g4s and Northern Rail

[andy90870]

ive posted quite a few answers to peoples posts all over the forums pages but they are not showing up. anyone know why?

andy

 

[northwichcat]

ive posted quite a few answers to peoples posts all over the forums pages but they are not showing up. anyone know why?

andy

Sometimes if you take a long time to write a message on this forum you're redirected to a login page after clicking 'submit reply' and you need to login again without navigating away from that page before your post appears. Maybe that's why?

 

[Romilly]

so im a new member on here and yes ....

Welcome to the forum but don't forget that this is a public forum which may be read by employers and TOC managers. Therefore, if you are known at work as Andy, you may want to adopt a username that is unlikely to lead to you being identified.

 

[andy90870]

Sometimes if you take a long time to write a message on this forum you're redirected to a login page after clicking 'submit reply' and you need to login again without navigating away from that page before your post appears. Maybe that's why?

I think that's what's probably happened, never mind
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Welcome to the forum but don't forget that this is a public forum which may be read by employers and TOC managers. Therefore, if you are known at work as Andy, you may want to adopt a username that is unlikely to lead to you being identified.

I'm not too worried about that everything I say is to the best of my knowledge and truthful anyway.

Thanks

 

[howittpie]

I hope the new contractor teach them 2 things.

1/ A London to Machester Station off peak return is valid from Picadilly to Oxford Road.
2/How to say please and thank you a few of the staff are great but the majority are just plain rude.

 

[BurtonM]

I sincerely hope the new contractor changes the revenue protection system at Man Pic back to how it used to be - just 13/14.

 

[Carlisle]

I sincerely hope the new contractor changes the revenue protection system at Man Pic back to how it used to be - just 13/14.

I'll hazard a guess that early in the next franchise we will probably see the usual automatic ticket barriers at that and many larger stations in the northern area that don't have them already

 

[andy90870]

It's confirmed by letter to staff members that the contract has been lost and a new company will be taking over.
Although the new company is taking over the staff are going to be the same as they have been.

Andy

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

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.

Not all parts of the multi-faceted international side of G4S are to be viewed as being of the same level that are seen on gateline duties at both Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly railway stations.

I for one would not like to be on the wrong side of the argument with those army-trained members who now work for G4S Gurkha Services who are fully trained to react to situations somewhat more fraught than those found at either of the two large Manchester railway stations.

 

[Carlisle]

It's confirmed by letter to staff members that the contract has been lost and a new company will be taking over.
Although the new company is taking over the staff are going to be the same as they have been.

Andy

Good to hear that people's jobs are safe even though the contract has been lost

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Good to hear that people's jobs are safe even though the contract has been lost

Will the terms of TUPE apply in this case ?

 

[andy90870]

Will the terms of TUPE apply in this case ?

Yes it will do

 

[craigwilson]

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

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.

Wonderful training - just tell staff to take tickets off people rather than engage their critical faculties and check the tickets properly. :roll:

I sincerely hope the new contractor changes the revenue protection system at Man Pic back to how it used to be - just 13/14.

I don't agree with this at all. The thing is, if the revenue protection is done properly, with good training, then its very useful. One thing that used to annoy me was that so many people used to get a free ride because they knew they'd never get checked at Piccadilly, and that, by and large, happens less these days.

 

[Elecman]

As Piccadilly is a Network Rail managed station it wont be an issue for the next franchisee regarding gateline barriers !!

Also the revenue protection staff need reminding they can only operate on the franchised Station Property NOT outside in the public highway.

 

[185]

Replacing G4S - the new contractor (allegedly).....

STM Security
http://www.stmsecurity.com/index2.htm

From a reliable source

 

[coxxy]

Replacing G4S - the new contractor (allegedly).....

STM Security
http://www.stmsecurity.com/index2.htm

From a reliable source

That's the one... I noticed the booking office staff etc on the list of staff they can provide!! How long till RMT get involved??

 

[185]

They already are. For some reason, the GMB union seem to be also sticking their nose in.

That said, the RMT seem to have been quite complacent of late at contract operators on the railway.

 

[GatwickDepress]

Replacing G4S - the new contractor (allegedly).....

STM Security
http://www.stmsecurity.com/index2.htm

From a reliable source

Rail Professionals
STM has extensive experience in the transport industry, with particular affinity to the rail sector. Our staff solution is designed to support all manner of integral services to our clients such as staff for:

Gateline
Booking office
Customer hosts
Railway Safety Accredited staff (RSAS)
Samaritan trained officers (helping deter suicides)
Personal Track Safety
Revenue protection and pushback staff

There are a great many other roles which are integral to the operation of a Train Operating Company and STM is perfectly aligned to help our clients meet the challenges of excellent customer service delivery whilst also being aware of the demands of concession and franchise agreements.

