Uniforms!

[Glasgowbusguy]

Why not look at uniform options in other sectors for example M&S
Offers staff the following options
Short sleeve or long sleeve polo shirt
Short or long sleeve shirt
Black dress trousers or skirts
Black dress
Black combat trousers (for operations and hospitality staff)
Warmth options are
Black soft shell gillet
Black soft shell zipper
Blue padded jacket
Blue padded gillet
Steel toed boots (operation and hospitality)
Now staff get an allowance if your full time to you get
5 tops
3 trousers
2 warmth
2 pairs of boots

Other PPP provided inc
Hi viz vest
Hi vis jacket and trousers rated to -10oC
Freezer jacket and overall rated to -40oC
Gloves cold chain and freezer versions
Amd you get a complete new uniform every 2 years
Plus while there are style variations staff still show a consistent uniform

 

[Devonian]

I greatly sympathise with anyone lumbered with badly designed, ill-fitting and poorly made uniforms: it is inexcusable. I have worn shirts, ties and permanent crease trousers to work whilst carrying out a wide range of tasks with varying degrees of physicality: but I realise that I was fortunate to be able to choose garments that were comfortable, washable and durable as well as smart.

One thing I find fascinating is that airlines all over the world somehow manage to turn out their staff in a distinctively 'airline' look with reasonably stylish, fairly formal uniforms apparently without too many practicality problems, and rail companies on the continent manage it too, while train companies in the UK struggle to find the right style or quality.

There is a long history, predating the railways, of staff uniforms being anachronistic versions of formal clothing in order to set them apart but still be as smart as the people they serve, and I have no particular problem with staff being distinctive by looking smarter than casually dressed customers. Been there, done that, got the Pantone-matched tie to prove it. In fact, I'd rather be able to spot the lone figure wearing formal kit on the platform among the public wearing fleece jackets and polo shirts.

A uniform also needs to be timeless (but not completely archaic) rather than being "what most people wear at the moment" to a certain degree: fashions will change around it, but the uniform will be fixed for years. Mind you, designed in the '90s but still in use in the '20s is probably a bit too long!

 

[Mojo]

I wear short sleeves all year round, as I find wearing long sleeves just too restrictive and too hot. If it's cold then I wear a coat or jacket which I can easily take off.

 

[GatwickDepress]

As a passenger, I'm not really fussed what customer-facing staff wear as long as they're easily recognisable. A good quality breathable shirt/polo shirt and a distinctive fleece or waterproof jacket look a lot smarter, and are no doubt more comfortable, than some pale imitation of 1920s nostalgia manufactured by the lowest bidder.


Following RailUK Forums's uniform revolution, two Southeastern revenue inspectors prepare to carry out a full check on an evening Dartford train.

 

[185]

Following RailUK Forums's uniform revolution, two Southeastern revenue inspectors prepare to carry out a full check on an evening Dartford train.

Don't give FirstGroup ideas, they'd do that in pink

 

[HLE]

.

I do not wish to look like BR in 1956. I work some rough routes with tough crowds and you live and die by being slightly relatable to the locals. Looking like a crap Park keeper or Dixon of Dock Green will just get the piss taken out of you.

That last sentence is brilliant.

 

[tracksider]

I do not wish to look like BR in 1956. I work some rough routes with tough crowds and you live and die by being slightly relatable to the locals. Looking like a crap Park keeper or Dixon of Dock Green will just get the piss taken out of you.

I don't think anyone is seriously suggesting a return to 50s BR uniforms, but your point about certain routes is a good one. It'll be interesting to see what happens with HS2, given that it'll be a "prestige" service.

A good quality breathable shirt/polo shirt and a distinctive fleece or waterproof jacket look a lot smarter, and are no doubt more comfortable, than some pale imitation of 1920s nostalgia manufactured by the lowest bidder.

There seem to be a lot of false binaries on this thread! Is this really the choice? Obviously a uniform should be good quality and practical whatever style it's in. If people are suggesting that it's too expensive to produce formal uniforms that are *also* good quality then include me on the casual side of the argument. If you look on EMR's employee twitter feed (@weareEMR), it looks like they've been doing a lot of in-house focus groups to try and get the balance right. Let's hope they don't cut corners when it comes to manufacturing.

 

[Ashley Hill]

My TOCs uniform looks both smart and almost traditional but it has it's faults. The collar size may not be what it says and the shirts crease badly. The jacket and waistcoat material smell bad when damp and the trousers won't hold a crease. The footplate crews get an option of polo shirts but they don't look professional and they can wear shorts if they want which looks worse. I don't mind hats and have always worn one in the winter going back to BR days. I can never understand why platform staff apart from a lead dispatcher have to wear hi-vi vests. They're in a smart,expensive (apparently) uniform but then cover it over to look like a binman defeating the object of the uniform.

 

[StephenHunter]

CIWL and Newrest Wagons-Lits uniforms are brilliant.

 

[Energy]

I can never understand why platform staff apart from a lead dispatcher have to wear hi-vi vests. They're in a smart,expensive (apparently) uniform but then cover it over to look like a binman defeating the object of the uniform.

