.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Not too sure about the coincidence with the OP, but we already know that a number of senior management individuals in Tocs, Atoc, DfT, etc. read this forum.

Too private to reveal? (PM?)

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Not too sure about the coincidence with the OP, unless a guard can say they have recently had a staff briefing, but we already know that a number of senior management individuals in Tocs, Atoc, DfT, etc. read this forum.

Not that I'm disbelieving you (it makes no odds to me whether they do or not!), but I'd like to see the evidence on that...

 

[Dai.]

The London Midland forum account is used for Marketing I believe.

 

[scotsman]

ATOC took action almost solely based on the reasonings of the Scot-Rail forum, it's now impossible to take a direct train around Fife to get from one side to the other.

 

[theblackwatch]

Too private to reveal? (PM?)

Sorry to disappoint you but we would not reveal such info via PM - see http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=27357

 

[Dai.]

Sorry to disappoint you but we would not reveal such info via PM - see http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=27357

I hate to point this out, but isn't that a bit far away? Surely the appropriate place should be at the bottom of each page with a Terms & Conditions link.

 

[theblackwatch]

I hate to point this out, but isn't that a bit far away? Surely the appropriate place should be at the bottom of each page with a Terms & Conditions link.

I think it's fine where it is. Judging by the number of people who have read it, very few are interested - it isn't difficult to find.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

It is just that old thing - Forums are like dictatorships - they have tonnes of info on you, kept in private, controlled by a bunch of people whono-one specifically voted/selected to do so.

 

[Mojo]

Not that I'm disbelieving you (it makes no odds to me whether they do or not!), but I'd like to see the evidence on that...

What evidence do you want, that can actually be provided? It comes from IP and email addresses and evidence from people who know of those who go on the forum. Given our Google ranking a search for a specific aspect of a station or a Toc's operation could bring about a link to this forum.

Also just thought to add, it depends on what a "big boss" is. After all, the immediate management of people in organisations should remind people of the rules under which they are supposed to be working. So if someone here comes along and says x is happening at Anytown station and if Anytown station manager happens to find that thread then in the structure of most organisations he would be right to issue a memorandum to all staff to remind them of the rules, it wouldn't require a "big boss" like the Chief Operating Officer to come along.

 

[MikeWh]

Not that I'm disbelieving you (it makes no odds to me whether they do or not!), but I'd like to see the evidence on that...

Two specific instances come to mind in the last few months. There was an issue being discussed centered around the Liverpool area. A poster wrote to ATOC about it and posted the response he recieved. This generated some further comments and the original recipient of the letter received an email from ATOC with a link to the thread on here and providing further clarification. I'm sorry I can't readily remember the exact subject matter, although split ticketing rings a bell in my mind. The other issue was the ALR restrictions where a poster received a communication from ATOC via a trusted source quoting comments made in that thread.

We are also aware that when fare anomalies are highlighted here they are often sorted at a subsequent revision to the routeing guide. It has happened more times than can be explained as coincidence.

 

[yorkie]

Not that I'm disbelieving you (it makes no odds to me whether they do or not!), but I'd like to see the evidence on that...

Well, how about someone meeting someone at the DfT and being told that they were aware of this forum? OK, this may not count as evidence as you only have my word on that, but you know there's nothing I can (legitimately) say that is solid evidence!

For example when several FOI requests occur regarding certain issues, logged by people up and down the country, they know these people are communicating somewhere.

I am reluctant to encourage certain types of posts e.g. listing certain anomalies at times, particularly in threads titled e.g. "List of fares anomalies" and then listing loads of really useful tickets that are cheaper to go further. I'm certainly not going to put a list of all my useful tickets for fares managers and people from ATOC to analyse.

We have 1700 active members and around 700 log on daily, yet no registration is required and several hundred more visit without registering. That's a lot of people and of course we don't know who all those people are, but some of them are managers without doubt.

 

[theblackwatch]

It is just that old thing - Forums are like dictatorships - they have tonnes of info on you, kept in private, controlled by a bunch of people whono-one specifically voted/selected to do so.

No dictatorship here, we didn't force you to join up or give any info. Ever heard of the Data Protection Act - do you think we are going to ignore a privacy policy just because you want to know something? If I owned an engine, should you be allowed to vote to decide what I did with it?

 

[Wyvern]

There have been occasions in the past (not perhaps on this forum) where railway staff have written out of turn, been identified by their managers and disciplined.

 

[Pumbaa]

There have been occasions in the past (not perhaps on this forum) where railway staff have written out of turn, been identified by their managers and disciplined.

There was a well known incident on here a few years back where a member of staff put their foot in it big time. They held onto their job by the skin of their teeth.

 

[starrymarkb]

It's said that you can tell which MDs read uk.railway by asking if HS2 should go through Middlesborough - if they smirk they read it

Mind you 'Ringby' seems to be a new equivilent to HS2 Middlesborugh

 

[WestCoast]

From a passenger perspective, it's great that top people read the forum. You can have a good whinge and it may get noticed by someone higher up than a "Customer Services Assistant" or someone like that.

However, I can imagine it is more awkward for staff on the forum.