What do train drivers do?

[notadriver]

What differences are there between what is expected from a bus (or coach) driver and a train driver?

Train drivers may hold a PCV licence and can drive bus or coaches but bus/coach drivers can't drive trains

 

[causton]

Train drivers may hold a PCV licence and can drive bus or coaches but bus/coach drivers can't drive trains

But surely when they drive buses/coaches they are a bus/coach driver so they could drive trains

 

[martybabes]

Where's 455driver and his views?

This thread has to be right up his alley!

 

[notadriver]

But surely when they drive buses/coaches they are a bus/coach driver so they could drive trains

That's an interesting way of putting it - but your main bread winning job should define what you are rather than the one done for a hobby I think

 

[notadriver]

You are right - I still wear my bus uniforms driving trains............

Does anyone know if SWT drivers also have the same uniforms as Stagecoach bus drivers? (Another one for 455driver)

 

[Tomnick]

That's an interesting way of putting it - but your main bread winning job should define what you are rather than the one done for a hobby I think

I'm sure that, somewhere, there's a full-time bus or coach driver who is competent to drive (heritage) trains on a voluntary basis.

 

[notadriver]

I know plenty of full time train drivers who drive on heritage lines on a voluntary basis. It seems hard to get into a driving position on heritage lines.

 

[Tomnick]

Hopefully that says something about the level of competency that needs to be obtained and demonstrated! That's not the point anyway - a full-time bus driver who is also a (volunteer) driver on a heritage line doesn't quite fit your statement above - "bus/coach drivers can't drive trains" .

 

[asylumxl]

Where's 455driver and his views?



This thread has to be right up his alley!

Presumably actually driving a train, rather than trolling the internet wielding his trusty keyboard weapon.

 

[notadriver]

Hopefully that says something about the level of competency that needs to be obtained and demonstrated! That's not the point anyway - a full-time bus driver who is also a (volunteer) driver on a heritage line doesn't quite fit your statement above - "bus/coach drivers can't drive trains" .

Well I don't know of any full time bus/coach drivers who do actually drive on heritage lines and in any case when I said drive trains I did really mean on Network rail metals.

 

[Tomnick]

That's not what you said though .

 

[DD]

What's the difference between ship captains and bus/coach drivers? I mean they both steer left or right and go forwards or backwards.

 

[NickBucks]

Lots of good comments on the technical aspects here from drivers etc but as one of those "sat in the back" surely being able to communicate with the passengers is one vital requirement ? I accept you may not know what is going on and are at the mercy of the line controller/ signalman or whoever but sometimes a clear, audible announcement at least signals to us that there is someone there and you have not succumbed to some illness or whatever.

Is there a time laid down by operators by which an announcement has to be made e.g. 5 minutes ? On Chiltern some drivers are savvy enough to announce a delay and the reason even before we get to the red signal whilst others leave min 5 minutes before making an announcement and that is usually mumbled, in a whisper and containing no useful information !

 

[PermitToTravel]

London Underground require an announcement to be made within 30 seconds of stopping at a red signal

 

[scotraildriver]

Lots of good comments on the technical aspects here from drivers etc but as one of those "sat in the back" surely being able to communicate with the passengers is one vital requirement ? I accept you may not know what is going on and are at the mercy of the line controller/ signalman or whoever but sometimes a clear, audible announcement at least signals to us that there is someone there and you have not succumbed to some illness or whatever.

Is there a time laid down by operators by which an announcement has to be made e.g. 5 minutes ? On Chiltern some drivers are savvy enough to announce a delay and the reason even before we get to the red signal whilst others leave min 5 minutes before making an announcement and that is usually mumbled, in a whisper and containing no useful information !

The vast majority of the time when a train stops there is nothing wrong. You are simply allowing other movements to take place - just like stopping at traffic lights in a car to allow others to go. Or waiting for the train ahead to clear a platform. For some reason in the last few years people think their train should always keep going and as soon as it stops there must be a problem and they demand a "reason". Possibly social networking to blame for that. With more trains than ever sharing the network the knock on effects of even a small delay can be felt by many people. Even something like getting the ramp out for a wheelchair passenger can cause trains to back up and Twitter becomes full of "stopped for no reason" type comments.

