The Railway: First Great Western on Channel 5

[jon0844]

To be fair, while being drunk is no excuse, didn't it say a phone went through the glass? Perhaps an argument with the lady he was with, and he threw the phone not intending to smash a window. Then cutting himself when, stupidly (under the influence) trying to retrieve it.

I have little sympathy for a lot of people doing stupid things, but not giving first aid would be crazy. And the offer of tea probably is a good way to diffuse the situation.

I'd hope the outcome would be that the person responsible was made to pay for the repair in full. I know that if I did something like that, however unlikely, I'd offer to.

 

[TDK]

One thing which amazed me from tonight's show - If somebody had just put the windows through on my station, I certainly wouldn't be making them or their partner a cup of tea!

You may have done with cameras watching your every move.
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Trying to look important. I've noticed this on the roads as well, people wear them when sat in their car probably because they hope people will think they are the fuzz or something.

You are out of touch. Nothing to do with wanting to look important. It is easier to keep it on than keep taking it off and then putting it on again. When I am on station Shed I keep mine on all the time and this is for convenience than wanting to look important.

 

[IanXC]

One thing which amazed me from tonight's show - If somebody had just put the windows through on my station, I certainly wouldn't be making them or their partner a cup of tea!

It seemed to me like a pretty good way of ensuring that they were still there when (if) BTP attended.

 

[jon0844]

It seemed to me like a pretty good way of ensuring that they were still there when (if) BTP attended.

That too!

 

[GodAtum]

Trying to look important. I've noticed this on the roads as well, people wear them when sat in their car probably because they hope people will think they are the fuzz or something.

i always wear my hi-vis on the roads when I'm cycling.

 

[tony6499]

Giving First Aid would not be too high on my list, either

And the woman standing on the platform smoking too

 

[crispy1978]

Was the filming, per chance, taken before the change between 0230 and 0430?

TP

Judging by the smoking on the station with the window breakage section either it was a while ago or there was disregard for the law.
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To be fair, while being drunk is no excuse, didn't it say a phone went through the glass? Perhaps an argument with the lady he was with, and he threw the phone not intending to smash a window. Then cutting himself when, stupidly (under the influence) trying to retrieve it.

I have little sympathy for a lot of people doing stupid things, but not giving first aid would be crazy. And the offer of tea probably is a good way to diffuse the situation.

I'd hope the outcome would be that the person responsible was made to pay for the repair in full. I know that if I did something like that, however unlikely, I'd offer to.

Looked like a clear case of stalling tactics while waiting for the BTP.

 

[bairy]

One thing which amazed me from tonight's show - If somebody had just put the windows through on my station, I certainly wouldn't be making them or their partner a cup of tea!

I think that was a good idea. Cup of tea costs pennies to make, the station guy wasn't particularly busy anyway, it keeps the lad and his lady friend calm when he's likely already in pain (so refusal may have agitated him) and depending what the btp did they may have missed their train home which they'd already paid for. Plus when he sobers up and remembers that the staff were nice to him he may feel more guilt.

 

[Murph]

There's also the fact that we're British, so there's very few situations that can't be made better by a good cuppa!

Seriously though, it's a great way to keep things calm while the incident is dealt with. Full marks to the staff for their calm, professional handling of the situation.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

....Therefore to prohibit travel on the 03:53 ex Reading they were not acting in accordance with the NRCoC. Those girls said they bought tickets from Slough, the 03:53 gets there at 04:15, so would arrive well in time. Should certainly be valid as far as Hayes and Harlington (04:27)

Perhaps he realised, when actually checking the ticket and 'letting them through this time', that he had made an error in their case and covered himself with that half truth about customer service. He didn't seem to let any other passengers through at that point. Equally though, just because they bought a ticket at Slough, it doesn't necessarily follow that their ticket was to go back to Slough.

 

[jon0844]

They did beat the crap out of him off camera afterwards though. Smashed the cup on his head I heard!

 

[455driver]

Giving First Aid would not be too high on my list, either

First Aid would have been the second thing he would have got off me!