To make them more noticeable, however surely that should be part of the uniform? Didn't Virgin have bright enough uniforms that they didn't need hi vis?

 

[choochoochoo]

Could we have shoulder boards/epaulettes too ? And caps with 'scrambled egg' on ?

 

[43066]

Could we have shoulder boards/epaulettes too ? And caps with 'scrambled egg' on ?

Good idea. And a campaign medal bar.

Let’s go the full Gadaffi:



(Picture shows either a dubious North African dictator in full military garb, or a very well dressed train driver)

 

[ScottGallagher]

As a passenger, I'm not really fussed what customer-facing staff wear as long as they're easily recognisable. A good quality breathable shirt/polo shirt and a distinctive fleece or waterproof jacket look a lot smarter, and are no doubt more comfortable, than some pale imitation of 1920s nostalgia manufactured by the lowest bidder.

View attachment 83378
Following RailUK Forums's uniform revolution, two Southeastern revenue inspectors prepare to carry out a full check on an evening Dartford train.

That has flashes of the Connex Uniform circa 1997/8, how on earth they ever came up with that and expected staff to like it still baffles me. It was awful in every sense.

 

[bunnahabhain]

Could we have shoulder boards/epaulettes too ? And caps with 'scrambled egg' on ?

Scrambled egg is a must! Can we get medals for petty acts like "lifting a suitcase", "checked a ticket" and "made an announcement".

Personally for me I like traditional, from what I've seen of the proposed EMR uniform I quite like the look of it, but I understand the item I liked the most has been consigned to room 101 already.

 

[choochoochoo]

Drivers could get ribbons/badges for doing things like Single Line/Temporary Block Working, or rescuing another unit.

Personally, I think you need to be comfortable if you're working a safety critical role. Therefore if smart/formal is the way to go, then it'd have to be bespoke. Don't see TOCs paying for that.

Talk at my TOC of combat/cargo trousers possibly being introduced. I'd love them. All those pockets would be a god-send.

 

[StephenHunter]

Well maybe not for stuff like that, but definitely long service, bravery and things like that. Would BR employees have been allowed to wear war medals?

 

[_toommm_]

Why not look at uniform options in other sectors for example M&S
Offers staff the following options
Short sleeve or long sleeve polo shirt
Short or long sleeve shirt
Black dress trousers or skirts
Black dress
Black combat trousers (for operations and hospitality staff)
Warmth options are
Black soft shell gillet
Black soft shell zipper
Blue padded jacket
Blue padded gillet
Steel toed boots (operation and hospitality)
Now staff get an allowance if your full time to you get
5 tops
3 trousers
2 warmth
2 pairs of boots

Other PPP provided inc
Hi viz vest
Hi vis jacket and trousers rated to -10oC
Freezer jacket and overall rated to -40oC
Gloves cold chain and freezer versions
Amd you get a complete new uniform every 2 years
Plus while there are style variations staff still show a consistent uniform

Because the M&S uniform is appalling. It’s cheap tatty shirts with clip on ties, or a black shirt that attracts dust like there’s no tomorrow. The trousers are shiny and stick to you. This is talking from experience.

 

[bramling]

It’s funny how people who fetishise formal/old fashioned uniforms are invariably those who don’t actually have to wear it!

Having said that I know a bloke who buys heritage BR uniform off eBay and has been known to wear it to work. He’s an oddball, though.

Hey, I wear heritage uniform!

To be fair, since our uniform was redesigned by a fashion designer things have turned into such a complete farce that I no longer wear one single item of (current, at any rate) uniform. I have an old hat which I sometimes remember to pull out of the locker if going to something where emergency services are likely to be present, which works rather well to be fair. BTP love it and quite often want a photo posed.

All the more reason to wear a non uniform overcoat!

This should be framed and impressed upon any new recruit. It’s funny how I get dirty looks for always wearing a non-uniform coat which conveniently covers pretty much all aspects of anything which might remotely look like uniform, yet when something kicks off guess who gets there quickly without getting bogged down with a million and one questions.

 

[ChilternTurbo]

Talk at my TOC of combat/cargo trousers possibly being introduced. I'd love them. All those pockets would be a god-send.

Chiltern drivers have dark grey combat style trousers as part of their uniform which includes a branded polo shirt and (I think) fleece. It looks like quite a practical combination of items and smart enough. I'm not a train driver but I would imagine that something like a suit would get trashed pretty quickly.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Sep 2020 ==

That has flashes of the Connex Uniform circa 1997/8, how on earth they ever came up with that and expected staff to like it still baffles me. It was awful in every sense.

That uniform was the first thing I thought of when I saw this thread. The daft hats were the finishing touch to a frankly ludicrous uniform. Sadly I can't find any pictures.

