LBC reporter checking on train drivers

[notadriver]

Now that it had been confirmed that the Spanish driver was on a mobile phone LBC sent a reporter with binoculars to Clapham Junction to see how many train drivers he could spot with a mobile phone. He failed to spot one.

This sort of thing has left me feeling that the public no longer trusts train drivers and others have suggested that CCTV in the cab alongside glass partitions so passengers can keep an eye on the driver are the way forward.

I will be resisting any such measures as I consider myself to be a professional and don't need checking up on. What do others think? Is being a train driver still a respected job?

 

[YorkshireBear]

Now that it had been confirmed that the Spanish driver was on a mobile phone LBC sent a reporter with binoculars to Clapham Junction to see how many train drivers he could spot with a mobile phone. He failed to spot one.

This sort of thing has left me feeling that the public no longer trusts train drivers and others have suggested that CCTV in the cab alongside glass partitions so passengers can keep an eye on the driver are the way forward.

I will be resisting any such measures as I consider myself to be a professional and don't need checking up on. Why do others think? Is being a train driver still a respected job?

No, you strike all the time, you're always late, you're always rude, you're always a jobsworth, you always leave early when you see someone running and most of all you get paid too much. :roll:

 

[33056]

No, you strike all the time, you're always late, you're always rude, you're always a jobsworth, you always leave early when you see someone running and most of all you get paid too much. :roll:

I do hope your tongue is firmly in your cheek :neutral:

 

[pinguini]

I think a large number of people don't hold much respect for train drivers through lack of understanding of the job (because it just involves pushing the lever forwards to go and back again to stop, right?)

 

[DD]

Now that it had been confirmed that the Spanish driver was on a mobile phone LBC sent a reporter with binoculars to Clapham Junction to see how many train drivers he could spot with a mobile phone. He failed to spot one.

This sort of thing has left me feeling that the public no longer trusts train drivers and others have suggested that CCTV in the cab alongside glass partitions so passengers can keep an eye on the driver are the way forward.

I will be resisting any such measures as I consider myself to be a professional and don't need checking up on. Why do others think? Is being a train driver still a respected job?

The problem is, by the sounds of things the Spanish driver was following company procedure and allowed to use the phone at the time. So really they should look at the Spanish systems of works instead.

People don't respect drivers because they do not understand appreciate or know much about what the job involves and just make uninformed assumptions.

 

[BestWestern]

Now that it had been confirmed that the Spanish driver was on a mobile phone LBC sent a reporter with binoculars to Clapham Junction to see how many train drivers he could spot with a mobile phone. He failed to spot one.

This sort of thing has left me feeling that the public no longer trusts train drivers and others have suggested that CCTV in the cab alongside glass partitions so passengers can keep an eye on the driver are the way forward.

I will be resisting any such measures as I consider myself to be a professional and don't need checking up on. Why do others think? Is being a train driver still a respected job?

I would be rather interested to hear Aslef's response to any serious proposition to install cab CCTV and 'passenger supervision' windows!

Most TOCs have strict enough policies in place to prevent all but a very marginal minority from using mobiles, and anybody who trundles into Clapham doing it clearly doesn't deserve their job!

I understood that the Spanish driver was involved in a call to some staff in the operator's control office, and I've heard no suggestion as of yet that it was a banned practice on that network. In which case, it's a rather stupid comparison, but presumably makes some nice easy minimum effort 'journalism' :roll:

 

[GB]

Now that it had been confirmed that the Spanish driver was on a mobile phone LBC sent a reporter with binoculars to Clapham Junction to see how many train drivers he could spot with a mobile phone. He failed to spot one.

I wonder what the story would have been if the reporter saw drivers on the GSM-R handset?

 

[starrymarkb]

I suspect he was using the Cab-Shore radio. I've seen it reported in IIRC the Gaurniad as the 'train's onboard phone' and 'not a personal mobile'

 

[YorkshireBear]

I do hope your tongue is firmly in your cheek :neutral:

Oh its rammed so far into the cheek its now sticking out of the side of my face

 

[David Barrett]

Now that it had been confirmed that the Spanish driver was on a mobile phone LBC sent a reporter with binoculars to Clapham Junction to see how many train drivers he could spot with a mobile phone. He failed to spot one.

This sort of thing has left me feeling that the public no longer trusts train drivers and others have suggested that CCTV in the cab alongside glass partitions so passengers can keep an eye on the driver are the way forward.

I will be resisting any such measures as I consider myself to be a professional and don't need checking up on. Why do others think? Is being a train driver still a respected job?

I don't know about the public not trusting Engine Drivers, nobody that I know has said as much. I think that it may just be the media "thinking" that using the mobile would have affected the driver's ability to steer the train!

 

[brompton rail]

I don't know about the public not trusting Engine Drivers, nobody that I know has said as much. I think that it may just be the media "thinking" that using the mobile would have affected the driver's ability to steer the train!

