Staff Bags

Starmill · 14 Mar 2013

My humblest apologies if this is something you have all covered a hundred times before, but after my rather odd spot here (thread: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=584932&page=1076) I just wondered what the deal with staff backpacks is?

Although I have never really thought about it before, I don't recall ever having seen a branded bag being carried by a driver or guard before. You'll just have to take my word for it, but it 100% said "First Capital Connect" on the back of it! Does FCC really give those ridiculous orange things to all of their staff? Or are they required for safety legislation? Or just a sort of 'uniform extra'? I think I remember seeing a driver wearing one when I was bobbling about on Thameslink, but I can't be sure. As I mentioned over there, Metrolink don't have branded bags.

Do you have to buy and use your own bag? Or are there standards to be followed? We've had the discussion about the multitude of things which need to be carried in them before, so I imagine its pretty important. I'm not sure I'd say I'm 'attached' to my rucksack, but on the (increasingly rare) occasions when I can go out without it, I now sometimes feel like I'm missing something!

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tsr · 14 Mar 2013

Southern seem to (increasingly) issue bags of a similar design to that FCC one, except that they do not have the orange panel (it's black instead). It has a tragically ugly version of their logo on it.

driver9000 · 14 Mar 2013

There are branded crew bags out there. I've seen branded rucksacks and the 'pilot' style bag. Personally I've never had a branded bag and I currently use a rucksack like the one in the link but without any branding and it was issued to me, before this I was using my own bag. I can't see a TOC not issuing a bag so there is no need to buy your own but some prefer to.

headshot119 · 14 Mar 2013

I've certainly seen London Midland drivers with branded bags, likewise for Freightliner.

westcoaster · 14 Mar 2013

These were a short run of bags, and when I say that only 20 or so were done, all are now unbraded with either an orange back as shown or plain black. I honestly can't remember the last time I say one with FCC on it, southeastern also use these with branding on them.

pendolino · 14 Mar 2013

tsr said:
Southern seem to (increasingly) issue bags of a similar design to that FCC one, except that they do not have the orange panel (it's black instead). It has a tragically ugly version of their logo on it.

You're wrong there, Southern drivers' bags have the orange panel too. If you see someone with a bag with a black panel they are most likely a conductor or RPO.

Monty · 14 Mar 2013

pendolino said:
You're wrong there, Southern drivers' bags have the orange panel too. If you see someone with a bag with a black panel they are most likely a conductor or RPO.

This is pretty much how it is at SWT too, drivers get issued with orange panelled bags. The guards get issued one without (ie a 'black panel').

tsr · 14 Mar 2013

pendolino said:
You're wrong there, Southern drivers' bags have the orange panel too. If you see someone with a bag with a black panel they are most likely a conductor or RPO.

I meant the guards' bags! Thanks for clarifying. Yes, there are drivers' bags in orange.

bronzeonion · 14 Mar 2013

High vis overkill is being overkilled to the point where bags cannot escape it! Smartest looking option for operational staff regarding bags imo are the ones you carry like a briefcase.

tsr · 14 Mar 2013

bronzeonion said:
High vis overkill is being overkilled to the point where bags cannot escape it!

There's not much point in wearing an orange hi-vis vest/jacket and then going and covering it with a dark-coloured bag!

badassunicorn · 14 Mar 2013

I got issued one by my TOC (GA) which is just the plain orange one without any branding, I reckon some people tear off the orange bit so its less conspicuous when travelling pax

Class377/5 · 15 Mar 2013

There is generally a move away from branded ones as its cheaper to have a standard bag with no branding, especially for the larger owning groups.

Mines just plain hi vis one.

MacRae13 · 15 Mar 2013

I frequently see DB Schenker freight drivers with branded ones.

Flamingo · 15 Mar 2013

I've yet to see a Hi-Vis rucksack that was either large enough for anything more than a HiVis vest, Bardic and flask, or was a better quality than what would be bought for £5 from a discount shop.

The one's I have seen are without exception seriously overpriced poorly designed and cheaply made rubbish.

GB · 15 Mar 2013

We are issued with the same bags which are also branded. They may look a bit silly to some, but as someone above has said, no point putting your HV on only to then cover it with a dark bag.

Daniel · 15 Mar 2013

If anyone wants one...

http://shop.spartansafety.co.uk/Hi-Vis-Laptop-Bag-p/tb30102.htm

A-driver · 15 Mar 2013

I still have a mint condition (ie never used) still in its 'original packaging' southern branded orange rucksack. I've never used any company issue bags-they are always cheap, fall apart, uncomfortable, and too small. I just buy my own rucksacks.

Ill have to keep hold of that southern branded one as it may be worth a bit in eBay one day!

313103 · 15 Mar 2013

The bags issued by London Overground are of a very inferior quality, in the 5 years since the company was formed i have had 8 of them!

I have got so sick and tired of having the bag replaced i have now reinstated my very last Brown Leather bag issued to me by British Rail just before i left Marylebone in 1993.

