Uniforms, the smartest and scruffiest?

[AlastairFraser]

It looks out of a cheap scifi. Truly awful.

Better than some jumped up suit and most importantly, it looks comfortable. Just imagine how it must be to wear a suit, tie and shirt in the height of summer if the air con dies on you.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Better than some jumped up suit and most importantly, it looks comfortable. Just imagine how it must be to wear a suit, tie and shirt in the height of summer if the air con dies on you.

It looks really stupid, to be honest - oddly positioned zips like that are basically chav-wear and the big logo looks messy and cheap. Why not a more conventional polo with a subtle logo, perhaps paired with tan coloured chinos for a very tidy but slightly modern, informal look?

 

[AlastairFraser]

They probably have. Using contract security staff for what is quite a sensitive role is beyond inappropriate.

It's also interesting that they have money for RPIs, but not guards on some services. But that's for another thread...

 

[greyman42]

Better than some jumped up suit and most importantly, it looks comfortable.

Why do people perceive suits as uncomfortable?

 

[Grumpy Git]

Pre-pandemic all the staff on Piccadilly P14 looked like they'd got dressed from the discarded pile after a jumble sale. I'm not sure who were staff and who were contract "security" (or whatever), but Worzel Gummage would have looked dapper in comparison.

 

[AlastairFraser]

Why do people perceive suits as as uncomfortable?

Because they are stiff and sweaty in hot weather/ill-suited for cold weather. Or at least, the cheap version that rail operators would give their staff.
Most businesses have recognised this and have moved away from suits, even for managers.

 

[centro-323]

Why not a more conventional polo with a subtle logo, perhaps paired with tan coloured chinos for a very tidy but slightly modern, informal look?

I see what you're getting at, but I'm not sure how well tan chinos would manage winter mornings in Craigentinny

 

[AlastairFraser]

It looks really stupid, to be honest - oddly positioned zips like that are basically chav-wear and the big logo looks messy and cheap. Why not a more conventional polo with a subtle logo, perhaps paired with tan coloured chinos for a very tidy but slightly modern, informal look?

Because chinos are revealing, tight and have to be ironed if you want to look smart. Polo shirts quickly look scruffy and make you look like either a darts player or a school kid, neither a good look for the place.
The long sleeves on the shirt will be great in winter. The trousers/skirt are relatively practical.
Case in point:Northern!

 

[greyman42]

Because chinos are revealing, tight and have to be ironed if you want to look smart

What do you mean by revealing? Whether they are tight or not will depend upon the cut.

 

[AlastairFraser]

What do you mean by revealing? Whether they are tight or not will depend upon the cut.

Women of certain faiths or culture may not wish to wear a tighter version of chinos because it is against their religious beliefs to show their legs in any shape or form; uniform choices should not exclude them from the industry. There are not many manufactures who would make a looser chino.

 

[Wolfie]

I feel that our uniform can be smart, however, they don't really enforce the regulations, so some drivers can look quite scruffy. Management have finally relented regarding polo shirts, and they are due to be delivered any day now. They won't, however, give way regarding shorts, so some male drivers did wear skirts this year. ( I have deliberately not named my company).

Good for them. Either everyone, regardless of gender, wears long trousers or the company deserves to be treated with contempt.

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I did see it in the Post Office when you could have two member of staff wearing the same uniform one looked like he was wearing a badly fitting bag of spuds, the other one a nicely presented officer. Well pressed shirt, clean trousers and jacket etc.

The uniform that I liked was the Virgin one, very smart. It also stood out on the platforms, long red coats etc.

Agreed. The Virgin uniform was distinctive and looked high quality.

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The theory is dispatch staff wear orange vests, customer service staff wear yellow ones and traincrew wear none at at all where possible, thus hopefully drawing people to the best available person to answer their questions, rather than intercepting a driver/guard, fitter or the person filling up the vending machines.

Now that seems sensible.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Oct 2021 ==

Women of certain faiths or culture may not wish to wear a tighter version of chinos because it is against their religious beliefs to show their legs in any shape or form; uniform choices should not exclude them from the industry. There are not many manufactures who would make a looser chino.

Agreed.

 

[Trackman]

Northern and London Underground = horrendous. LU’s is simply horrific, both in terms of style and colours, whilst the Northern one the shade of blue used simply doesn’t work.

At least with LU's you can spot them if you need assistance.
When GBR kicks in I wonder if the uniforms will be uniform? This would really help pax... maybe for another thread.

 

[Tube driver]

GA uniforms were designed by Wayne Hemingway of Red or Dead.

He also designed LUL (and other TfL services) ones.

Goes to show everyone can have an off day.

Horrible uniforms that are over styled, cheap and ill fitting and uncomfortable to wear (esp the trousers) and you can’t differentiate between grades.

Old uniform was fine (could have done with being of better quality) and every time I see what various TOCs issue their staff, I feel LUL got it seriously wrong. Hateful, hateful things. How hard can it be? Polo shirt/collared shirt with a little logo, plain trousers, fleece and winter coat. There, now where’s my £100k they paid Hemingway to design our stuff?

 

[scrapy]

In the example of persons accessing non-public areas, the importance of being able to identify them is surely primarily a concern for staff, rather than the public. Staff will be able to tell, even if the branding is discreet.

Yes and there are plenty of rail staff that access non public areas and don't wear uniforms. Passengers don't bat an eyelid.

 

[Fokx]

Why do people perceive suits as uncomfortable?

Because they’re not comfortable.

At my TOC we are issued with a three piece suit, and honestly it does look really professional and customer service focused but it is not practical to wear for our roles.

In winter it’s absolutely freezing when your on a platform at silly I’m the morning in winter and in summer it’s additional layers that aren’t needed. It makes the most basic of tasks such as laying out a ramp for a wheelchair user harder as it’s movement restrictive and even checking tickets and passes can result in the most unsightly of sweat patches when your running from a TIR to GOP for door opening and dispatch

 

[RPI]

Why do people perceive suits as uncomfortable?

I find the GWR uniform comfortable in all weathers, it helps that we have options of jumper/waistcoat/blazer or obviously just the shirt, we also get "summer trousers" which are far lighter and more comfortable in the summer, preventing sweaty private parts. The only thing I don't like is the coat, its awful and the rain just runs onto your legs.
But it also looks good too I think.