Well, I trust train drivers far more than I trust journalists, especially those who chase non-stories.

 

[Antman]

Now that it had been confirmed that the Spanish driver was on a mobile phone LBC sent a reporter with binoculars to Clapham Junction to see how many train drivers he could spot with a mobile phone. He failed to spot one.

This sort of thing has left me feeling that the public no longer trusts train drivers and others have suggested that CCTV in the cab alongside glass partitions so passengers can keep an eye on the driver are the way forward.

I will be resisting any such measures as I consider myself to be a professional and don't need checking up on. What do others think? Is being a train driver still a respected job?

Yes I heard that on LBC and hopefully the fact that the reporter didn't spot one restores any lost faith in train drivers?

 

[Johnuk123]

I don't particularly have an opinion of train drivers other that they are just doing a job like loads of other people.

 

[4SRKT]

I don't particularly have an opinion of train drivers other that they are just doing a job like loads of other people.

Same here.

 

[bronzeonion]

I wouldn't mind windows behind the cab, not for checking up on the driver but for the best view in the train!

 

[TheEdge]

I don't particularly have an opinion of train drivers other that they are just doing a job like loads of other people.

I have a shrine built in the corner of my living room dedicated to train drivers!

I think this is just a bit of lazy journalism or a really half baked attempt for a Dispatches or Panorama style story...

 

[Zoidberg]

I wouldn't mind windows behind the cab, not for checking up on the driver but for the best view in the train!

I used to enjoy the annual family holiday in south Tyneside. We travelled about by train and around 1963 the original EMUs gave way to the first generation DMUs and there was usually always space to sit in the first row of seats behind the driver - excellent view of the journey as well as of the controls being operated.

 

[Johnuk123]

I think this is just a bit of lazy journalism or a really half baked attempt for a Dispatches or Panorama style story...

Of course it is, they would love to have a photo of a British train driver on the phone it would be dynamite.

 

[anthony263]

Of course it is, they would love to have a photo of a British train driver on the phone it would be dynamite.

Didnt we have such an incident a couple of years ago of a fgw hst waiting at a signal near Dawlish?. In this case the driver was on the phone to the signalman or something and the train was stopped at the red signal.

 

[OwlMan]

Of course it is, they would love to have a photo of a British train driver on the phone it would be dynamite.

What about a photo of a journalist driving whilst using his phone?

 

[scotsman]

It's been reported that word of this reached station management and Southern HQ, leading to the man being promptly ejected.

I'm doing an informed piece for Kettle Mag and I intend to use quotes from here, ASLEF, and LBC.

 

[O L Leigh]

I hope you are seeking permission before quoting anyone directly to check that they are happy to have their words used.

O L Leigh

 

[scotsman]

I hope you are seeking permission before quoting anyone directly to check that they are happy to have their words used.

O L Leigh

In fairness, I don't need to - it's not stopped the hacks that have use (still used) this site - but I don't see why I shouldn't ask

 

[bicbasher]

A typically tabloid reaction from a once great radio station.

 

[dysonsphere]

What about a photo of a journalist driving whilst using his phone?

shouldnt be hard they all do it.

 

[jon0844]

I think this is just a bit of lazy journalism or a really half baked attempt for a Dispatches or Panorama style story...

Maybe, or it's actually an honest bit of reporting. Are drivers here using mobiles when driving trains? Let's go and look.... No, they're not.

Then come back and say they're not, which reassures people.

You could have just as easily turned into something far more sensational I'm sure, as some papers would, or when you found out that drivers aren't all chatting on their mobiles, texting or on Facebook posting photos of the immense speeds they're going at, just swept the idea under the carpet and never said anything at all.

 

[TheEdge]

Maybe, or it's actually an honest bit of reporting. Are drivers here using mobiles when driving trains? Let's go and look.... No, they're not.

Then come back and say they're not, which reassures people.

Maybe I'm far too cynical but I doubt a journalist would go out to try to look for good news.

 

[jon0844]

No, but as I said - if you look for a bad story and don't find it, it's often the case that the story simply doesn't get said.

So, if someone does go out and then find that it wasn't a big story and says so - that's fair reporting (IMHO).

I didn't hear the show, but do wish that we'd see more of this on our 'consumer' shows where they seek out the rogues.. and sometimes don't seem bothered about highlighting the good ones.

 

[EM2]

What I would have loved to have heard is a spotter come up to the reporter while on air:
' 'Scuse me mate, did you see what was on the back of 1D48? Was it 411? I need that Wessie, hope it wasn't that'.
Cue one incredibly confused radio journalist...

 

[scotsman]

Maybe I'm far too cynical but I doubt a journalist would go out to try to look for good news.

Not really. Have you not seen a news piece on nuclear power in this country?