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Drivers using mobiles while waiting for their train.

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nedchester

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I'm a member of the general public (albeit with an interest in the railways). If I saw a train driver on a mobile I would consider it none of my business. If the train was moving I would assume that he was doing something railway related (after all he knows what is safe, not me); if it wasn't moving, I wouldn't care. Actually I would care if the train was delayed for some reason but I would also assume that he was on the phone to sort out the delay.

Unless I'm a driver I simply cannot know what is appropriate. However I can make a judgement on a company that refuses to let its employees phone home when it is reasonable to do so, and that judgement would not be complimentary.

And I, as a member of the public, would also think the same. I really think that some folk these days think they can poke their nose into everybody's business. A driver making a personal call at a station has nothing to do with anybody except the driver. Some people need to get a life.
 

Pen Mill

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And I, as a member of the public, would also think the same. I really think that some folk these days think they can poke their nose into everybody's business. A driver making a personal call at a station has nothing to do with anybody except the driver. Some people need to get a life.
Precisely because they have the medium to do it (internet forums) that never existed before. The interference in life has never been so close to us !
Orwell said 1984 , you were a few years out George !

If the intention of the OP was to seek attention , well done him .
If it were to seek public ridicule , same answer .
 

Nonsense

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I doubt many would bat an eyelid at the sight of a driver on a mobile phone on the platform. Many probably wouldn't even register that there was a driver on the platform, but that doesn't mean that public perception doesn't matter.

I can see why a driver (or even guard) might be banned from using a mobile inside the cab though, and it has nothing to do with safety or professionalism. The static snapshot doesn't show that the train is parked in a siding, so when that picture of the driver on the phone while reading a newspaper with their feet on the controls and drinking a coffee is published in the mirror, it has to be investigated and explained. Its in the interest of the railway just to ban mobiles from the cab.
 

Pumbaa

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Am I in the minority in not understanding the OP? They asked a question, citing "it has been suggested" and asking "what does everyone think?".

So I'm not entirely sure that the response given by those like S19 is justified. This is a place where views are aired and discussed. If you are going to quite spitefully criticise the OP and brand their thoughts ridiculous or alike, at least have the decency to not misunderstand them first.

And a contrite apology to all if the perceived intention of the OP was their original intent.
 

GB

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Am I in the minority in not understanding the OP? They asked a question, citing "it has been suggested" and asking "what does everyone think?".

So I'm not entirely sure that the response given by those like S19 is justified. This is a place where views are aired and discussed. If you are going to quite spitefully criticise the OP and brand their thoughts ridiculous or alike, at least have the decency to not misunderstand them first.

And a contrite apology to all if the perceived intention of the OP was their original intent.

I thought I was the only one that was confused at the responses to the OP.
 

notadriver

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Thanks guys. Yes I wrote it has been suggested meaning it was discussed elsewhere. I didn't intend to ridicule myself or for the topic to get this much attention. But I am glad the majority here understand and would accept as given that a driver may use a mobile while waiting for their train.
 

Grantham

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Yes mainly by whinging folks on twitter who have not got a clue on how the raiway is and should be run

Not to mention drivers are normal people too. I have been rung on my mobile telephone at work by my wife, so that she could tell me she was in labour...or should train drivers be exempt from going to work because their wives are pregnant? Consider any reply carefully if you want to criticise...I will take any answers very personally!!! :roll:

Of course, I wasn't on a platform waiting for a train, I was on one! :p
 

whhistle

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Just to wrap up and respond to some responses to my post:

You would be good material for a draconian driver manager....
You appear to have missed the point in my post.

No where did I disagree with the use of them and as stated, previous roles I have held have banned use completely. However they were different circumstances.
I rarely see drivers or any other railway employees on mobile phones anyway.

A good example of how easily things can be mis-read by the public is at theme parks. Large rollercoaster operators wear ear protection which can only be described as in-ear headphones. So, to the mis-informed public it looks like many of the operators are listening to music while operating a (potentially) dangerous machine.

Another good example is the recently discussed Daily Mail article where the guard was "having his dinner". Despite what people think, things are never as they seem.

However people are very good at assuming and presuming when they have just got it wrong to begin with.



So you're comparing a checkout operator in Asda with a highly specialised and skilled train driver? What planet are you on? Train drivers salaries would rival the the Asda managers salary (smaller stores)
It was a comparison on the similarities in the circumstances of where the train driver may use their phone, not how skilled the person is.



As for "in my opinion it looks unprofessional", its a good thing your opinion doesnt hold much weight then isnt it.
No, not here. However it is a simple, humble opinion. I don't need any glorifying status or "weight" here - you seem to think that is important. I state what I think and enjoy participating in discussions about the railway.



It's not up to people outside of the loop to pass judgement about "not looking professional" or such like.
I agree. But therein lies the problem - people "outside of the loop" will and do pass judgement. There is no easy way to solve this as it is people's personal opinion.



There are two things getting mixed up here. Firstly, what are the rules. Secondly, what looks professional.

