Recent content by Urban Gateline

I don't have experience of just being months with a TOC, though I have been TOC hopping since I started in the Railway, found it hard to get promoted internally but faster to apply and get the promotion externally at another TOC, I'm probably not alone in doing that but I bet some have had the...

You say that, but at SWR Drivers have a set number of guaranteed FDW even if all the turns are covered, probably unique to SWR though!

Much of the time it is due to the level crossings as mentioned before, I work that line as a Guard and the approach to Wokingham is always painfully slow, not only is the line speed through the station slow but much of the time the train is approaching a red signal which doesn't clear until more...

This is nothing new unfortunately, glad I don't live near Sandy anymore as the service was always dire on weekends and holiday periods, the fact they can't even run PBO-KGX is quite shameful, times I used to use this route and routinely had to leave 30mins or 1hr early for work because of...

I had someone in my Guards training who lived near Weymouth but went for Yeovil as that is what was available to them at the time, I think there's a lot to be said for getting your foot in the door, as others said you might not get another chance. Saying that, if you fail the interview I...

Pretty much, but the "assessors" are not just that, they are Guards managers who have a variety of other duties, and the assessments are hardly focused on announcements, just a tiny portion but most is on the route/traction knowledge and safe working/dispatch of the train as well as visibility...

Maybe you don't but some may if they need assistance! Also it's not quite so useless as we as Guards walk through the trains so not always in the middle cabs, maybe you don't see that if you only travel during rush hour when it's not practical for the Guard to walk through the train. At the...

Yep and from a saloon door control panel you can't make it live when moving over a certain speed so no way to return the 3-3 there, at least you can make cab-cab calls from the PA handset! More of a challenge on a 458 with no PA handset in the Coach 3 (&8) Guard panels so if in the train...

It really varies a lot, sad to say sometimes who you know can come into it too. I moved TOC's 4 times so far and now my current employer is the same TOC I started in the Railway with, yet tried for years to progress to the role I'm in now to no avail, so sometimes it does pay off to move around...

Until you spend at least a shift during disruption in a control room you really have no clue! I've seen both sides of it, as station staff we used to moan about Control and poor decisions, but then having spent a month as an Info controller sitting next to the Train Service Managers...

Exactly! Pick your battles...as a Guard I wouldn't put myself at risk unnecessarily, we aren't security guards!

Metro Guard and Commercial Guard nowadays :lol:

On a Guard operated train that wouldn't work as only one door panel can be keyed on and live at any one time. I usually spot platform staff due to their Hi-Vis so if I saw one get onto the train I would wait until they are off, usually it is clear when someone is being assisted. As others have...

I can vouch for that too, ignoring the big engineering works around Staines, before that we rarely had Guards or Drivers just sat spare on Cover or As Ordered turns, the most 1 or 2 and quite often get called upon to cover trains at short notice, so definitely not loads of crew sitting about...

It would have also shown on the platform screen where you boarded, just unfortunate in this case, should have been supplemented with an announcement whether manual or automated! I doubt you will get delay repay for that but if you don't ask you don't get! I had a similar situation with a couple...