 

[TheEdge]

Chiltern drivers have dark grey combat style trousers as part of their uniform which includes a branded polo shirt and (I think) fleece. It looks like quite a practical combination of items and smart enough. I'm not a train driver but I would imagine that something like a suit would get trashed pretty quickly

This is what I was really hoping for and I think is pretty much the perfect uniform for a driver. Smart and branded enough to be recognisable as staff but practical in the yard or on the ballast. Possibly something maybe forgotten by many a railway uniform designer (and the Edwardian nostalgists on here) is a suit and hat may look good in your fantasy or in a PR shoot but its pretty terrible when you are wandering on the ballast at 2330 checking the line is clear, or waiting in the rain with assistance protection or climbing up and down stock in a yard at 3am.

 

[sem34090]

This is why I specifically referred to customer-facing staff and specifically excluded drivers from my original post.

 

[peakNed]

Good idea. And a campaign medal bar.

Let’s go the full Gadaffi:

View attachment 83384

(Picture shows the dubious dictator 43066 walking to his HST cab prior to departure)

Suits you sir!

 

[CyrusWuff]

Chiltern drivers have dark grey combat style trousers as part of their uniform which includes a branded polo shirt and (I think) fleece. It looks like quite a practical combination of items and smart enough. I'm not a train driver but I would imagine that something like a suit would get trashed pretty quickly.

It's not just Chiltern drivers that have that uniform, it's everyone in customer-facing roles as well, which is both a blessing and a curse as it means staff are more visible at stations, but at the same time it can make it more difficult to find someone who can help with a query.

 

[TheEdge]

This is why I specifically referred to customer-facing staff and specifically excluded drivers from my original post.

Most TOCs seem to consider drivers to be as customer facing as a conductor or station staff. Personally I think we straddle a grey area between truly customer facing and purely operational staff, like fitters.

 

[43066]

To be fair, since our uniform was redesigned by a fashion designer things have turned into such a complete farce that I no longer wear one single item of (current, at any rate) uniform. I have an old hat which I sometimes remember to pull out of the locker if going to something where emergency services are likely to be present, which works rather well to be fair. BTP love it and quite often want a photo posed.

Re. the heritage uniform wearing, each to their own !

Ours is currently going through the redesign process, so it remains to be seen what we end up with. Luckily I seem to get away with not wearing “official” uniform; a suit jacket of the same colour (minus stupid stripes) blends in pretty well, and actually fits me properly.

A comedy hat always comes in useful.

This should be framed and impressed upon any new recruit. It’s funny how I get dirty looks for always wearing a non-uniform coat which conveniently covers pretty much all aspects of anything which might remotely look like uniform, yet when something kicks off guess who gets there quickly without getting bogged down with a million and one questions.

Yep same for me, I’d much rather just be anonymous. Otherwise I’ll only be asked questions which, nine times out of ten, I’m unable to answer anyway.

Suits you sir!

It’s not a bad likeness. Obviously I wear much cheaper sunglasses and look even less cheerful .

 

[Stigy]

This isn’t the dark ages, uniform should be comfortable and functional. I liked wearing shirts (Only short sleeved) when I joined the railway (because I was very OCD about ironing them) but when it changed to wicking tops it was more durable, and required no ironing. They used to kick up a bit with sweat though. I’d sooner have loose fitting tops like this and believe they can look smart if worn in a proper, uniform fashion (tucked in).

 

[greyman42]

I think Grand Centrals is smart. More airline than railway.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

There seem to be three issues in this thread:

- 'Smart': isn't this a pretty subjective term? The OP (if I read them properly) seems to think that something based on a three-piece suit is smart: I think that a polo shirt can be smart. I also think that either can be not-smart if they're ragged or dirty.
- Items: I've got some sympathy for @Glasgowbusguy and his comments on M&S, and was going to say much the same, except quoting the Royal Mail as an example. Given that people come in different shapes and sizes, and (as my point above) different ideas of what constitutes 'smart', the 'pick and mix' approach is I think good: surely someone who is comfortable in their clothes is more likely to look (subjectively) smart than someone forced into a costume that they don't like?
- wear and build quality: in general, isn't this a function of cost? While it's always possible to waste money, a higher price garment should last better and remain objectively smart (that is, intact and not overly worn-out) than a cheap alternative.

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

Because the M&S uniform is appalling. It’s cheap tatty shirts with clip on ties, or a black shirt that attracts dust like there’s no tomorrow. The trousers are shiny and stick to you. This is talking from experience.

Would have to disagree i ware it currently and its pretty good the ties are optional and are a clip on to stop customers strangling you with it or it getying caught in something
Also the shirts are cotton decent quality and comfortable
The combats are pretty good to and tend to hold up well same with the dress trousers thou o do find the dress trousers a bit to thick

 

[Meerkat]

Polo shirts only look smart when brand new and worn by trim people. They look so scruffy on the out of shape. And fleeces are even worse! Polo shirts and fleeces look like you work in a garden centre.
Personally I think guards and platform staff should look official, and that means shirts (and more effort to supply hi-vis that vaguely fits the wearer!)
i also think there is a benefit of being even more official (ties and hats) for InterCity operations where more passengers are likely to be infrequent traveller.