Train drivers...your uniform!

[BestWestern]

Alternatively:

'Are' you sure?'
'No'
They then walk off.....


So many passengers ignore the answer you give them anyway, the whole exercise is often a waste of time for both sides.

I agree!

Even as a Guard with an obligation to suffer such complex requests routinely, there is huge value in the tactic of giving a confident and assured answer, smile politely, and walk. It gives the individual an opportunity to absorb and process the information, rather than disregarding it and racing at speed into the next question.

 

[HowardGWR]

I admit I was a bit TIC when I contributed, should have included a smiley. There is more than a grain of truth, otherwise why do military people insist on smartness, if there is not thought to be a carry-over to attention to the task? The same goes for healthy bodies and minds.

I think train drivers are much more respected nowadays by the public (as opposed to just small boys). They are paid so much better, and carry more responsibility (no second man and higher speeds) and do the job well (see the current safety record). Were I so employed, I would want to look smart because of pride and self-respect. Just my view, although unasked for by the OP.

 

[martin2345uk]

There's a natural conflict between platform staff and drivers. Platform staff are required to get trains in and out as quickly as possible, drivers are tasked with driving the trains safely and in accordance with relevant policies and procedures. It irritates me when I change ends and someone is flashing CD at me before I've even keyed on. I shut my cab blind and ignore it until I'm ready.

What's CD if I may ask..?

 

[ComUtoR]

What's CD if I may ask..?

Close Doors Platform indicator to signal the Driver to close the doors.

 

[jindivik]

I think you're on very thin ice with this one.

You've admitted you don't know how long the booked turnaround times are so how do your know drivers are "taking their sweet time" rather than just changing ends in the normal way? You've also mentioned drivers "having a chat", how do you know they aren't discussing important information e.g. coach locked out, slow doors, motors out, low adhesion?

I'm more talking about times when drivers have approached me with a starbucks in their hand and said "oh well, we're late" or the "having a chat" was directed at .... getting off their train, going having a nice chat to a driver who is waiting a different service to take away and talking about something completely irrelevant. Also, i'm not deaf so i can hear what they're saying. NOT all drivers but it does happen.....i've been accused a couple of times of not knowing what i'm talking about....were you there in these instances and know the exact circumstances? ..... no so i'm afraid the shoe is on the other foot, i'm just stating my own observations, not all drivers are the professionals you claim them to be.....that's all i'll say....thread now being ignored

 

[bramling]

I've been thinking about this and, whilst I bow to those with greater experience, I think this just about sums up every passenger interaction with a driver I've ever been witness to:

Passenger: Excuse me, is this the train to Birmingham?
Driver: Yep.
Passenger: Great, thanks.

*Passenger jumps on train*

I suspect things may be more problematic in and around London, where there are simply more "needy" people, and more who don't speak good English. Spend a day interacting with passengers on an Underground station, and I'd say at many locations something around 75%, sometimes more, of people asking questions will require something very much more than just a simple one-word answer. This is something which has become very much more of an issue in the last few years.

 

[Bromley boy]

I'm more talking about times when drivers have approached me with a starbucks in their hand and said "oh well, we're late" or the "having a chat" was directed at .... getting off their train, going having a nice chat to a driver who is waiting a different service to take away and talking about something completely irrelevant. Also, i'm not deaf so i can hear what they're saying. NOT all drivers but it does happen.....i've been accused a couple of times of not knowing what i'm talking about....were you there in these instances and know the exact circumstances? ..... no so i'm afraid the shoe is on the other foot, i'm just stating my own observations, not all drivers are the professionals you claim them to be.....that's all i'll say....thread now being ignored

No of course I wasn't there, but equally you are not necessarily in possession of the full facts either (as your other posts have indicated).

I've been stood around on platforms chatting to drivers when trains are delayed because we are waiting to find out which platforms our trains are being put into. From your perspective you'd probably think "lazy drivers standing about chatting when everything's running late."

If a driver has been on their break there may well be a delayed train waiting for them to take it out. They aren't allowed to take a minute less than their 30 minute minimum PNB, plenty of time to buy a coffee. That's very different to a driver wilfully delaying a whole train of passengers because they're queuing up in a Starbucks. If you genuinely believe this is the case you should certainly report it. Im not saying that's never happened but given how seriously performance is taken a driver would be risking disciplinary action by doing it.

In fact I'm aware of a case where platform staff reported a driver at my TOC for "going for a coffee". This was taken very seriously and investigated by management. The driver was questioned at length and it was determined he'd been going to the toilet between changing ends (some of our stock lacks onboard toilets). The platform staff had got the wrong end of the stick about what was allowed. This kind of incident contributes to bad feeling between staff and demonstrates how little the different grades understand each others' jobs.

I'm not trying to get into an argument but I don't want the people who read this forum to form the impression that trains are routinely delayed because drivers are taking the p*ss, being lazy, queueing up for coffee etc. We are all well aware of the pressure on performance and the vast majority take a pride in running as close to time as possible.

 

[philthetube]

I've been thinking about this and, whilst I bow to those with greater experience, I think this just about sums up every passenger interaction with a driver I've ever been witness to:

Passenger: Excuse me, is this the train to Birmingham?
Driver: Yep.
Passenger: Great, thanks.

*Passenger jumps on train*

Three common responses from passenger.

1) are you sure, (as previously mentioned).
2) wander off and ask another member of staff.
3) walk off, no thanks or anything.

All incentives not to answer questions as all this achieves is to put you in a foul mood for the day.

 

[HowardGWR]

Bromley_boy's posts are very considered and informative. I would feel very relaxed as a passenger with him at the controls.

 

[Bromley boy]

Bromley_boy's posts are very considered and informative. I would feel very relaxed as a passenger with him at the controls.

Why thankyou! I do try.

 

[AnonymousUser1]

Too many logos, not enough fluorescent background or retroreflective?

Class II garments are the most common, requiring a minimum of 775 square inches of fluorescent background and a minimum of 201 square inches of certified retroreflective trim.

https://printwearmag.com/features/embellishing-safety-apparel

This means the logos on smaller sizes of refective wear may have to be removed.

extremely rare for logo space to be an issue on class 2

the useual downgrade by size is a garment which means class 3 in adult medium ( or larger) sometimes struggles in small or extra small sizes ( Xs being worn predominantly by those whose clothing sizes most closlely matches the typical womens 6 or 8) this is especially the case with 'bomber jacket' type coats ( as storm coats can keep area by the shorter sizes not being that much shorter than the larger sizes and consequently knee length on the more petite person vs bum length on a taller / bigger person)

 

[bramling]

Three common responses from passenger.

1) are you sure, (as previously mentioned).
2) wander off and ask another member of staff.
3) walk off, no thanks or anything.

All incentives not to answer questions as all this achieves is to put you in a foul mood for the day.

Must admit, I do find it amazing how utterly rude some people are. Many such people go into a full-on tantrum if someone is rude to them, however.

 

[Juniper Driver]

I admit I was a bit TIC when I contributed, should have included a smiley. There is more than a grain of truth, otherwise why do military people insist on smartness, if there is not thought to be a carry-over to attention to the task? The same goes for healthy bodies and minds.

I think train drivers are much more respected nowadays by the public (as opposed to just small boys). They are paid so much better, and carry more responsibility (no second man and higher speeds) and do the job well (see the current safety record). Were I so employed, I would want to look smart because of pride and self-respect. Just my view, although unasked for by the OP.

Don't think I agree,sorry.Think they were more respected in the 1980's..I don't really think the public notice half the time as they have the noses buried in a phone or tablet or are to pre-occupied with getting to wherever they are going.