Which TOC's have the Smartest Uniform?

[RPI]

Ties (and decorative scarves) are surely some of the most pointless things Homo sapiens have ever invented. If I never again have to wear a totally useless piece of patterened cloth around my neck I shall be well pleased. By all means give people the choice if they really feel they need to get dressed up to drive a train but I'll go for function over fashion any day. I'm a very hands-on driver who is happy to get dirty if it'll help me fix something.

And when I'm a customer I don't give a stuff what bits of cloth people are draped in as long as they are identifiable and competent.

There are other grades apart from drivers.

 

[Lewisham2221]

There are other grades apart from drivers.

Either the way, a tie still serves no real purpose, regardless of the job being done. And a badly worn tie is far FAR worse than no tie at all

 

[ModernRailways]

I have to agree with GWR being the smartest around today.

As to smarter uniforms being impractical or pointless, I really don't think this is the case. Historically, uniforms have usually been much more formal than today yet tasks were often more dependant on physical effort and movement, so it's clearly possible (indeed, I, on a heritage railway, have to wear what would be considered a very smart uniform by mainline standards and yet tasks are still easily achievable).

I personally don't think preparation of smart uniforms is that much of a burden on staff anyway if they take pride in the railway's (and by extension their own) appearance, it's part of getting everything looking good for the passenger.

When you’re climbing on and off manky trains that haven’t seen the train wash in weeks, walking along the ballast, getting on your hands and knees to deploy a ramp or even just working a nice hot and sweaty unit with no/broken air con there’s nothing worse than having to be fully suited up.

We can wear polo shirts now but when we used to have to wear shirts it wasn’t great at all during the summer months. Having to iron and properly launder a shirt etc is also not something I want to be doing when I have a shift at 4am. I was issued with 4 shirts originally, with time that collection grew, but that’s not enough when I’m on a 7 day stint of working, and they require washing. A polo shirt is quicker to launder, and can be quickly grabbed off the hanger (they typically don’t need ironed if you let them dry nicely), and be on with it.

 

[TYP2000]

Why are freight drivers (GB Railfreight, Freightliner) decked out in orange hi vis whilst passengers TOC’s just have a standard non hi vis uniform?

 

[bengley]

Freight drivers are issued with non Hi-Vis clothing too, but some strange drivers choose to dress like traffic cones for their whole shifts.

I am a freight driver and I personally only wear Hi-Vis when required and take my jacket off when in the cab so I just wear a navy polo and cargo trousers.

 

[ComUtoR]

Freight Drivers tend to access the track a LOT more.

My high Vis sits in my bag (sorta). In my entire career; I wouldn't need more than a couple of hands and maybe a foot where I've been on the track in anger.

 

[E27007]

Why are freight drivers (GB Railfreight, Freightliner) decked out in orange hi vis whilst passengers TOC’s just have a standard non hi vis uniform?

Passenger drivers, in yards / stabling points tend to be on defined Authorised Walking Routes, Freight drivers find themselves in yards and sidings where te AWR's are not so clear cut, Passenger drivers can walk through their units cab to cab or use the platform, freight drivers will be down on the ballast

 

[357]

Passenger drivers, in yards / stabling points tend to be on defined Authorised Walking Routes, Freight drivers find themselves in yards and sidings where te AWR's are not so clear cut, Passenger drivers can walk through their units cab to cab or use the platform, freight drivers will be down on the ballast

Not all passenger yards are as posh as you think!

At my previous TOC the shunter-drivers were always asking for orange trousers and jackets but always had to put up with a hi-vi over a normal drivers uniform

 

[Flange Squeal]

At the TOC I’m based at we only have to wear hi-viz clothing on a typical day if prepping/picking up/dropping off our trains at a depot/siding at the start/end of our shifts. We only have to wear a hi-viz vest for this, which folds up small so lives in my bag the rest of the day. The depot drivers, cleaners, shunters etc - who spend all day at the depots - have to wear full hi-viz clothing though, including hi-viz trousers.

