ANorthernGuard
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I have thought it and said it to myself many a time..but never out loud lol
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"This is due to waiting on a train member"?
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I have thought it and said it to myself many a time..but never out loud lol
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RailUK Forums
I know people will say the driver is only doing his/her job, but I think a bit of appreciation goes a long way, and whenever I can thank them, I do so. The only problem is by the time I've walked-up from the standard class to the barrier at Kings Cross or Euston, the driver has long gone on his pnb.
It was easier in steam days, when driver and fireman were accessible as they waited for the shunter to take their stock off them.
I read of a lovely story of a City Gent, who, as a way of saying "thank-you" always passed his "Financial Times" to the crew for them to read. The crew, in turn, saw him coming, and had got it down to a fine art.....the city gent passed it up to the driver, the driver passed it over to the fireman and the fireman passed it into the firebox -all in one single action!
It was easier in steam days, when driver and fireman were accessible as they waited for the shunter to take their stock off them.
I read of a lovely story of a City Gent, who, as a way of saying "thank-you" always passed his "Financial Times" to the crew for them to read. The crew, in turn, saw him coming, and had got it down to a fine art.....the city gent passed it up to the driver, the driver passed it over to the fireman and the fireman passed it into the firebox -all in one single action!
Minilad
Established Member
I can assure you it does make a difference. On the odd occasion it has happened it is always nice to receive the thanks. I suppose most people wouldn't give a second thought when rushing to work that the train crew might have had to get out of bed at 3 or 4am in order to get them to work at 9
deltic1989
Established Member
For my part I will always try to thank the train crew where I can. There was a time at Nottingham where i got off the train and was heading towards the exit and as I passed the cab I said "Thank you driver", the driver looked at me with a look of mild suprise and said "no problem", it was the look of suprise that made me think that he was rarely thanked for his efforts. I have also tried to instill these basic manners in my children, where possable I will say to them as we pass the cab, "What do we say to the Driver?". Also my son is a big Thomas fan and once had a conversation with a 153, well he thought he was actually the driver ducked down in the cab and voiced the 153, which I though was really great of him to do.
I have had one experience of a delayed traincrew at Lincoln where an announcement was made that the rostered driver was unavailable and they were making every effort to find a driver that knew the route, to which one passenger piped up "its easy follow the F**king track", he calmed down a little when it was explained to him that it was a bit more complicated than that.
It seems that passengers can be less than sympathetic towards railway workers, which I can imagine would be quite irritating for them, but for my own part I try to be patient, after all TOC's don't delay trains for fun there is always a reason for it.
I have my parents to thank for my manners as these were instilled in me from a young age I always find that a little politeness goes a long way, and I would like to think that a Driver or Guard or other member of staff would have thier day made that little bit better knowing that at leats some people appreciate thier efforts. Staff rarely get the credit they deserve if there was an applause button on this forum I would click it in honour of the staff that do thier best to get us where we want to go on time. *Applauds*
I have had one experience of a delayed traincrew at Lincoln where an announcement was made that the rostered driver was unavailable and they were making every effort to find a driver that knew the route, to which one passenger piped up "its easy follow the F**king track", he calmed down a little when it was explained to him that it was a bit more complicated than that.
It seems that passengers can be less than sympathetic towards railway workers, which I can imagine would be quite irritating for them, but for my own part I try to be patient, after all TOC's don't delay trains for fun there is always a reason for it.
I have my parents to thank for my manners as these were instilled in me from a young age I always find that a little politeness goes a long way, and I would like to think that a Driver or Guard or other member of staff would have thier day made that little bit better knowing that at leats some people appreciate thier efforts. Staff rarely get the credit they deserve if there was an applause button on this forum I would click it in honour of the staff that do thier best to get us where we want to go on time. *Applauds*
That's class. Good to see that.
ChrisTheRef
Established Member
Last week, I had "a member of train crew being unavailable", unknown to the public it was down to one of the lenses in the guard's glasses falling out en route. Hence, he can't carry out door close procedures and the train gets cancelled.
It really can conver every eventualilty!
It really can conver every eventualilty!
CC 72100
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Captain Chaos
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Lol. That happened to me once at Bourne End. A kindly passenger gave me sellotape to hold them together until I got back. I looked like Jack Duckworth!
Schnellzug
Established Member
Yes, it's part of the continuing automation and dehumanisation of everything; you get your Ticket from an automated machine (which takes considerably longer than buying it over the Counter); you might go through an automated ticket barrier, you're told by an automated Announcement when your train is (after being told numerous rather less useful things first), when you get on the Train, youre told where it's going and reminded that You must buy a Ticket by an automated announcement, and you'll never get a glimpse of the Driver since they don't even need to put their head out of the window to look down the Platform. And our local Train operator has reduced the number of staff with whom you might come into contact even more by doing away with platfrom staff to save money- er, provide a more efficient service for our customers.
And I wouldn't be surprised if, given Security paranoia, the unseen snoopers in Security might get suspicious if anyone did hang around the cab and try to speak to the driver. Is it hardly any wonder that people don't recognise that there actually are any staff, let alone consider how necessary their presence is?
Matt Taylor
Established Member
Interesting, those of us at my company who wear glasses are required to have a spare pair glasses as part of their kit just like a hand lamp or red and green flags etc.
In todays Sunday Sun(North East Regional Paper), there's a story saying Emergency Service sickness rates have soared because they've not been able to take proper breaks.
Most people can understand this, however when Traincrew have a break, delaying the train, they kick off.
Most people can understand this, however when Traincrew have a break, delaying the train, they kick off.
But emergency services are run with some contingency. If a member of staff is unavailable, things might run a little slower, but they still happen. If there were more spare crew & drivers on the network to help fill in the gaps, the public would probably be far happier.
Yes, many passengers do on the Cambrian. But I do drive frequently with the window open and I always have my head out of the window looking down the train whilst stood at a station. Unless its a secondmans side platform of course!!
If you think that TOCs will pay it out of their dividends you are sadly mistaken, unfortunately.
ralphchadkirk
Established Member
You really think the public understand emergency service breaks?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7629268.stm
And that is for 1 30 minute break in 12 hours.
I saw a couple of Piccadilly line train operators with the cab door open today!
I wonder what the reaction would have been if the Paramedic had cut his break short, administered the wrong drug (because he was hungry/ tired etc) and killed the woman?
People are only interested in themselves and dont give a flying fig about the welfare of "service industry" employees, who (I feel) are considered very slightly above slaves by the great british public!
ralphchadkirk
Established Member
Exactly my point - the GBP couldn't care less about service worker welfare.
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