Things Passengers say...

[martyn29]

I love it when they come up to the ticket window and say "london please"

 

[Ferret]

I quite like it when you're stood outside the train at a station and somebody asks "Is this Bristol", and you're so very tempted to reply with "No, this is Birmingham New St, but it is the train to Bristol!!!!"

 

[mumrar]

What do you mean tempted? I normally say 'god no, Derby's much bigger than this, a few thousand people at least'
I had someone come up to me in the cab of my New St to Nottingham service and ask 'Are you Burton on Trent?' to which I just had to say 'No, but I have been mistaken for Tamworth before now'

 

[HSTfan!!!]

Usually Americans "Is this the train to Hollywood?"
Whilst dispatching a HST, train is gathering a fair old pace now, man runs down the steps straight to me "Can I get on?"
Again whilst dispatching a HST, on my way to close the last door that has been left wide open. Chap runs across platform to the door, getting there just before me "Can I get on?" Me "No sorry it's locked"

Another one, I'm sure mumrar may of had this one, the nottingham and manchester trains are timed 5mins apart, yet it doesn't matter how many times a punter asks you about the timing for say cwmbran, as soon as the nottingham comes in "Is this the train to cwmbran?" I dread to think how many people for the misery line end up in gloucester!

 

[EM2]

Apparently, a common one at St. Pancras is:

• Passenger: Excuse me, where can I catch the train to Sheffield? [Or wherever]
• Staff: The East Midlands platforms - Follow the hall, go up the escalators, and the platforms are right in front of you.
• Passenger: Thanks...You're a star!
• Staff: No...For Eurostar, go past the escalators, turn right, and it's on your right hand side.

:grin:

Yep, we like that one!
Also on a similar vein, when they say 'Eurostar?', we say ' Oh thanks, you're very kind!'
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What do you mean tempted? I normally say 'god no, Derby's much bigger than this, a few thousand people at least'
I had someone come up to me in the cab of my New St to Nottingham service and ask 'Are you Burton on Trent?' to which I just had to say 'No, but I have been mistaken for Tamworth before now'

I was at Littlehampton one day when a passenger said to the guard:
'Are you Victoria?'
His reply:
'Only at the weekend. Normally I'm Nigel...'

 

[Oswyntail]

Another one from ages ago. On the Inter-City, London Bridge to Victoria, we stopped at Denmark Hill. An American lady got up to leave, opened the door and told us how irritating she found it in this country when there was no platform and she had to climb down and cross the tracks. Not every station, mind! Honourably, we decided not to let nature take her course:roll:

 

[Aussie_Rail]

How? I always help people on the trains or platforms and people sometimes ask me if i work for the railways because i 'know so much'. I just say no I am a trainspotter

Because admitting you're a trainspotter can in some cases lead to an embarassing moment. Where as either being asked or discretly giving information is probably much better. It also depends if you are alone or with someone.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Whilst I was employed at City Thameslink, there was a bloke came up and asked when the next train to St Albans was, so I told him the time of the 'fast' train, he then asked for a ticket to Radlett!

Those of you that know City may be aware the arrangement of the concourse at the busier Ludgate end. A woman approaches the ticket office, buys her ticket and asks where she needs to go to get the train. The clerk says "Platform 2, go round to the left here [guestures] and you need the left hand platform" and off she goes. Two minutes later she's back, "Which way?", "go round to the left here [guestures] into the station, at the back wall turn left and go down the escalators", Off she goes again. Another couple of minutes pass and she's back again. The clerk leaves the office and escort here to the platform.

Around 1998/9 when the first 'refurbished' 319s were running about I heard a passenger who had just got off a train say to a staff member "These new trains you've got are so much better than the old ones".

And now, the usual one is...

"How do I get to X?"
"Take the train on the near platform and change at Y".

After the train has left...

"The driver said it didn't go to X".

 

[Waddon]

I hate being asked 'where is this train going' - what am I supposed to do, list every one of the fifteen stops? (p.s. I'm a passenger not a member of railway staff so I'm allowed to get annoyed - no member of railway staff would ever get annoyed by a question from a passenger)

 

[martyn29]

I hate being asked 'where is this train going' - what am I supposed to do, list every one of the fifteen stops? (p.s. I'm a passenger not a member of railway staff so I'm allowed to get annoyed - no member of railway staff would ever get annoyed by a question from a passenger)

 

[EM2]

Whilst I was employed at City Thameslink, there was a bloke came up and asked when the next train to St Albans was, so I told him the time of the 'fast' train, he then asked for a ticket to Radlett!

That's not at all unusual. A number of times a custoemr says:
'Where's the Bedford train?'
'Platform 2 at 14.30'
'Does it stop at Harpenden?'
:roll:

So now I always ask:
'Are you getting off at Bedford?'