Freight drivers are probably likely to spend more time walking around yards and the like, and on certain sites full hi-viz is mandated, so if in and out of cabs all day on certain such jobs then it might just be easier to keep it all on.

 

[ComUtoR]

Passenger drivers, in yards / stabling points tend to be on defined Authorised Walking Routes

Still need a HV in the yard; even on a walking route.

 

[bengley]

Still need a HV in the yard; even on a walking route.

That depends. Some freight yards don't require HVVs when on walking routes. Toton is one of them. You often see non operational staff walking around the yard with no PPE.

 

[Krokodil]

As to smarter uniforms being impractical or pointless, I really don't think this is the case. Historically, uniforms have usually been much more formal than today yet tasks were often more dependant on physical effort and movement, so it's clearly possible (indeed, I, on a heritage railway, have to wear what would be considered a very smart uniform by mainline standards and yet tasks are still easily achievable).

That was before cheap synthetics had been invented. Natural fibres are far better at wicking sweat away.

If you want me to check hundreds of tickets on a 158 with failed aircon during a heatwave, while dashing to do the doors every few minutes, then shorts are not up for negotiation.

 

[E27007]

Still need a HV in the yard; even on a walking route.

Not sure about that, An Authorised Walking Route is deemed to be safe, those authorised walking routes will be defined in the Safety and Hazard Manual for the Depot, and they are provided for the use of non-PTS staff, such as the Office Workers in our Depot as they move from building to building, or to and from the office and their cars in the depot car park

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Jun 2023 ==

That was before cheap synthetics had been invented. Natural fibres are far better at wicking sweat away.

If you want me to check hundreds of tickets on a 158 with failed aircon during a heatwave, while dashing to do the doors every few minutes, then shorts are not up for negotiation.

When I joined a passenger TOC, all the uniforms were of heavy-duty 100% polyester, very unhygienic in summer, especially the trousers, my legs used to be covered in pimples, never had them before I was made to wear such cheap clothes, , polyester lacks properties of "wicking" and breathabillity.

 

[ComUtoR]

Not sure about that, An Authorised Walking Route is deemed to be safe, those authorised walking routes will be defined in the Safety and Hazard Manual for the Depot, and they are provided for the use of non-PTS staff, such as the Office Workers in our Depot as they move from building to building, or to and from the office and their cars in the depot car park

All of our yards have HVVs as being required. A lot of the time, you are walking across the track in the patch of trains and walking alongside the juice. Authorised walking routes aren't specifically for non PTS staff as they can, and do, exist in PTS required areas.

It was interesting to read that some freight yards don't require a HV and with your additional information I can understand the nature of those walking routes.

 

[pitdiver]

When I first joined LUL as a Booking Clerk we weren't issued with uniforms. Booking clerks at some station looked like something the cat had dragged in. However when were issued wit some it wasn't bad. The big drawback was the shoes, Dr Martens, these took about 6 months to break in.

 

[algytaylor]

What brands of shoes get issued by the TOCs? When my Dad worked for the Royal Mail Im pretty sure the issued shoes were Hush Puppies and were pretty comfortable and tended to last. The uniform at the tine was half decent quality as well.

My dad worked for Royal Mail too, had Doc Marten shoes issued. They were brilliant, I pinched a couple of pairs after he retired and they lasted for ages.

 

[GWVillager]

That was before cheap synthetics had been invented. Natural fibres are far better at wicking sweat away.

If you want me to check hundreds of tickets on a 158 with failed aircon during a heatwave, while dashing to do the doors every few minutes, then shorts are not up for negotiation.

Call my ignorant but would it be possible for TOCs to return to natural fibres? And during the summer of course there needs to be a lighter option.

 

[londonteacher]

I love this thread. Surely the most important thing about uniforms is that the staff find it comfortable and is practical? I couldn’t care less whether it’s a smart or not as long as the staff are happy, able to complete their duties safely and the service runs.

 

[Howardh]

I love this thread. Surely the most important thing about uniforms is that the staff find it comfortable and is practical? I couldn’t care less whether it’s a smart or not as long as the staff are happy, able to complete their duties safely and the service runs.

