Passengers thanking Drivers

[387star]

How often does a Train Driver get thanked by passengers? Especially at terminals?

My experience is it's rare as hens teeth unlike bus drivers ?

It feels as though many passengers find it odd to thank a train driver ?

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Stand in the door at the terminus as passengers walk by and usually someone will say thanks. People generally won’t go out of their way to thank you though, if you’re waiting on that then it can be months or years.

 

[wobman]

Stand in the door at the terminus as passengers walk by and usually someone will say thanks. People generally won’t go out of their way to thank you though, if you’re waiting on that then it can be months or years.

I've found commuters never even acknowledge drivers but leisure travellers sometimes say thank you, it can cheer you up on a long shift.

 

[Tomnick]

Standing in the cab door back into the vestibule upon arrival at the terminus, waiting to get out, I find that once one says thanks, the rest usually follow suit. Making eye contact usually encourages them!

 

[Iskra]

I do if passing a cab, but wouldn't go out of my way to do so. I probably thank the guard more often with a brief wave at a quieter station as they are obviously off the train and looking in my direction.

 

[YorksLad12]

It depends. If they're in their cab, then no (cos they're not looking at the door like a bus driver would be, and I'm not going to tap on the cab window). If they're exiting the cab as I disembark at the front of the train, and they're not preoccupied or looking the other way, a polite nod and thanks is always in order. Same with the conductor or other on-board crew if I pass them. Just basic politeness, innit?

 

[LowLevel]

If I'm the guard and I've taken the time to be nice to my punters the vast majority usually say goodbye or some sort of thanks.

 

[krus_aragon]

How often does a Train Driver get thanked by passengers? Especially at terminals?

My experience is it's rare as hens teeth unlike bus drivers ?

It feels as though many passengers find it odd to thank a train driver ?

I always thanked the driver when alighting at the westbound platform of Eastbrook station (verbally if their window was open, otherwise a raised hand) as I'd be at the front of the train anyway, and have to walk along the platform to exit the station. This is the only place where I've regularly had the opportunity to see the driver before they pull off.

(This, of course, was in the land where everyone and their dog thanks their bus driver as they disembark.)

 

[swt_passenger]

I’ve thanked drivers now and again, but far more guards, especially if I’m standing next to them at the door they’re working from.

 

[WesternBiker]

It depends. If they're in their cab, then no (cos they're not looking at the door like a bus driver would be, and I'm not going to tap on the cab window). If they're exiting the cab as I disembark at the front of the train, and they're not preoccupied or looking the other way, a polite nod and thanks is always in order. Same with the conductor or other on-board crew if I pass them. Just basic politeness, innit?

Exactly. My grandfather (whose father and grandfather were engine drivers on the Taff Vale/GWR) always made a point of thanking the driver and guard, and instilled the practice as good manners in his family.

 

[387star]

Saying that some drivers are very introverted even towards fellow train crew? I once nodded to a southern driver as he looked at me (don't work for southern) and the minute he did he turned away... pretty rude to he honest

 

[NSE]

I’ll always thank a member of staff if I go past them, so usually more the guard, but at a terminus i’d say cheers if I walked past. I also don’t want to be annoying so if the driver is buried in their paperwork/inspecting the unit etc then I’ll leave them to it. Especially if it’s rush hour at Waterloo!

 

[Jim-s]

I will always thank or sey hello / goodbye to any member of staff on or off train that I see if I feel I’m not distracting them, or just wave to a driver if they are in the cab, as said before it’s just polite, in a way you are entering a establishment or vehicle with a service being provided to you by other people
Same as if I have used self service till when shopping and I see the person in charge of them.

 

[357]

I tend to get a wave in the mirror/monitors if re-opening the doors for someone.

Elsewhere if sticking my head out the window or standing in the cab door, with an exit at the front of the train every few days someone will say thanks or "cheers drive"

 

[Essexman]

I thank the driver when passing the cab if the opportunity arises, but usually they’re either in the cab or hurrying off.

I always thank the guard or other on train staff if the opportunity arises.

And bus drivers of course.

I only recall going out of my way to speak to a driver in the cab on one occasion and that was to thank a Hull Trains driver for a particularLyon fast run to Kings Cross, making up time. I got the impression he’d enjoyed the run too.

 

[baz962]

Happens to me about half a dozen times a year. Happened today . Was told thanks for a smooth ride driver.

 

[John Luxton]

How often does a Train Driver get thanked by passengers? Especially at terminals?

My experience is it's rare as hens teeth unlike bus drivers ?

It feels as though many passengers find it odd to thank a train driver ?

I suppose the nature of the enclosed cab makes such a practice difficult?