 

[ModernRailways]

Certainly seemed to take a step back from last week!

The engineering side seemed very childish too. They mentioned ballast but kept calling them stones.

 

[jon0844]

Well, they are stones so what's the harm? That's what ballast is made up of.

 

[Wyvern]

THey actually said that the stones under the track are called the ballast

 

[A-driver]

Certainly seemed to take a step back from last week!

The engineering side seemed very childish too. They mentioned ballast but kept calling them stones.

Well if they said ballast then hardly any of the viewers would know what they were on about.

 

[ModernRailways]

Well if they said ballast then hardly any of the viewers would know what they were on about.

My point was that he said something along the lines of 'these stones are known as ballast on the railway.' But he then kept referring to them as stones instead of maybe saying ballast which would have sounded better.

 

[A-driver]

My point was that he said something along the lines of 'these stones are known as ballast on the railway.' But he then kept referring to them as stones instead of maybe saying ballast which would have sounded better.

Fair enough, although let's face it, they are stones. Ballast may be the technical term but at the end of the day all ballast is is stones!

 

[ModernRailways]

Fair enough, although let's face it, they are stones. Ballast may be the technical term but at the end of the day all ballast is is stones!

True! It was just one of the small things that seemed to really bug me. Since the program is about the railways you would expect them to use the proper terms, and explaining them. Those who are still watching it - or even those who have just started obviously have a small interest in how the railway is ran and using the proper terms is probably best.

I don't think they way the person said it helped either.

 

[jon0844]

True! It was just one of the small things that seemed to really bug me.

More than the train that left Paddington, with the headlights on (so clearly the footage was reversed) and, what's more, was mirrored so the FGW text was backwards?!

As for ballast, they said it was called ballast and that was enough for anyone with a small interest. Those who have a big interest or work in the industry already know. It's a show that needs to have as wide an audience as possible to get advertisers and stand a chance of being sold elsewhere, or recommissioned for a new series later.

 

[Sleepy]

and the Night Riv was going to Penzance - except for when destination label clearly showed Paddington !!

 

[455driver]

and the Night Riv was going to Penzance - except for when destination label clearly showed Paddington !!

The trip was supposed to be Paddington to Penzance but when it passed the SWT 159 it was leaving Exeter going North.

 

[FGW_DID]

Although why show the HOBC etc when that is Network Rail / contractors and nothing to do with FGW.
It was interesting to actually see what these machines do but I couldn't help thinking that the next time there is an overrun on engineering work, people will remember this and blame FGW for it (well more then the usual.)

 

[455driver]

It may have been because people were moaning about missing the last train (why dont they run all night etc) and they were showing why trains cant run all night.

The HOBC train is bleeping awesome.

 

[ainsworth74]

The HOBC train is bleeping awesome.

Network Rail do have all the best toys. The HOBC is, as you say, bleeping awesome whilst their high output track laying factory (I forget it's official name) is an equally amazing piece of kit and the electrification factory train (HOPS?) sounds like it's going to be impressive also.

 

[455driver]

the electrification factory train (HOPS?) sounds like it's going to be impressive also.

Indeed they only need to close the line the train is on and all other lines are open at linespeed. That has taken some sorting out.

 

[tsr]

Network Rail do have all the best toys. The HOBC is, as you say, bleeping awesome whilst their high output track laying factory (I forget it's official name) is an equally amazing piece of kit and the electrification factory train (HOPS?) sounds like it's going to be impressive also.

HOOP. High Output OHLE Plant. Yep, it looks very good.

 

[Pumbaa]

The temporary cross overs are incredible too. Minutes to install and remove, allow single line running through the site. Approval is due for completion soon. Hopefully will be erg effective.

 

[ainsworth74]

Yes I heard about them but hadn't realised they were going to use them. They sound like an incredibly useful thing to have.

 

[TEW]

and the Night Riv was going to Penzance - except for when destination label clearly showed Paddington !!

It's not that unusual for the sleeper to have the labels up for the opposite direction.