As for looking professional I'm afraid that we are never going to please all the people all the time. I remember not so long back a VERY heated discussion about wearing union ties which highlights this problem nicely.

O L Leigh
The voice of someone who understands the issue rather than simply jumping to the same place as many other posters.
My respect for you grows every time you post.



Well thats your opinion, fortunately for the rest of us those that actually matter don't seem to mind.

Someone has a different opinion to you without knowing the full information, so that's cause for a more personal attack? Well to enlighten you of where I come from, it is an industry where many, many people would use their mobile phone for personal use in full view of customers. However it caused a large headache and large sums of money/time as the people working for me would try and twist the truth even though we all knew they were in the wrong.

Re-read the post and concentrate on the section where I say "Then again I am warming (or relaxing) to the idea about phones."


Far too many people with large "I am always right" egos here who are un-willing to respect other opinions and if any opinion is different to their own, then the other person must be wrong wrong wrong.
 
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GB

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Well thats your opinion, fortunately for the rest of us those that actually matter don't seem to mind.

How was what I said taken as a personal attack? To put in a way you might understand better, your opinion on the matter (ie what looks professional or not) doesn't actually matter. Its the bosses opinions that count and they don't seem to mind the use of mobile phone while away from the cab.
 
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455driver

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You would be amazed at what some people can claim to be offended by.

I am offended by this accusation! :lol:;)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
But don't you agree that it would look so very professional if the driver waiting on the platform had a Personal Assistant with them at all times to take their calls for them?

I can think of a few people who can be my PA.:D
 

KA4C

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How was what I said taken as a personal attack? To put in a way you might understand better, your opinion on the matter (ie what looks professional or not) doesn't actually matter. Its the bosses opinions that count and they don't seem to mind the use of mobile phone while away from the cab.

Correct and end of .....
 

455driver

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The last time I was called up I took my own up for me and the Union chap (flask of tea and a packet of rich tea biscuits), didnt offer the Depot Manager any though! :lol:
He was a bit put off when I asked for a 2 minute adjournment so I could pour the tea, some people have no sense of humour! :lol:

On my previous interview I did say to him (the DM) that the next time I was called up for something stupid I would bring my own tea and biscuits so I was only keeping my word.;)
 
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KA4C

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The last time I was called up I took my own up for me and the Union chap (flask of tea and a packet of rich tea biscuits), didnt offer the Depot Manager any though! :lol:
He was a bit put off when I asked for a 2 minute adjournment so I could pour the tea, some people have no sense of humour! :lol:

On my previous interview I did say to him (the DM) that the next time I was called up for something stupid I would bring my own tea and biscuits so I was only keeping my word.;)

Of course the proper way to do things is manager and advocate meet, advocate asks what the bottom line is, how does manager want driver to behave in future. Advocate then says "give me half an hour with him" only then does the hearing take place
 

lincolnshire

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Havn,t we done the subject of driver on phone to death by now, when the train is moving along how do you know that that he/she is not using his phone then? and what difference does it make, the most that can happen is that he might kill a track worker who didn,t see the train coming towards him because he was expecting the driver to whistle/ blow his warning horn at him. When you consider that he has a Deadmans that needs cancelling , AWS and TPWS all to stop the train if he passes a signal at danger and on top of that the train can,t get off the rails.
Look at the alternative place where you see drivers using there phones, the road no Deadmans, AWS or TPWS fitted there, just lorries upto 40 tonne , coaches and cars all heading down the road and no rails to keep them in there lane, no signals to stop you running into the back of the vehicle in front etc.
If you was watching the series about Eddie Stobart , there was a few times when there drivers was seen on the phone ( hands free ) while driving down the road, still not a very good thing to show on television for a company who is mad keen on image, even down to having all the venetian blinds at the same height and angle in the office before the boss arrives as thats what he likes to see conformity, so you expect him to be the same about using phones while on the move.
So lets put this to bed now and let people get on with there lives.
 

RPM

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Do you mean because of adverse railhead conditions ?

Not specifically, although that would be a case in point. More commonly SPADs occur in ATP fitted areas because the train is making a low speed movement that is below the ATP release speed for that particular signal. It can also happen when the ATP is only in partial supervisory mode after a data loss/reset or when the ATP is in shunt mode.
 

davido39

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The last time I was called up I took my own up for me and the Union chap (flask of tea and a packet of rich tea biscuits), didnt offer the Depot Manager any though! :lol:
He was a bit put off when I asked for a 2 minute adjournment so I could pour the tea, some people have no sense of humour! :lol:

On my previous interview I did say to him (the DM) that the next time I was called up for something stupid I would bring my own tea and biscuits so I was only keeping my word.;)

HAHA love your style and your right about some of the management, think most had a sense of humor lobotomy when taking on management jobs. :lol:
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
No doubt while this thread has been ongoing the driver in question has probably made several calls oblivious to the fact he is unwittingly part of a debate on who should and who shouldn't use mobile phones...:lol:
 

bb21

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I am also amazed by the criticism that the OP received.

However as this topic has been done to death before, this thread does not add any more value so it is locked.
 
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