Passenger or Customer?

[T163R]

Standard Class - Passenger
First Class - Customer

That's so true !

 

[WestyAds]

A more cynical friend of mine believes that TOCs prefer "customer" because "passenger" implies that they actually have to take us somewhere, whereas "customer" merely suggests that they want to sell us something.

I do hope I never become quite that cynical.

 

[Essexman]

Train alongside platform XX.

Train at platform XX used to be quite acceptable, but I suppose we have to cater for customers who might not realise that trains run on the tracks next to the platform.

 

[Flamingo]

A customer is anybody who is in possession of a valid ticket.

A passenger is anybody on the train without a valid ticket..

Customers get service.

Passengers get hassle.

 

[Boppawombat]

To be fair, we are not passengers on trains, neither are we customers..... we're just cattle!

 

[lemonic]

Train alongside platform XX.

Train at platform XX used to be quite acceptable, but I suppose we have to cater for customers who might not realise that trains run on the tracks next to the platform.

It is interesting that in Poland they have platform numbers and track numbers so the platform is the physical island and each track either side of the platform has a different number i.e. Platform 2, track 4; platform 2, track 6. In some ways I would say this is more technically correct, though potentially more confusing, than what we and many other countries refer to as a platform.

On another note, I also think the use of the words 'station stop' is unnecessary, however I normally call it train station (not railway station) and what many would call the guard, I have always called the conductor.

 

[Mr Spock]

Well I cast my vote for passenger as that is what we are.

As for other things then just plain "station" does me and I use guard mostly but as their job appears to have changed so much I can accept train manager for some of them.

 

[Nonsense]

It is interesting that in Poland they have platform numbers and track numbers so the platform is the physical island and each track either side of the platform has a different number i.e. Platform 2, track 4; platform 2, track 6. In some ways I would say this is more technically correct, though potentially more confusing, than what we and many other countries refer to as a platform.

Interesting. It make sense too. Wonder how the UK system came to be the way it is, rather than the other.

 

[ainsworth74]

I think this says it best for I am the passenger.

 

[Statto]

I cast my vote for Passenger.
I'm going from A to B but relying on others to get me there so that makes me a Passenger.

I hate Train Manager[should be Guard], Revenue Protection Inspector[should be Ticket Inspector]& G4S.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It is interesting that in Poland they have platform numbers and track numbers so the platform is the physical island and each track either side of the platform has a different number i.e. Platform 2, track 4; platform 2, track 6. In some ways I would say this is more technically correct, though potentially more confusing, than what we and many other countries refer to as a platform.

Yikes, that'd be confusing if that system was used in the UK. Imagine the confusion at somewhere like Crewe or Birmingham New Street, & the tannoy announced "the train at Platform 5, track 8 is for" some passengers would go to Platform 8.

 

[WillPS]

The two words aren't as interchangeable as those on here make out.

One can be a customer of East Coast (having booked an Advance KGX-GRA with them) but then become an East Midlands Trains passenger following a delay/cock-up of some kind on the ECML.

 

[LE Greys]

What about the phrase: "the next station stop"?

Surely that is a flagrant misuse of the English language as well.

In fact there is a whole can of worms being opened up with this one. The railway industry as we know has long invented its own particularly annoying vernacular.

There are station stops, signal stops, pathing stops, unscheduled stops and even water stops for steam engines. It's merely a differentiation, like "driving wheel" or "distant signal".
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Passenger - not customer
Railway station - not train station
Guard - not Train Manager
Ticket Inspector - Not Revenue Protection Officer (or whatever they are called)
Buffet - not cafe bar
Central Wales Line - not Heart of Wales Line
Station or Stop - not Station stop
Chocolate cake - not muffin
Biscuit - not cookie
Coombe Junction - not Coombe
Station Master - not -I've no idea what they're called now
LTS - not C2C

I agree with all of those, although I will accept "station manager" if anyone thinks "station master" is sexist.

Also:
Permanent way - not infrastructure
Second class - not standard class (we can be honest)
Trolley service - not at-seat trolley service (that's a tautology)
Coach or carriage - not car
Electro-diesel - not bi-mode

 

[12CSVT]

I seem to remember the word 'customer' was introduced as part of a publicity gimmick during the run up to privatisation, and we have been stuck with it ever since.