I used the buses of Devon and Cornwall quite a lot in the second half of the 1970s and people always thanked the driver unlike back home here in Liverpool.

Then most Liverpool buses had centre exits plus there were still some elderly half cabs around for peak hour use. In the west country one had to pass the driver on most buses to alight.

As the use of centre exits ended on Merseyside saying thank you to bus drivers became common and remains so.

I would imagine that back in steam days with open cabs it was easier to say thank you and I seem to recall seeing a reproduction of a GWR poster with a gentleman thanking the footplate crew holding his fob watch and saying "Splendid run - Thank You"

 

[Paul Jones 88]

I've only seen the posh woman on the old To The Manor Born program do that, she thanked her train driver.

 

[kristiang85]

I always say thank you to the on board staff if I walk past one when exiting the train. But if the driver is in his cab then I cannot exactly do that? On a bus generally you pass the driver getting off.
Obviously on smaller regional trains it is easier.

 

[startingaparty]

I always show my gratitude to the driver

 

[GusB]

A thank-you costs absolutely nothing. I don't think I've ever thanked a train driver, but that's probably because they've not been there as I walked past. The guard and catering staff are the most visible traincrew and will always get my thanks when I alight.

This afternoon my brother and I went out for lunch to a place that can get quite busy, especially as it's located on a main road. We arrived long after the usual lunchtime rush and, although it was quiet when we arrived, it was evident from some of the faces that it had been a fairly hard shift. As we were leaving I said "thank you" to the young lady who was clearing the tables nearest to us at the time; she played no obvious part in bringing the food to our table, but it was an enjoyable meal and I wanted to express my appreciation.

They keep telling you in "retail school" that a little smile can make a customer's day. It works both ways, though; a little smile can make another human being's day. We often forget that, while people represent the organisation they work for, we are all humans who are fallible, emotional, non-robotic creatures who do occasionally get things wrong.

 

[choochoochoo]

It was much easier in some of the older stock where drivers could stand and hang their head out of the drop light window. At least when the they came to a stop they were particularly visible. Especially in the summer or if the dispatch method was look back.

Sadly the days of traction where you can drive with your head out the window are fast disappearing.

 

[Taunton]

Certainly was common arriving at London termini in steam loco days, if the crew were (as often) hanging over the cab windowside watching the passengers pass. Very often newspapers would be handed up to the crew, who might casually read them for a minute before tossing them into the fire. Small children - you can doubtless think of one straight away - might be taken alongside for a moment to look admiringly up into the cab ...

 

[BeijingDave]

How often does a Train Driver get thanked by passengers? Especially at terminals?

My experience is it's rare as hens teeth unlike bus drivers ?

It feels as though many passengers find it odd to thank a train driver ?

But on most buses you enter by the driver, interact with the driver, and leave literally walking past the driver who is visible and open (except for possibly a perspex screen).

If I get on, say, the Llandudno-Manchester train in Chester and get off at Warrington, I won't see the driver at all, and everyone knows the area around the driver is off limits.

 

[davews]

On Reading/Waterloo we rarely ever see the driver, he is usually out of his cab and away by the time I get to the end of the train. Once at Waterloo we were all wondering why the door buttons weren't working and the driver passed and said the guard would be along in a mo. The only other time I remember is when we were reversing at Virginia Water during engineering works and he walked down the train and there was a passing smile. Otherwise seeing the driver, never mind saying a quick thanks, just doesn't happen.

 

[Andy Pacer]

I tend to if the driver is waiting by his or her car door at a terminus.

 

[wobman]

But on most buses you enter by the driver, interact with the driver, and leave literally walking past the driver who is visible and open (except for possibly a perspex screen).

If I get on, say, the Llandudno-Manchester train in Chester and get off at Warrington, I won't see the driver at all, and everyone knows the area around the driver is off limits.

If the unit used on the Llandudno to Manchester route is not a 175 you will sometimes see a driver pop their head out of the cab window, they don't hide away in the cab. Most drivers will smile or wave back if you acknowledge them from the cab side window.

 

[Metal_gee_man]

As people say it's timing if you see the opportunity and the brain engages.

I've found it easier to acknowledge the driver as he or she enters the platform if I'm jumping onboard a little nod or hand ✋️ to say good morning or whatever

 

[Ken H]

I think back in the day tipping the train driver was a thing. Not sure it wasnt actually a bribe to achieve an early arrival. Think it was mentioned in an accident report.

 

[Howardh]

That's made me think, bus drivers wave to their mates as they pass; but I doubt train drivers do? Thinking unless they are going slowly, a quick wave simply wouldn't be seen by the driver coming in the other direction?
As a pax I wouldn't see, so train drivers here can put me right!
As for thanking drivers, I did last week as he was leaving his cab!