g4s and Northern Rail

[coxxy]

Not in a position to confirm sources yet but rumours are that G4S. Staff are being told today that they have lost the revenue protection contract with northern and a new company will take over as of April 1st.

 

[northwichcat]

That could actually be a bad thing in the short term. G4S may be poor quality but they have some experience, an alternative provider may be poor quality with no experience.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

If the rumour is true I hope the new company employ the decent members of the G4s staff and there are a few and hopefully learn from the many mistakes over the years.

 

[northwichcat]

April 2014 is when the current franchise will end and a Direct Franchise Award (Northern or DOR) will start so logically April 2014 will be the end date for any contracts Northern have with external suppliers.

 

[Qwerty133]

Hope the government would stop the contract going to serco, as if it's seen they are happy for TOCs to outsource to their own parent company to reduce costs, what next? Drivers for FCC employed by first rail support?

 

[table38]

Rather than all the negativity towards G4S, maybe we could capitalise on this forum's extensive knowlege of the railway and help with some additional training ideas? Here's my contribution:

 

[ECML180]

What about e-tickets

I'm sure you can load them from a smartphone...and possibly a pilchard but I don't recommend trying it

 

[WatcherZero]

I think you will find a bus ticket is actually a ticket :P

 

[northwichcat]

Rather than all the negativity towards G4S, maybe we could capitalise on this forum's extensive knowlege of the railway and help with some additional training ideas? Here's my contribution:

Careful that Stagecoach bus ticket. What about a System One DaySaver Bus+Train that's been issued on a Stagecoach bus?

 

[ANorthernGuard]

Spoke to some g4s staff seems everyone knows except the bosses who have not been found lol

 

[Harpers Tate]

Careful that Stagecoach bus ticket. What about a System One DaySaver Bus+Train that's been issued on a Stagecoach bus?

Or the SYPTE equivalent (Day TravelMaster) etc........

 

[Jones]

Having had to endure G4S I cannot understand why it's still in business.

Personally I wouldn't give then a used nappy to look after.

 

[thealexweb]

Has Northern signed up to the mini franchise to take us through to 2016 yet?

 

[Carlisle]

If the rumour is true I hope the new company employ the decent members of the G4s staff and there are a few and hopefully learn from the many mistakes over the years.

Considering Northern probably serve most of the highest unemployment blackspots in the country they seem to enjoy hiring and ditching staff here , there and everywhere (ok mostly indirectly) other than core staff like guards and drivers , I think future best practice is the new proposed Scotrail franchise discussed on this forum :
specifying decent conditions ,living wage ,proper training opportunities etc :roll:

 

[WatcherZero]

Has Northern signed up to the mini franchise to take us through to 2016 yet?

No, only four franchises have (as of FCC this morning), its taking a lot longer than I think the Dft anticipated to negotiate each one and Virgin are even trying to renegotiate their direct award to allow for procurement of extra rolling stock.

 

[thealexweb]

No, only four franchises have (as of FCC this morning), its taking a lot longer than I think the Dft anticipated to negotiate each one and Virgin are even trying to renegotiate their direct award to allow for procurement of extra rolling stock.

What happens if Northern drags its feet and no deal is reached? I read in a magazine DOR has set up a vehicle to run the franchise.

 

[BurtonM]

I've been waiting to hear this news for a long time - let's hope it's true!

 

[gnolife]

Careful that Stagecoach bus ticket. What about a System One DaySaver Bus+Train that's been issued on a Stagecoach bus?

I've had hell from a couple of the G4S folk about High Peak Skyline issued ones. And that explicitly stated that it was a System One All Bus + Train Off Peak, as opposed to Stagecoaches abbreviation of S1 Bus Trn.


Although I would like to try handing over a Rubik's Cube and watching them trying to figure it out, given that they can't even figure out that MAN is in Greater Manchester,

 

[WatcherZero]

Ive never had a problem with G4S staff and they know the services as well as toc staff if I ever see anyone ask for help.

I have more of a problem with Northern staff who try and take my ticket off me when ive not finished using it.