They sound like an ambitious lot. "Customer hosts"!

 

[howittpie]

I don't agree with this at all. The thing is, if the revenue protection is done properly, with good training, then its very useful. One thing that used to annoy me was that so many people used to get a free ride because they knew they'd never get checked at Piccadilly, and that, by and large, happens less these days.[/QUOTE]

To be honest if anyone wants a free ride they just walk past the barrier. Seen it a number of times the staff on the barrier just stand there like lemons and let them walk off.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

To be honest if anyone wants a free ride they just walk past the barrier. Seen it a number of times the staff on the barrier just stand there like lemons and let them walk off.

The last three times that I have approached the staff at the terminal platforms at Manchester Piccadilly railway station, they have stopped people without tickets.

 

[northwichcat]

The last three times that I have approached the staff at the terminal platforms at Manchester Piccadilly railway station, they have stopped people without tickets.

There is a difference between the approach of the G4S staff at major stations and small stations. Sometimes there's one at Knutsford standing between the entrance and the TVM without a portable machine so anyone boarding a train can just walk past saying they are buying from the TVM, while those alighting the train without a ticket are told to buy a ticket from the ticket office. One day at Knutsford there were 5 RPIs and 2 BTP Officers which seemed a bit excessive given that number would be required to cover quite a few platforms at Piccadilly or Victoria.

 

[talltim]

They already are. For some reason, the GMB union seem to be also sticking their nose in.

That said, the RMT seem to have been quite complacent of late at contract operators on the railway.

What is the difference between one private company (TOC) doing it and another private company doing it?

 

[Clip]

That's the one... I noticed the booking office staff etc on the list of staff they can provide!! How long till RMT get involved??

The use of an agency to provide staff is something that has been going on for a long time now why is it such a problem now?

 

[daccer]

The key here is that any man in an uniform is a deterrent for the casual fare evader i.e the generally law abiding person. Determined evaders will avoid all but the strongest measures so agency staff probably represent good value as they will prevent much of the ad-hoc evasion.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The key here is that any man in an uniform is a deterrent for the casual fare evader i.e the generally law abiding person. Determined evaders will avoid all but the strongest measures so agency staff probably represent good value as they will prevent much of the ad-hoc evasion.

A point well made.

 

[Anvil1984]

The use of an agency to provide staff is something that has been going on for a long time now why is it such a problem now?

The difference this time is that it is going to be network wide and not just on the west side. If we go back a year or so ago there was nearly a strike regarding Trainpeople and in the end the Trainpeople contract expired and crisis averted. There was also a pledge by management to sit down with station and retail grades reviewing the use of the current agency staff. However with the new direct award the company are desperate to make as much as they can whether it being potentially through additional ticket restrictions, staff redundancies or with STM potentially bringing the infamous £80 fixed penalty charges network wide

 

[Thomas6187]

This new company have given the staff a new uniform, which includes a pink shirt and yellow hv Vest. That means that passengers should be able to tell the difference from someone who works for Northern

 

[northernchris]

The difference this time is that it is going to be network wide and not just on the west side. If we go back a year or so ago there was nearly a strike regarding Trainpeople and in the end the Trainpeople contract expired and crisis averted. There was also a pledge by management to sit down with station and retail grades reviewing the use of the current agency staff. However with the new direct award the company are desperate to make as much as they can whether it being potentially through additional ticket restrictions, staff redundancies or with STM potentially bringing the infamous £80 fixed penalty charges network wide

If staff are being made redundant, but agency staff are going to be used to increase revenue checks then surely that's a sign something is wrong. However, I really do hope Northern increase revenue staff in West Yorkshire; the Airedale and Wharfedale lines in particular must lose a lot of money each week in uncollected fares due to the longer trains, frequent stopping distances and poor ticket purchasing facilities at a lot of the stations.

 

[WatcherZero]

The key here is that any man in an uniform is a deterrent for the casual fare evader i.e the generally law abiding person. Determined evaders will avoid all but the strongest measures so agency staff probably represent good value as they will prevent much of the ad-hoc evasion.

Indeed, research showed even a cardboard cutout of a policeman deters shoplifters.

 

[34D]

Replacing G4S - the new contractor (allegedly).....

STM Security
http://www.stmsecurity.com/index2.htm

From a reliable source

Does anyone know the name of the MD of that company, please?