 

[Daniel]

Monday - Saturday, the trains from Tottenham Hale that stop at local stations Ponders End, Brimsdown, Enfield Lock and Waltham Cross go to Hertford East.
However, on Sundays, trains to Hertford East go via Seven Sisters, and the Cambridge trains stop at the local stations.

So, every Sunday at Tottenham:

Punter:
"Whens the train to Hertford East?"

Staff:
"Take the Victoria Line to Seven Sisters and change there for it."

Punter:
"Oh, but that doesn't stop at Ponders End, does it?"

So now whenever someone asks, it normally goes like this:

Punter:
"Whens the train to Hertford East?"

Staff:
"Where are you going?"

Punter:
"...Hertford East..."

Staff:
"Yeah, but what station are you going to?"

Punter:
"Enfield Lock"

Staff:
"Get the Cambridge..."

 

[ChrisTheRef]

Standing on the piccadilly line platforms at Kings Cross

American tourist "there hasn't been a train to Piccadilly for about 20 minutes!"

 

[curly42]

"What train was that that just left ?" "The 08.47 to London Paddington" "But it can't be because I've got reservations on that one".

Scene 2 - train has left platform and is still visible but about 500 yards away -
"What train was that ?" "The 10.15 to Bristol" "That's the one I need,can you phone the driver to come back and get me ?".

Scene 3 - "What's the earliest train to Cardiff tomorrow ?" "That would be the 05.45" "Is there one before that ?"

Scene 4 - "I want to go to Bristol" "You need the 08.45 to Taunton from platform 2" "No,Bristol,not Taunton you fool".

The list could go on for many pages.

 

[JustinStacey.x]

I hate being asked 'where is this train going' - what am I supposed to do, list every one of the fifteen stops? (p.s. I'm a passenger not a member of railway staff so I'm allowed to get annoyed - no member of railway staff would ever get annoyed by a question from a passenger)

Ask where the passenger is going then tell them if its the right service or not or what one to get.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

"What train was that that just left ?" "The 08.47 to London Paddington" "But it can't be because I've got reservations on that one".

Scene 2 - train has left platform and is still visible but about 500 yards away -
"What train was that ?" "The 10.15 to Bristol" "That's the one I need,can you phone the driver to come back and get me ?".

Scene 3 - "What's the earliest train to Cardiff tomorrow ?" "That would be the 05.45" "Is there one before that ?"

Scene 4 - "I want to go to Bristol" "You need the 08.45 to Taunton from platform 2" "No,Bristol,not Taunton you fool".

The list could go on for many pages.

Sometimes people do silly things when under pressure or they feel nervous. Even I have asked stupid questions because for me and many others its actually quite nerve racking going up and asking someone what to do or where to go.

 

[317666]

Whilst I was on holiday in Portugal - at a railway station I was asked 'Do you speak English?'

Also, at Windsor and Eton Central:

"Where does the next train go?"
"Slough"
"Where is it calling at?"
"Slough only"
"Where can I get a train to Windsor and Eton Riverside?"

 

[Waddon]

p.s. It's not just the passengers who say the stupid things. This happened today at an underground station whose name will remain anonymous

Me: Is this ticket valid to go to Watford?
LT staff member looks at ticket.
LT staff member (abridged version of answer). 'Don't know. They can tell you when you get to Watford.

He did say however that if it was him manning the ticket barriers at Watford, he would let me through, because I had 'paid enough as far as he was concerned'!. I was tempted to ask him to travel to Watford with me so that he could let me through if the guy at Watford didn't see it that way...

 

[JustinStacey.x]

Did you get in at Watford?

 

[Waddon]

I didn't bother in the end. I fancied it just because I don't normally go that far north on the Met, but to be honest there isn't anything worth seeing the other side of the barriers at Watford anyway! (apologies to any residents of Watford!)

 

[poshbakerloo]

I once asked (when coming back from a night out drunk) if the nothern rail 323 that I was on went to Richmond...

 

[hairyhandedfool]

That's not at all unusual. A number of times a custoemr says:
'Where's the Bedford train?'
'Platform 2 at 14.30'
'Does it stop at Harpenden?'
:roll:

So now I always ask:
'Are you getting off at Bedford?'

I think there is a subtle difference, the Bedford train isn't always the next train to Bedford, and from memory they didn't all have the same calling pattern in the peak time. I often found that people asking for a particular service wanted a station other than its destination, but only once did someone ask for the next train to a destination that they were not travelling actually to.

 

[EM2]

I think there is a subtle difference, the Bedford train isn't always the next train to Bedford, and from memory they didn't all have the same calling pattern in the peak time. I often found that people asking for a particular service wanted a station other than its destination, but only once did someone ask for the next train to a destination that they were not travelling actually to.

But if you want to go to Harpenden, why not ask for the Harpenden train?
I had another customer ask me 'Which is the next train for Bedford?' (bear in mind I'm by the EMT platforms) and when I directed him to the 13.00 he came back effing and blinding that they wouldn't let him on because he wanted to go to St Albans.
He then got quite upset with me when I pointed out that as he'd asked me about a train to Bedford, that's what I gave him. If he'd asked me for a train to St. Albans, I would have been able to direct him correctly.
*That's* why I always ask where they are getting off.

