Hunt for woman who 'burst into train driver's cabin to complain about delays'

[Tetchytyke]

I went to RTT and found the train from the Saturday.
View attachment 66919
Oh wait - the date was earlier than last Saturday - very sorry!

-PeterView attachment 66919

Ah, makes sense. No worries, the booked wait at that junction looked to be the issue though.

 

[Peter C]

I hope that police resources have not been stripped back so far that this 'hunt' is compromised.

Well, seen as they have found the person they were looking for....

-Peter

 

[Peter C]

Ah, makes sense. No worries, the booked wait at that junction looked to be the issue though.

OK. I thought it was last Saturday!

-Peter

 

[farleigh]

Well, seen as they have found the person they were looking for....

-Peter

phew!

 

[Peter C]

phew!

This nameless woman we have been speaking about for ages is Mrs. Becki Buchanan (I think that's her first name), and she was the person who did everything this thread is on about!

-Peter

 

[theageofthetra]

The RTT readout gives a big clue as to what really happened. This particular service is booked to wait 7 1/2 minutes at Bestwood Park Jn due to it being the transition point from double to single track and a southbound service occupying the single line. Naturally if the southbound train is delayed then that wait is extended. I suspect that what really wound up the woman was the fact the train had stopped "in the middle of nowhere" and she didn't understand why. Of course it would provide re-assurance to occasional passengers when such situations arise but I doubt many guards are going to make such announcements each and every time they work a service which is scheduled to make such a stop.

The reporting of the incident as having occurred at Hucknall station I suspect is wrong but to give the actual location would be meaningless to almost everyone reading it. As such she has forced her way into a live driving cab, a location which is safety critical to the extent that even other members of qualified traincrew are subject to conditions/restrictions when entering. There is a reason why there are signs on cab doors designating them as "Private" or "No Entry". There may have been mitigating circumstances but ultimately what she did was wrong and to take zero action against her would set a potentially dangerous precedent.

Had this been an aircraft cockpit or a ships bridge, what would this low IQ individual be looking at sentence wise?

 

[LowLevel]

If you can't understand that a passenger is also a customer of the TOC then it's not so surprising that *Customer* Service is often way down the list of rail staff priorites. Many staff are between good-excellent but it's evident from this thread that rather too many don't understand what is expected of them.

You appear to have PMs disabled so I'm afraid I can't send you a brief summary of events as they actually occurred as with the pending possible legal action I don't want to get myself into hot water posting publically. Suffice to say the damage to the train was sufficient that it was cancelled at Hucknall.

 

[farleigh]

Lot of outrage here.

Is it a little bit of a non-story?

'Somewhat rude person is rude to a train driver'

No big deal IMO and talk of fragile drivers withering beneath her words and cancelling services makes me smile.

And what would have happened if she had done this aboard the International Space Station??

 

[Sprinter107]

Lot of outrage here.

Is it a little bit of a non-story?

'Somewhat rude person is rude to a train driver'

No big deal IMO and talk of fragile drivers withering beneath her words and cancelling services makes me smile.

And what would have happened if she had done this aboard the International Space Station??

Who's,said anything about fragile train drivers ? So you think its acceptable for a train driver, or anyone else for that matter to have there workspace broken into and abused ?

 

[6Gman]

Lot of outrage here.

Is it a little bit of a non-story?

'Somewhat rude person is rude to a train driver'

No big deal IMO and talk of fragile drivers withering beneath her words and cancelling services makes me smile.

And what would have happened if she had done this aboard the International Space Station??

Isn't it more a case of - person forces their way into a non-public area, potentially compromising safety. Appropriate action required.

BUT since that appropriate action may involve criminal prosecution perhaps we would be wise to let that take its course without undue speculation?

 

[farleigh]

Who's,said anything about fragile train drivers ? So you think its acceptable for a train driver, or anyone else for that matter to have there workspace broken into and abused ?

No - but I find it funny that people are so upset about it. It really is something and nothing.

I used the word fragile to describe anybody who would be to upset to continue a service after a few choice wordsfrom an unruly passenger. In the real world of course the train driver did not bail but there were some suggestions upthread that this would have been the correct course of action.

 

[Sprinter107]

How do you know that it was just a few words of choice ? It may or may not have been more than that. A driver needs absolute concentration, and if that driver has been threatened, or abused, may not be in the right state of mind to continue. It's not a case of being fragile. It's a case of self preservation. It takes all but a few seconds to make a mistake. And if the drivers mind is not as it should be, that driver may soon not be a driver.

 

[HotelNovember]

No - but I find it funny that people are so upset about it. It really is something and nothing.

I used the word fragile to describe anybody who would be to upset to continue a service after a few choice wordsfrom an unruly passenger. In the real world of course the train driver did not bail but there were some suggestions upthread that this would have been the correct course of action.

But it’s not! Sadly this incident isn’t limited to the railway I imagine, it could happen in any public-facing role. It doesn’t make that behaviour acceptable (or even normal) what happened to people having some decency? Not got an issue if the woman wanted to raise a complaint, this wasn’t the way to go about it.

Unfortunately, far too many on here talk the talk, in reality, you wouldn’t know how you would react until they are faced with that situation, they either wouldn’t say boo to a goose, or break down and cry at the sign of being challenged.

 

[LowLevel]

No - but I find it funny that people are so upset about it. It really is something and nothing.

