Trainfan2019
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- Joined
- 9 Aug 2019
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- 452
It's the guard's office.I keep seeing a glass compartment on London Northwestern Class 350s, can anyone tell me what this is or was please? It is situated next to first class but I have only seen it on the class 350s with unrefurbished blue(?) seats. I have only seen it with blinds down as in the photo I took below.
But never used by guards in practice, and not fitted out on later variants.It's the guard's office.
But never used by guards in practice, and not fitted out on later variants.
Regularly used on SWT, but the exact same fit not used on LM because there was no trade union agreement. There are previous threads about this, so little point in debating it all again, but now becoming of academic interest as they’re gradually removed on 450 and 444 to provide additional seating space.I believe they were used as such on SWT? The 350/1s were diverted from there (they were going to be 450s) so it remained in place. However, Silverlink, LM and now LNR prefer to have the guards in a rear or intermediate cab.
SWT have them on 450s and like to sit in them on busy full and standing peak services, the new refurbishment is getting rid of them so I can imagine guards are a bit upset (unless they're allowed to sit in first like LNR staff are).
Of course they can and do now...Can't they sit in the back cab?
the new refurbishment is getting rid of them so I can imagine guards are a bit upset (unless they're allowed to sit in first like LNR staff are).
They’d rather sit in the back cab so they can just do the doors and not have to actually be visible on the train.I think they would rather sit in the back cab?!?!?
I have only seen a guard on LNR sit down in first once or twice, and that was to have a quick chat with their manager as they were travelling on the train.
I was surprised to find out 350s have guards, whenever I've been on one I haven't noticed any staffThey’d rather sit in the back cab so they can just do the doors and not have to actually be visible on the train.
I was surprised to find out 350s have guards, whenever I've been on one I haven't noticed any staff
They are very reclusive, like moles in holes they’re good at discreetly hiding. Although the last one I had was talking to a family and helping out with a pushchair while locking the doors and was quite personable. A rare breed.They do seem to have gained a tendency to hide, other than wittering over the top of the autoannouncer with exactly the same information but less clear.
They are very reclusive, like moles in holes they’re good at discreetly hiding. Although the last one I had was talking to a family and helping out with a pushchair while locking the doors and was quite personable. A rare breed.
When we discussed this in 2011 or so, we had an LM guard post that using the guards office wasn't agreed by the union because it was unsafe to be amongst the passengers. There wasn’t many in agreement with that...They are very reclusive, like moles in holes they’re good at discreetly hiding. Although the last one I had was talking to a family and helping out with a pushchair while unlocking the doors and was quite personable. A rare breed.
When we discussed this in 2011 or so, we had an LM guard post that using the guards office wasn't agreed by the union because it was unsafe to be amongst the passengers. There wasn’t many in agreement with that...
(quoting another message) - With LM services being commuter trains over 90% of their network the guard needs to be in the back to operate the doors as the is often no room in the train when busy to do this.
Too many guards are like this. They add zero value, cost lots and frankly are behaving like “turkeys voting for Christmas” as they make a great case for DOO.They do seem to have gained a tendency to hide, other than wittering over the top of the autoannouncer with exactly the same information but less clear.
Too many guards are like this. They add zero value, cost lots and frankly are behaving like “turkeys voting for Christmas” as they make a great case for DOO.
Here’s the post, from Dec 2011:
“I do think we are getting away from the subject here. Stop the Guard bashing.
The RMT agree the guard needs a place of safety to work from. The area in the train is not. Also with guard operated doors and I think we all agree the DOO is a poor arrangement and we should have a guard on all trains for operations and safety before revenue.
With LM services being commuter trains over 90% of their network the guard needs to be in the back to operate the doors as the is often no room in the train when busy to do this.”
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/class-350-guards.56718/#post-896953
still seems odd that they were accepted by RMT south of the river.
The staff transferring to 450/444 previously used the guards compartments in Mk1 slammers, so probably saw it as a vast improvement anyway?still seems odd that they were accepted by RMT south of the river.
A lesson for other TOCs perhaps. I can remember SWT’s absolute legends poster (which was a pop at GTR who were at the time undergoing the pain of the strikes)The culture for revenue guards on SWT/SWR is markedly different from other TOCs - there is a very strong customer service leaning.
A lesson for other TOCs perhaps. I can remember SWT’s absolute legends poster (which was a pop at GTR who were at the time undergoing the pain of the strikes)
LNR will be removing the guards office (like the 444 and 450s) as part of the gradual refurbishment as slow as that might be
I think the guards reclusive nature is part because they are usually always in the rear cab on the 350s these days