 

[Latecomer]

I did mention communication in my earlier post. It's vital.

Unless the red is a really long way off it's not generally advisable for a driver to be distracting themselves by making a PA on approach. It wouldn't look too good in a SPAD investigation.

If the reason for stopping at a red is generally (as far as I am aware) due to movements being made across a junction then I may not make an announcement for a couple of minutes - especially if it's at a location where this is a regular occurrence on that route. On other occasions I will straight away because I know that even when the signal clears it will mean that there's some congestion ahead and therefore I will apologise for the delay. If I have very specific information with a time frame then I will convey that, likewise if I am aware of services suspended on other lines that we interchange with.

 

[TDK]

Hopefully that says something about the level of competency that needs to be obtained and demonstrated! That's not the point anyway .

Tomnick it is purely down to demand on why it is difficult and you know it
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Personally I wouldn't say there is a huge difference between empty and overcrowded (others may disagree).

This all depends on the stock if the stock has a self levelling bar etc. the more weight in the train the more pressure in the brake cylinders. The only difference I notice is the acceleration and performance.
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Train drivers may hold a PCV licence and can drive bus or coaches but bus/coach drivers can't drive trains

They can if they are qualified train drivers drivers
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What differences are there between what is expected from a bus (or coach) driver and a train driver?

About 20k
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I did mention communication in my earlier post. It's vital.

Unless the red is a really long way off it's not generally advisable for a driver to be distracting themselves by making a PA on approach. It wouldn't look too good in a SPAD investigation.

If the reason for stopping at a red is generally (as far as I am aware) due to movements being made across a junction then I may not make an announcement for a couple of minutes - especially if it's at a location where this is a regular occurrence on that route. On other occasions I will straight away because I know that even when the signal clears it will mean that there's some congestion ahead and therefore I will apologise for the delay. If I have very specific information with a time frame then I will convey that, likewise if I am aware of services suspended on other lines that we interchange with.

Are you a train driver as your post does not look to me that you are! If so what company as you must be DOO!

 

[RPM]

Unless the red is a really long way off it's not generally advisable for a driver to be distracting themselves by making a PA on approach. It wouldn't look too good in a SPAD investigation.

That is a very good point. I see lots of moans on Twitter re slow running trains & no explanation from the driver but I for one am not prepared to be distracted by making announcements when running on restrictive aspects. Quite happy to explain the situation when fully stopped at a red, or after pegs clear to green, but I'm not risking my job, and possibly people's lives, to satisfy an impatient desire for instant expanations. Safety first, customer service second.

If the reason for stopping at a red is generally (as far as I am aware) due to movements being made across a junction then I may not make an announcement for a couple of minutes - especially if it's at a location where this is a regular occurrence on that route. On other occasions I will straight away because I know that even when the signal clears it will mean that there's some congestion ahead and therefore I will apologise for the delay. If I have very specific information with a time frame then I will convey that, likewise if I am aware of services suspended on other lines that we interchange with.

Yes ditto. We clearly think the same way!

My experience is that this sort of decision making re announcements, such as has been discussed above, tends to be very much down to the nous of the individual driver with only very minimal guidance from the TOC.

 

[455driver]

Using my time playing Traim Simulator 2013 (which makes me an expert on all things rail related) my passengers would be going to work very battered and bruised.
"Signal! BRAKE! Not stopping enough! Brake MORE! We're half a platform away. Edge up a bit. Too much! Brake! Too much brake. Edge up again. Brakes now!!! Oh great, I'm now in advance of the platform signal."

Well I like to do the normal 2 application brake-
Brake a certain amount (normally step 2 or 30%) at a certain place, let the train slow down, brake back to step 1 or 15% then re-apply step 2 or 30% and then just before the train stops (on the correct mark/place) brake back to step 1 or initial so its a nice smooth stop.
Sometime I go for a single application stop, so its apply the brake a bit later (but the same amount) and I drop the brake back to step 1 or initial just before the train reaches the mark, I dont do them often (not easy to get right even when you try) but its very satisfying when you get it right for 3 or more stations in a row.