I used the word fragile to describe anybody who would be to upset to continue a service after a few choice wordsfrom an unruly passenger. In the real world of course the train driver did not bail but there were some suggestions upthread that this would have been the correct course of action.

How do you know the train didn't suffer additional damage that rendered it unsafe to operate due to said disorderly passengers? If someone breaks their way into my cab in any case I'm going to assume they have malicious intent regardless.

 

[farleigh]

But it’s not! Sadly this incident isn’t limited to the railway I imagine, it could happen in any public-facing role. It doesn’t make that behaviour acceptable (or even normal) what happened to people having some decency? Not got an issue if the woman wanted to raise a complaint, this wasn’t the way to go about it.

Unfortunately, far too many on here talk the talk, in reality, you wouldn’t know how you would react until they are faced with that situation, they either wouldn’t say boo to a goose, or break down and cry at the sign of being challenged.

Funny - I have been threatened with far worse in my career including with a blade so lay off the lecture HN.

I am not saying it was acceptable. It is sad that people behave like this and I abhor it. However, it really was just a case of a stroppy person opening a door. No panic here.

 

[farleigh]

How do you know the train didn't suffer additional damage that rendered it unsafe to operate due to said disorderly passengers? If someone breaks their way into my cab in any case I'm going to assume they have malicious intent regardless.

Oh - fair enough. I did not know it suffered additional damage. What damage was that?

 

[GodAtum]

Oh - fair enough. I did not know it suffered additional damage. What damage was that?

As a passenger I would expect her to be made an example of. What would happen if she had done this while the train was moving and caused it to crash, killing 100s of people!

 

[Sprinter107]

Oh - fair enough. I did not know it suffered additional damage. What damage was that?

Yes. I've also been threatened with a blade, and more recently a metal cosh. I get threats of violence quite often on some of the late trains, unprovoked. And yes, I've always carried on with the job in question. But we arent all the same. Please remember this fact. I wouldn't blame any driver for refusing to carry on, after having his cab broken into and being abused. As I said, its self preservation. One mistake, and that driver may not be a driver anymore.

 

[mmh]

You don't hear of any people harassing bus drivers, do you

What?! Perhaps not on a rail forum - unless you look at the bus sections on this one.

 

[farleigh]

As a passenger I would expect her to be made an example of. What would happen if she had done this while the train was moving and caused it to crash, killing 100s of people!

I share your sentiment but she won't be and if anybody is able to do what you suggest then there is a problem with security on our railway.

Anyway, she didn't.

 

[Sprinter107]

And I'm most certainly not a "fragile driver".of that I can assure you !!!

 

[farleigh]

Yes. I've also been threatened with a blade, and more recently a metal cosh. I get threats of violence quite often on some of the late trains, unprovoked. And yes, I've always carried on with the job in question. But we arent all the same. Please remember this fact. I wouldn't blame any driver for refusing to carry on, after having his cab broken into and being abused. As I said, its self preservation. One mistake, and that driver may not be a driver anymore.

Fair comment sprinter - I take your point and you sound like a great member of staff.

Have a good evening.

 

[Bromley boy]

How do you know that it was just a few words of choice ? It may or may not have been more than that. A driver needs absolute concentration, and if that driver has been threatened, or abused, may not be in the right state of mind to continue. It's not a case of being fragile. It's a case of self preservation. It takes all but a few seconds to make a mistake. And if the drivers mind is not as it should be, that driver may soon not be a driver.

^^^^^^^^^^

This. 100% this.

I used the word fragile to describe anybody who would be to upset to continue a service after a few choice wordsfrom an unruly passenger. In the real world of course the train driver did not bail but there were some suggestions upthread that this would have been the correct course of action.

In the real world I have cancelled services for less than what has been described in this incident. Why? Because I want to keep a clean safety record and won’t risk driving if my head isn’t completely in the game.

If people consider me fragile for doing so, that’s fine by me.

 

[6Gman]

As a passenger I would expect her to be made an example of. What would happen if she had done this while the train was moving and caused it to crash, killing 100s of people!

It must be said that would be a very unlikely outcome.

 

[farleigh]

^^^^^^^^^^

This. 100% this.



In the real world I have cancelled services for less than what has been described in this incident. Why? Because I want to keep a clean safety record and won’t risk driving if my head isn’t completely in the game.

If people consider me fragile for doing so, that’s fine by me.

I consider you fragile but we can't all be superheroes.

 

[farleigh]

What?! Perhaps not on a rail forum - unless you look at the bus sections on this one.

Yeah - bus drivers get heaps of strife but they tend to just get on with the job. Tough job that IMO.

 

[LowLevel]

Oh - fair enough. I did not know it suffered additional damage. What damage was that?

I am not stating that it was the person in question that did it but on top of the cab door being kicked in a passenger communication alarm was ripped clean out of the wall which will generally cause game over on a 15x in any case.

 

[farleigh]

I am not stating that it was the person in question that did it but on top of the cab door being kicked in a passenger communication alarm was ripped clean out of the wall which will generally cause game over on a 15x in any case.

Fair point - well made.

That is awful behaviour

 

[Skimpot flyer]

The driver certainly got an eyeful!

Indeed.
I was on the platform when the train arrived at Hucknall, and the driver was simply red

 

[Bromley boy]

I consider you fragile but we can't all be superheroes.

I go to work to drink tea and drive trains.

The minute anything more heroic than that is required, I’m heading straight back to the messroom .