Luton is another one.
'I want to go to Luton'
'Luton or Luton Airport?'
'Well, Leagrave actually.'
Bear in mind that Leagrave is *past* Luton...

 

[ungreat]

The usual i get.."are you the Peterborough train?"

"No,I'm the driver.Where are you actually going?"

"Cambridge"...many many others.

Or,my best ever..some Chinese guy came to the cab and said"You go Kingrynn?" ..I deduced he meant Kings Lynn so I replied " No,not Kings Lynn "as it was a Peterborough service ,to which I got "oh,OK"

On arrival at Peterborough,the same fellow came up and said,quite angrilly,"No KingRynn" and stormed off.

 

[Broken Viking]

Or,my best ever..some Chinese guy came to the cab and said"You go Kingrynn?" ..I deduced he meant Kings Lynn so I replied " No,not Kings Lynn "as it was a Peterborough service ,to which I got "oh,OK"
On arrival at Peterborough,the same fellow came up and said,quite angrilly,"No KingRynn" and stormed off.

There's a rather old joke that goes along similar lines as well...

Q: Why do so many Chinese people live in North-West London?
A: [Chinese gentleman gets into a cab and says "Harrow driver!" (Hello driver.)]

As for what passengers can say in difficult situations, I once muttered a ton of four letter words under my breath on an FGW service... hock:
At Reading, I'd been directed by a dispatcher to board the train on platform 4, having asked him for the train to Cardiff. After departure, the train was routed past Reading West and down the diversionary path south of there - Something which aroused my suspicions in itself, given that I was expecting to pass Didcot and Swindon - And then the Guard came over the tannoy, welcoming passengers aboard this service to Penzance... :roll:

Now I wouldn't mind being directed onto the wrong train like that, as I can normally handle being mis-routed without any trouble...But having a 95 minute wait at Taunton for the next service to Bristol? That peed me off quite a bit... :?

 

[Mojo]

An American once asked me where the "rest room" was. With a look of confusion on my face I asked him if he meant the waiting room and he said no. I then asked if he wanted somewhere to lie down or if he needed medical assistance. In the end I had to just say to him I'm sorry I don't understand what you're looking for and he muttered something rude and walked off.

About 5 seconds later I suddenly realised that he was looking for the toilets

 

[mrcheek]

An American once asked me where the "rest room" was. With a look of confusion on my face I asked him if he meant the waiting room and he said no. I then asked if he wanted somewhere to lie down or if he needed medical assistance. In the end I had to just say to him I'm sorry I don't understand what you're looking for and he muttered something rude and walked off.

About 5 seconds later I suddenly realised that he was looking for the toilets

This is probably quite common! Its amazing that a nation as brash and outspoken as Americans (and I mean that in the nicest way) will never ask for a toilet, but alwats the bathroom or restroom!

 

[Broken Viking]

An American once asked me where the "rest room" was. With a look of confusion on my face I asked him if he meant the waiting room and he said no...
About 5 seconds later I suddenly realised that he was looking for the toilets

This is probably quite common! Its amazing that a nation as brash and outspoken as Americans (and I mean that in the nicest way) will never ask for a toilet, but alwats the bathroom or restroom!

I made a similar error whilst travelling around the US back in 2007. Aside from Americans being confused by my asking for the "toilet" (They seem to use "Restroom" a lot more) they also seemed to be confused by the term "platform", as they often refer to platforms as "tracks". :?

And of course, there was the slight conversational faux-pas that I would fall into when I told people that I was "Going out for a fag"... hock:

 

[EM2]

And of course, there was the slight conversational faux-pas that I would fall into when I told people that I was "Going out for a fag"... hock:

Did you ever ask if you could bum a fag? An American tourist overheard two friends of mine having that conversation outside a pub, and launched a haranguing diatribe against the evisl of homosexuality :roll:

 

[Broken Viking]

Did you ever ask if you could bum a fag? An American tourist overheard two friends of mine having that conversation outside a pub, and launched a haranguing diatribe against the evisl of homosexuality :roll:

Oh dear...If the misinterperetation of that harmless request wasn't bad enough, it's that kind of attitude against the LGBT community that really rubs me up the wrong way...

 

[JustinStacey.x]

I thought it was common knowledge that rest room and wash room were American terms for the toilet. As for the word fag, I use it to mean cigarette, although we all know its used negatively as a short version of faggot i.e., a gay person. Faggots are actually pieces of meat...
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Oh dear...If the misinterperetation of that harmless request wasn't bad enough, it's that kind of attitude against the LGBT community that really rubs me up the wrong way...

Lol, if you think it's gonna change anytime soon you're in for a shock lol...