.An Angry Memmy said:I am writing to complain about the Driver of the 20 : 12 SWT service to London Waterloo from Reading.
Upon arrival at Wokingham, I spotted several youths on the Reading bound platform repeatedly ramming the vending machine. After watching them expecting them to give up, I decided to speak to the driver (as I want in the from 1st class area) and ask him to call the British Transport Police. My father, also with me in first class, had seen a group of youths on our train
vandalising a carridge further down. Again, we felt this called for the BTP to attend.
One short knock on the drivers door, (this is while the train was still stationary, so it was safe to ditract the drivers attention), and the door wasn't even opened, the driver simply shouted "Go Away."
This is APPALING behaviour by a representitive of South West Trains. The train being formed of two class 458 units did not have a corridor connection. As such, the driver was the only representitive for South West Trains immediatley contactable.
I left my father in first class and made my way towards the guard, transferring to the rear unit at the next station. The guard aggreed with me, saying that as a representitive of SWT, and being stationaty, the driver SHOULD have opened his door and dealt with whatever I had to say.
The guard promised that upon arrival at Waterloo, he would check the CCTV from Wokingham station to see if the youths were caught on tape. However, you driver *needs* dicipline, not only do railway staff not talk to passengers like that, they do not talk to First Class ticket holders like that. Besides, perhaps I was in dire need of the Police, say I was being thretend with a knife? Would "Go Away" be appropriate then?
Rant over. Right thing to do, do you think? To complain, I mean? The guard agreed with me :\