Class 350 guards.

[Pumbaa]

It is not right to generalise & say that all the guards at a particular depot never do their job. So by saying that they do causes offence to the Guards that do the job properly.

You also have to take into account that from Rugby southwards the trains are generally quite busy, just because you don't see the guard in your part of the train does not mean he has not been checking tickets, he may well have got held up dealing with a customer etc.

I apologise if I caused you offence.

I must be unfortunate and always get the guards who don't leave the cabs. However even one of LM directors admitted that they were aware of a problem - they get complains about the invisibility of onboard staff south of Northampton and were getting local managers to get into the case

Straw poll - currently finishing a journey that requires 2 changes. It has a minimum of 3 different guards, can have 6 sometimes. Todays journey has 5. First guard - Crewe guard. Full check and visible. Second - Crewe, was conducting a check by the time I left the train. Third - Bletchley/Northampton. Not visible, no check, sat in back cab all the way. Fourth - Bletchley/Northampton, no check not visible. Will report on the fifth, I have not yet completed my journey.

I always travel off-peak, and I make this journey every fortnight, sometimes every 4 days. And its always the same. Always. Admittedly there could always be a safety issue which prevents them from leaving the cab, but overcrowding isn't one of them on the journeys I make. Besides - even the Crewe guards will make the effort when packed, and they always are on Sundays!

So - sorry for moaning and comparing the depots, but its inevitable while does a much bette job than the other on the whole.

 

[Pumbaa]

Update on guard 4: no check, not visible, was reading a magazine in the middle cab. 'ok!' I think it was.

 

[Wolf_359]

Pumbaa you have obviously never been on any of the trains I work, unless the train is so full that I physically can't get out of the cab, I'm always in the train doing ticket checks or customer service.

As a grade I feel that guards have an essential safety role to play. I do get cheesed off that some of my co-workers seem to think that it is acceptable to sit in the cab drinking tea & reading a newspaper.

As was pointed out times are hard at the moment & we should be ensuring the future of the grade, not eroding it by not doing what we are paid to do.

 

[Pumbaa]

Glad to hear it.

To finish off my journey guard 5 sat in the back cab. Shame, as she's one of the better guards who always checks, even in the peaks.

 

[Matt Taylor]

As a grade I feel that guards have an essential safety role to play. I do get cheesed off that some of my co-workers seem to think that it is acceptable to sit in the cab drinking tea & reading a newspaper.

As was pointed out times are hard at the moment & we should be ensuring the future of the grade, not eroding it by not doing what we are paid to do.

I agree 100% with this statement! McNulty would have us all out on our backsides if he could, this is the time to be showing passengers and our superiours exactly how valuable we are. Personally I'd rather be anywhere than the middle cab of a 450, they are so claustrophobic.

 

[Wolf_359]

Personally I'd rather be anywhere than the middle cab of a 450, they are so claustrophobic.

On the London Midland 350's we have no choice about the middle cabs. When they converted what was the guards office by 1st class to a catering office (None of which have never been used with a trolley in place.) The only place we can go if the train is very busy is one of the non driving cabs.