TDK · 15 Mar 2013

All high viz vests & Hi viz bags "MUST" have the company logo on, it is a new rule so people on on near the line can be identified I think this came in to try and reduce the cable theft boom. So there is a valid reason why the company logo is on a Hi Viz rucksack and vest

Starmill · 15 Mar 2013

Hahah! Well, they certainly don't look sturdy, but I wouldn't have thought they'd be that bad! Certainly they do look very small, I can't imagine you'd get much into one, especially with all that claptrap of the guard's. That said, the only thing I've ever seen a tram driver use any bag for is his in-cab picnic!

That laptop bag looks remarkably similar actually... just without the emergency ring pull things (don't really know what they are, but there is some orange writing about them on the straps).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

TDK said:
All high viz vests & Hi viz bags "MUST" have the company logo on, it is a new rule so people on on near the line can be identified I think this came in to try and reduce the cable theft boom. So there is a valid reason why the company logo is on a Hi Viz rucksack and vest

Well, it's being used incorrectly in this application! It doesn't look like these are 'controlled items' if they are letting people keep them.

TDK · 15 Mar 2013

starmill said:
Hahah! Well, they certainly don't look sturdy, but I wouldn't have thought they'd be that bad! Certainly they do look very small, I can't imagine you'd get much into one, especially with all that claptrap of the guard's. That said, the only thing I've ever seen a tram driver use any bag for is his in-cab picnic!

That laptop bag looks remarkably similar actually... just without the emergency ring pull things (don't really know what they are, but there is some orange writing about them on the straps).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Well, it's being used incorrectly in this application! It doesn't look like these are 'controlled items' if they are letting people keep them.

If you are issued with a drivers bag you need to sign for it and it actually belongs to the company!

WCMLaddict · 15 Mar 2013

Some time ago one TOC was giving out very large all hi vis orange "Ripsafe" backpacks. You could fill it in with enough documents to not be able to lift it up.
Now same TOC gives out backpacks almost identical to the one from the OP.

This is the big one that I presume was just too big. Laptop for size reference.

Rugd1022 · 15 Mar 2013

The first Freightliner bag I was issued with fell to bits very quickly so I resorted to using my old EWS one for a while, which resulted in a right royal telling off for not having the correct company logo on my kit bag! The current all over orange FLR bag I have is much better, but occasionally I still like to use my old BR leather bag, which I've noticed quite a lot of FGW Drivers still use.

gimmea50anyday · 15 Mar 2013

The company issue bags are crap. Poor quality cheap materials and workmanship. They do not stand the use they have to endure on a daily basis not the weight they are expected to hold. I am sure they cost pennies to make in some Chinese sweat shop, but if having to be replaced every 4 months as in my case must be costing the companies more in the long run. Would it really hurt the TOC's to pay double the price for something that will last 4 times as long? Domestically we have the sale of goods and services act to protect consumers, we wouldn't stand for this poor quality out of burtons or tesco and damn right demanding our money back. Maybe it's about time our contracts managers did the same!

A-driver · 15 Mar 2013

TDK said:
All high viz vests & Hi viz bags "MUST" have the company logo on, it is a new rule so people on on near the line can be identified I think this came in to try and reduce the cable theft boom. So there is a valid reason why the company logo is on a Hi Viz rucksack and vest

Still most don't though, and most drivers use their own bags. Plus most of our hi viz vests themselves don't have any company logos on at all.

Starmill · 15 Mar 2013

A-driver said:
Still most don't though, and most drivers use their own bags. Plus most of our hi viz vests themselves don't have any company logos on at all.

I can't think of any station staff round my way who wear plain hi-viz anymore? Even G4S have purple ones with "G4S working with Northern" or something like that on them!

Although I can't say I disagree about the bags lol

A-driver · 15 Mar 2013

starmill said:
I can't think of any station staff round my way who wear plain hi-viz anymore? Even G4S have purple ones with "G4S working with Northern" or something like that on them!

Although I can't say I disagree about the bags lol

Station staff do as they are customer facing but they also rarely venture onto the track. I was talking about drivers with plain hi vis or some that have moved company still have their old companies logo on their hi vis.

Starmill · 15 Mar 2013

A-driver said:
Station staff do as they are customer facing but they also rarely venture onto the track. I was talking about drivers with plain hi vis or some that have moved company still have their old companies logo on their hi vis.

Ah yes I see

I guess its just something else where "anything goes" - especially if these things have made their way onto a light rail network haha!

robby p · 15 Mar 2013

During the NXEA period I was issued a 'national express' branded one, ever since I've only been issued with unbranded. They may look unsightly to some but are a savour when walking a long way to the sidings.

As mentioned above about 4-6 months is the max before needed to be replaced, our managers never begrudge giving you a new one though as they know the score with them.

plastictaffy · 15 Mar 2013

I can say with absolute certainty that the bags with the orange panel are Driver's bags, and the others are non-drivers. That's certainly the way it is at my depot, anyway.

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