 

[185]

Standard Class - Customer
First Class - C***

 

[Failed Unit]

I don't really care, but I have voted for "Customer", because of the service that that implies. A "Passenger" is just someone who travels using the transport.

I have gone for passenger, simply because if we were customers the companies would value our option - dig at east coast.

 

[Essexman]

Staff - not colleagues

I didn't realise that this had crept into the railway industry until getting an email this morning from FGW customer service in which they expressed pleasure that I was happy with their 'colleagues'.

(the letter was to praise service and friendly atmosphere in first class on the 10.06 Paddington to Penzance this Tuesday by the way)

 

[Tottenham Flyer]

Station Master - not -I've no idea what they're called now

Station Managers and Station Supervisors

 

[Aictos]

Station Managers and Station Supervisors

Ah but it differs between the Thameslink and Great Northern routes though for example:

Thameslink

Station Team Leader

Great Northern

Area Supervisor

I know there's a GPR Supervisor position on the Great Northern, not sure if there's the same position on the Thameslink (GPR is simply General Purpose Relief) meaning said person can work in a booking office or on the platforms.

A customer may buy a ticket however it's a passenger who's actually using the train therefore any interaction on the platforms should refer to the term passenger indeed if there are any incidents involving passengers then that's the term used not customers.

I just see things in black and white, why call a guard a train manager when you might as well call the driver a traction engineer?

 

[Strat-tastic]

To my thinking, calling me a customer implies they're only interested in my money. Calling me a passenger implies they care more about my journey. (Get the standard of journeys high and the money should follow!)

As for station stop, the word stop is unnecessary as station means stop anyway; it's taken from the word stationary.

Oh, the pedant in me......

 

[Mr Spock]

Standard Class - Customer
First Class - C***

How sad are you?

 

[TicketMan]

The term 'Self-Loading Freight' suits me

 

[Waverley125]

Passenger, never customer.

I'm not buying some bloody tupperware, I want you to get me where I need to go. And that means when you bugger it up, you pay for travel on other operator's services, divert your own and as a last resort give us a replacement bus.

 

[WestCoast]

The term 'Self-Loading Freight' suits me

SLF is a very popular one in the aviation world!

Here's another one that makes me laugh - a few airlines have started calling passengers, "guests".

 

[TicketMan]

SLF is a very popular one in the aviation world!

Here's another one that makes me laugh - a few airlines have started calling passengers, "guests".

I usually fly Ryanair - I've heard their cabin crew refer to us as 'Cattle' before now. Althoguh I was more shocked at the time when I realised she spoke English

 

[Minstral25]

I don't care what I am called as I am a paying customer who is a passenger on the train

As long as the train turns up, has a comfortable seat, runs on time and the staff treat me pleasantly.

 

[TicketMan]

I don't care what I am called as I am a paying customer who is a passenger on the train

As long as the train turns up, has a comfortable seat, runs on time and the staff treat me pleasantly.

If I were you I'd stop at 'turns up', otherwise you are in for a hell of a disappointment

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Just as long as it isn't that silly "pax" term that seems get used on here a fair bit. Is it really that difficult to type out the word passengers?

100% with you over the "pax" term. As a Classics scholar, 50 years ago, the only thing that I think of it, is it's translation from Latin as "peace".

With regard to the thread, I will always be a railway passenger.

 

[Seacook]

As for station stop, the word stop is unnecessary as station means stop anyway; it's taken from the word stationary.

Oh, the pedant in me......

Not pedantic enough to my mind; stationary appeared in English some time after station. The first citations are dated 1670 and 1606 respectively. If anything the derivation is the other way around. Both derive from the same Latin root so they may have been coined separately.

Back to the thread topic: trains stop or halt, they do not "come to a stand". I don't think I've heard this one recently so perhaps it has fallen out of favour.

 

[exile]

Customers are passengers who have bought a ticket.

 

[Oswyntail]

100% with you over the "pax" term. As a Classics scholar, 50 years ago, the only thing that I think of it, is it's translation from Latin as "peace"....

Count me in on this as well, for similar reasons. Perhaps the term betrays too much of the railway professional anyway, as their ambition seems to be to pack 'em in.