Do the passengers appreciate the skill involved? Do they hell as like!
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Where's 455driver and his views?

This thread has to be right up his alley!

I am here, and no I dont normally bother with these threads as they always go in the same direction with reference to the comparisons with buses/coaches and the amount we get paid for just pulling a lever and pushing a button or 2!

I have written a small piece above and that will be it from me!
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Presumably actually driving a train, rather than trolling the internet wielding his trusty keyboard weapon.

Yeah whateva! :roll:

 

[DynamicSpirit]

For some reason in the last few years people think their train should always keep going and as soon as it stops there must be a problem and they demand a "reason". Possibly social networking to blame for that. With more trains than ever sharing the network the knock on effects of even a small delay can be felt by many people. Even something like getting the ramp out for a wheelchair passenger can cause trains to back up and Twitter becomes full of "stopped for no reason" type comments.

I doubt social networking has any causal influence there, it' more likely that it mostly just provides an outlet for passengers to express frustrations that they have always felt but which they'd previously not have any outlet for.

If you're a passenger in a car or a bus and it stops at a red light or due to congestion, you can usually see out of the windows exactly why you've stopped, so no explanation from the driver is required. You also know that congestion may force the vehicle to stop or go slowly. On a train it's different, partly because you can't usually see any signals, and partly because you don't usually expect railways to be full of vehicles blocking the way, in the way that would be normal on a road. So I don't think it's surprising that passengers would quickly want to know what the reason is whenever a train has stopped or is going unusually slowly away from a station.

 

[Latecomer]

Are you a train driver as your post does not look to me that you are! If so what company as you must be DOO!

Yes. Is that not obvious from previous posts? Correct on the DOO.

 

[Monty]

I am here, and no I dont normally bother with these threads as they always go in the same direction with reference to the comparisons with buses/coaches and the amount we get paid for just pulling a lever and pushing a button or 2!

Like a good friend once told me; driving a train is easy, train driving isn't.

 

[NightStar]

Driving diesel or electric is really not all that hard. Try driving or firing a steam locomotive. Steam locos are very tempermental and each one is different. Not even two of the same class are equal in operation. Of course steam is gone from the railways and most will never have such pleasure working around the steam locomotive.

Robert

 

[455driver]

Like a good friend once told me; driving a train is easy, train driving isn't.

A very true statement!

 

[david_VI]

What does 'DOO' mean?

 

[Mojo]

What does 'DOO' mean?

Driver Only Operation (ie. where there is no guard on the train, just a driver, save for any other 'Customer service' staff such as trolley attendant, revenue protection, ticket examiner, etc.) Also known as One Person Operation (OPO) on the Underground.

 

[ModernRailways]

What does 'DOO' mean?

Driver Only Operation

Edit: Looks like Mojo beat me to it

 

[GatwickDepress]

What does 'DOO' mean?

Scooby's surname.

 

[fsmr]

Driving diesel or electric is really not all that hard. Try driving or firing a steam locomotive. Steam locos are very tempermental and each one is different. Not even two of the same class are equal in operation. Of course steam is gone from the railways and most will never have such pleasure working around the steam locomotive.

Robert

Oh yes and even more so on 15 inch gauge or lower when you are sole driver and fireman with 9 coaches and 50 pax on going up 1/2 mile of 1 in 50 after already running for over a mile and it starts to rain and you dont have any sanding and the coal is clinkering
Challenges are what we enjoy though and sense of achievement at arriving back on time with the boiler full and safety's on the verge of lifting

And along the way, just like full size, knowing the road and speed checks and signals and braking points and adhesion which all change with no two trips the same
still fun though blasting up the bank keeping the regulator on the edge of her loosing her feet. once the rails do go wet, it is all about keeping momentum to make it home

Here's one I made earlier with some dubious coal for the camera courtesy Dave Eatwell

 

[quarella]

Train drivers may hold a PCV licence and can drive bus or coaches but bus/coach drivers can't drive trains

A bus/coach driver requires a legal document issued by a government agency.