Virgin shows the way

SouthEastern-465 · 5 Nov 2009

Virgin trains has shown the other TOCs how to stop the ever-lasting battle between the railway enthusiasts and train operators according to this months RM (Decemeber 2009) with this wrote at some stations:
_____________________________________________________________________
FILMING AND PHOTOGRAPHY AT VIRGIN STATIONS:

Virgin trains welcomes rail enthusiast to take still or video images at our stations.

We ask that you do not interfere with the flow of passengers and the wish of both passengers and staff not being photographed.

If you are filming for extended periods and/or using bulky equitment you should make yourself known to our station staff so that the reasons of filming are clear.

Flash photgraphy is not permitted at anytime and the use of tripods should be avoided whereever possible.if you wish to use a tripod you should locate and speak with the station team leader to ensure you are in a safe area.
_____________________________________________________________________

What are your opinions on this?

RailUK Forums

Bighat · 5 Nov 2009

Great policy document, lets hope all their jobsworths read, understand, and act by it!

Some chance!

SWT Driver · 5 Nov 2009

Awww, when I saw this thread I thought it was about a buxom young wench....

37401 · 5 Nov 2009

yeah ill beleve it when I see jobsworth leaving enthusiasts alone, certain stations (virgin owned) are knowen for kicking cranks off for no reason, I read about one in the paper ages ago stockport IIRC, and a video on youtube shows some guys being asked to leave coventry

Snapper · 5 Nov 2009

37401 said:
certain stations (virgin owned) are knowen for kicking cranks for no reason

Isn't there a law against that?

37401 · 5 Nov 2009

Snapper said:
Isn't there a law against that?

oops

tell you what ill have a cuppa then come back all refreshed and ready to type in gibberish err I mean english

EM2 · 5 Nov 2009

Why is that any different to the NR Guidelines?

Ascot · 5 Nov 2009

Should of added "This only applies if the photographers and their cronies don't jump around shouting '66s' and distract drivers by flapping arms"

alexdodds · 5 Nov 2009

SouthEastern-465 said:
Virgin trains has shown the other TOCs how to stop the ever-lasting battle between the railway enthusiasts and train operators according to this months RM (Decemeber 2009) with this wrote at some stations:
_____________________________________________________________________
FILMING AND PHOTOGRAPHY AT VIRGIN STATIONS:

Virgin trains welcomes rail enthusiast to take still or video images at our stations.

We ask that you do not interfere with the flow of passengers and the wish of both passengers and staff not being photographed.

If you are filming for extended periods and/or using bulky equitment you should make yourself known to our station staff so that the reasons of filming are clear.

Flash photgraphy is not permitted at anytime and the use of tripods should be avoided whereever possible.if you wish to use a tripod you should locate and speak with the station team leader to ensure you are in a safe area.
_____________________________________________________________________

What are your opinions on this?

I saw one of those posters at Runcorn station so therefore no problem there.

I wonder if one has been put up at Macclesfield especially since that appalling incident back in March.

Should I ask Virgin Trains to see if these posters are been displayed at all their managed stations.

SouthEastern-465 · 6 Nov 2009

My own personal opinion on this is that virgin trains have not changed anything just made the law readable at stations for enthusiasts.

Matt Taylor · 7 Nov 2009

I recall SWT doing something very similar at Eastleigh recently (unconnected to the Eastleigh 100 event).

Aictos · 7 Nov 2009

I think the topic title is slightly misleading as FCC were amongst the first TOCs (no pun intended!) to issue a briefing to all staff and also to produce a poster for passengers which went ahead back in May/June time after I fired off a question to Ask Jim where I raised my concerns that all parties on both the TL and GN route were singing from different hymn sheets ie FCC staff saying one thing, BTP saying something else, Network Rail saying another thing.

I do have to give SWT credit as it wasn't until after I had noticed that they had a very clear poster on their station at Eastleigh which I also brought to the MD's attention.

For long distance TOCs, Virgin might very well be amongst the first but when you consider all the TOCs, they are in my opinion just following in the steps of FCC and SWT.

So maybe just maybe it should be Virgin follows suit?

Still I am very happy that the industry see rail fans as not trouble but as allies, in my view photographers on stations are a extra pair of eyes and as long as they keep within the guidelines, they should be made welcome at any station.

37401 · 7 Nov 2009

ajax103 said:
So maybe just maybe it should be Virgin follows suit?

Virgin reminds jobsworth staff

SouthEastern-465 · 8 Nov 2009

I seem to remeber putting this in General Discusion why has it moved to the photo section?

Trains06 · 16 Nov 2009

Ahhh....

Ive never had problems with Virgin myself - but then again I know all the Virgin Station Staff well at all of the stations I regularly photograph at

GB · 16 Nov 2009

See this is all it takes, a few sentances in black and white that is clear for both enthusiasts and staff and job done.

Jim · 17 Nov 2009

ajax103 said:
I think the topic title is slightly misleading as FCC were amongst the first TOCs (no pun intended!) to issue a briefing to all staff and also to produce a poster for passengers which went ahead back in May/June time after I fired off a question to Ask Jim where I raised my concerns that all parties on both the TL and GN route were singing from different hymn sheets ie FCC staff saying one thing, BTP saying something else, Network Rail saying another thing.

A similar thing has been done in our "Ask Mark" section at FGW, apparently....

Virgin shows the way

SouthEastern-465

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Bighat

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