Virgin Trains used to have a nice stand-out uniform; as for the bit in bold, I agree, it must have been so difficult to work in mid-length pencil-thin skirts (walking round, never mind bending over to pick things up) I'm surprised they were even considered. Same applies to airline staff too!

 

[thelongestroad]

Forget about ties, the hot potato at one intercity TOC are shorts. The TOC in question would have you believe customers have an aneurysm and never travel by train again if the staff wore shorts on one of their prestigious trains*.

*with manky carpets and hard seats and graffiti all over the sides for weeks at a time.

 

[Goldfish62]

I love this thread. Surely the most important thing about uniforms is that the staff find it comfortable and is practical? I couldn’t care less whether it’s a smart or not as long as the staff are happy, able to complete their duties safely and the service runs.

Mostly agree, but being able to design a uniform that incorporates the above while at the same time conveying a positive image of the company and also conferring a sense of status to the wearer shouldn't be difficult.

 

[cmeads]

I like the GWR uniform & helped choose it via the staff council. But I forgot to ask about the comfort of the material. The shirt can be very prickly.. which gives me a an itch in hot weater like recently here in the West Country. i

 

[Krokodil]

Not sure about that, An Authorised Walking Route is deemed to be safe, those authorised walking routes will be defined in the Safety and Hazard Manual for the Depot, and they are provided for the use of non-PTS staff, such as the Office Workers in our Depot as they move from building to building, or to and from the office and their cars in the depot car park

Are these particular authorised walking routes segregated by some form of barrier? Or are they just some kind of surfaced path right next to the track?

Longsight Excursion Platform doesn't technically require HV, but drivers were asked to wear one anyway when changing ends because drivers on passing trains kept phoning in to report trespassers.

Call my ignorant but would it be possible for TOCs to return to natural fibres? And during the summer of course there needs to be a lighter option.

How much will it cost and how would you persuade the government to underwrite it? I wouldn't put it past this lot to try to make staff pay for their own uniform out of their own pockets. The government certainly isn't concerned with staff welfare.

 

[John745]

In my opinion the greateranglia fleeces look great with their red-purple colour.

 

[Dieseldriver]

Why are freight drivers (GB Railfreight, Freightliner) decked out in orange hi vis whilst passengers TOC’s just have a standard non hi vis uniform?

Some sites (quarries etc) that some FOC Drivers work into require full orange HVV including trousers.

 

[GWVillager]

How much will it cost and how would you persuade the government to underwrite it? I wouldn't put it past this lot to try to make staff pay for their own uniform out of their own pockets. The government certainly isn't concerned with staff welfare.

I’m not saying the government (or indeed anyone) would have to pay for it out of the blue, just asking if it would theoretically be possible for the next uniform redesign of [untitled TOC] to feature natural fibres. If they are indeed that much more comfortable to work in, then surely the extra cost is worthwhile?

 

[Krokodil]

I’m not saying the government (or indeed anyone) would have to pay for it out of the blue, just asking if it would theoretically be possible for the next uniform redesign of [untitled TOC] to feature natural fibres. If they are indeed that much more comfortable to work in, then surely the extra cost is worthwhile?

I understood you correctly. I'm pointing out that improving the quality of uniform as it's renewed will represent a higher ongoing cost, though I do wonder if the lifespan of natural fibres is better and would result in fewer replacements.

I certainly think that staff welfare is a good reason to do it, but I can't see the government following.

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

Personally I am a fan of the scotrail uniform it seems to be a good mix of practical use and smart presention

 

[185]

Suit & Tie for me, none of that modern polo shirt nonsense

'Comfortable and practical', I'd turn up in my pyjamas.

 

[dk1]

Suit & Tie for me, none of that modern polo shirt nonsense

'Comfortable and practical', I'd turn up in my pyjamas.

Thankfully as drivers we were given the formal & informal option ten years ago. I went for the latter as do not enjoy wearing a neck tie. It’s still shirts rather than polo shirts.