 

[andy90870]

after reading the forums on G4S/Northern for past few hours i signed up.
so im a new member on here and yes i work for (shock shock horror) G4S as a revenue officer for northern at both Man Pic and Man Vic.

i asked a collegue of mine yesterday (18.02.14) who knows some of the things that are happening.

as far as we all know yes we have lost our contract to northern (Confirmed by a member of the northern rail staff), but the next contractor (who we are not too sure about yet) will be keeping the staff working there already but some major changes to the bosses, area managers and managers, after all its not our fault as the lowest of the staff chain about how pants we may be (which i whole heartedly agree we sometimes are) its how we are trained and how our managers expect us to act and seem to the general public.
what you should be expecting to see in the near future are the weak and lame staff ousted and the stronger more usefull staff members in place.

i hope that answers some questions people may have.

anything else please ask and ill try and see what i can answer as truthfully as possible.

 

[ainsworth74]

What happens if Northern drags its feet and no deal is reached? I read in a magazine DOR has set up a vehicle to run the franchise.

Exactly that. If a deal cannot be reached then DOR will be used to run the franchise in the interim.

 

[tom1649]

No chance of this work being taken in house then?

 

[northwichcat]

No chance of this work being taken in house then?

I believe Northern's argument for not taking it in house was under the terms of the franchise they are restricted as to how many people they can directly employ, so taking the work in house would mean a lower number of revenue inspectors in operation.

 

[tom1649]

I believe Northern's argument for not taking it in house was under the terms of the franchise they are restricted as to how many people they can directly employ, so taking the work in house would mean a lower number of revenue inspectors in operation.

I see, thank you. Personally, If I was in charge I would want everything in house so that everyone had fair terms and conditions. I also believe there's greater solidarity and loyalty that way.

 

[Aldaniti]

I believe Northern's argument for not taking it in house is that they are restricted as to how many people they can directly employ before there is concern that their generous profits might become adversely affected.

 

[telstarbox]

after reading the forums on G4S/Northern for past few hours i signed up.
so im a new member on here and yes i work for (shock shock horror) G4S as a revenue officer for northern at both Man Pic and Man Vic.

Welcome Andy.

How much training do you get from G4S about which ticket types to accept or refuse?

 

[thealexweb]

anything else please ask and ill try and see what i can answer as truthfully as possible.

What training is given to staff working at Manchester Victoria, specifically on the ticket barrier, on the matter of passengers retaining outbound tickets to use on the tram, which is free inside the City Zone providing you have a ticket that has a station in Greater Manchester as the starting point. Lots of G4S guards blanketly take all tickets. Northern's public response is that passengers should retain tickets if they are valid for the tram.

 

[swt_passenger]

...I read in a magazine DOR has set up a vehicle to run the franchise.

They always do, at every competition. It's called being prepared for every eventuality.

 

[andy90870]

Welcome Andy.

How much training do you get from G4S about which ticket types to accept or refuse?

we got 4 days of 7 hours worth of training (so 28 hours) in every aspect of ticket and pass as well as the various rail cards.
bare in mind im a relatively new employee so its all very fresh in my mind so it makes me very effective.

however......
some of the staff have been there up to 10 years and are completely useless and just stare off in to space when someone aproaches them and some others couldnt care less. we get paid £6.48ph as well

andy
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

What training is given to staff working at Manchester Victoria, specifically on the ticket barrier, on the matter of passengers retaining outbound tickets to use on the tram, which is free inside the City Zone providing you have a ticket that has a station in Greater Manchester as the starting point. Lots of G4S guards blanketly take all tickets. Northern's public response is that passengers should retain tickets if they are valid for the tram.

in regards to this the staff at victoria take tickets off all people regardless if its a CTLZ or STNS ticket because they are told to take it off people but you dont actually have to give it to them if you dont want to. We recycle the tickets if thats what you want to know what we do with them as well.

andy



just wasnt to add something else to the discussion as well, once victoria station is rebuilt theres a good chance that the best of the staff at victoria will work directly for northern as there will be ticket barriers to ALL platforms there and need revenue staff just like at oxford road station

 

[hassaanhc]

At Slough which is a FGW station there are also G4S people manning the barriers