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cjohnson

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I wonder if Peter Skuce will make an appearance, complimenting management on the new Class 317/1s interior heater covers...
 
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stut

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Quite a good one today, I thought. Decent answers, well humoured. And yes, plenty of the Skuce.
 

jopsuk

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The guy asking the question about full sized bikes sort of makes a good point, but at Cambridge they're allowed on many GA trains, and even FCC (if not going all the way to London) at the times when they're not officially allowed to London. It's not a blanket ban, and it is Meteor staff contracted by GA who man the barrier line.
 

stut

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Yup, I think a lot of people forget that they're allowed north of the Nidge at all times (apart from a few of the peak trains at Cambridge).

Mind you, I have to say that most of the Cambridge-Hitchin peak cycle folks are pretty good at making sure they're not in the way. You can easily have two bikes in all of the 16 vestibules, but they're usually kept out the way, and away from the active doors (which is easy, as they're all on the same side on that section).

I know there's some inconsiderate eejits out there, but then, there's some people for whom the very sight of a bike causes inexplicable feelings of impotent rage.
 

Aictos

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I wonder if Peter Skuce will make an appearance, complimenting management on the new Class 317/1s interior heater covers...

This must be a first for Mr Peter Skuce as it's NOT about the rolling stock!!!

Question number 95

From Peter Skuce

Q

Is there enough support to look after staff, in particular drivers and platform dispatch staff that have had to deal with suicides/one unders? If they have to go on leave, then I hope that they do get paid, as it is not nice having to deal with the incident happening and the aftermath. Additionally is there also enough support to look after staff if they have been assaulted by members of the public? How can the company help if the area of the assault was not covered by CCTV? How can you prove the case in court in this sort of situation?

A

Hi Peter

We have a chain of care policy for staff which we follow carefully. Any incident involving the tragic loss of life is difficult for our staff to deal with. We have various support systems and policies in place to ensure that anyone - customers or staff - involved in such an incident has the support they need.
 

jon0844

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Did he not follow up by asking what trains have been involved in hitting passengers and asking to come to the depot to see them being cleaned up? ;)
 

Retorus

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Is Mr. Skuce well known for being prolific with questions at these events then?
 

Aictos

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Did he not follow up by asking what trains have been involved in hitting passengers and asking to come to the depot to see them being cleaned up? ;)

Sadly no BUT he didn't disappoint as he was soon asking various questions about the rolling stock ;) - I also noted one person once again complaining about the "poor" service the Welwyn route gets, happens at every single session :roll:

Is Mr. Skuce well known for being prolific with questions at these events then?

Yes, he's infamous for it!!!
 

swt_passenger

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He pops up with 'pertinet questions' on other TOC's web chats as well.

IIRC with them having about a year left in service, he was asking why the Lymington slammers weren't getting Stagecoach upholstery... :roll:
 

telstarbox

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This one is brilliant!

Question number 44

From Biggie Swades

Q
Now Biggleswade platforms about being viagra'd to 12 carriages, do we have any idea which services are going to be similarly fluffed? The Biggleswade Chronicle did publish a list, but frankly, that rag's about as reliable as your overhead lines in a sharp breeze.
 

ChristopherJ

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OMG! Skuce! He's "known" in the industry - for all the wrong reasons. :roll: He must have some kind of weird fetish for FCC. Lets just say if I ever bumped in to him I'll be running the other way... :|

Here are some classics that I've quickly picked out, if you want to see the full monty go to http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/customer-care/talk-to-us/meet-the-directors/ and type in "Skuce" in each web chat... :roll:

Enjoy. :p :lol:

From Mr Peter Skuce
Q

I just wanted to inform you that whenever I am riding aboard Class 319 trains on the Thameslink route, I always make sure that the train interiors are clean and tidy (I get my hands dirty and place litter in the bin), also I go around and ensure that the seats are firmly fixed in place. I know how to fit them into the base properly and I quite like making sure that everything is Ok internally; plus also I check for unusual motor sounds and any unwanted wheel flats - which I ALWAYS REPORT
A

Peter

Thank you for taking such an interest in FCC in cleaning our trains and for reporting defects in the manner you do it is very much appreciated .

Please be careful as we supply our train presentation staff with specialist gloves which protect them not just from dirt but also any sharp objects which unfortunately we find from time to time . We as a company ensure that at all time our staff and customers are safe at all times and if its not safe don't do it



Regards

From Peter Skuce
Q

RADIATOR COVERS ON CLASS 313 UNITS

I notice that the material on these has become more conductive recently, making it more pleasing to travel on these wonderful units on the cold days we have had recently.

Do you have a new coating you have applied?

A

Hi Peter

We have carried out some work on the 313 heating, but haven't applied any coatings to the exterior of the heating unit.

I'm pleased you like our 313's.


From Dieter Skuce
Q

FIRST CLASS TABLES ON 321 UNITS

I recently had the extreme pleasure of travelling in first class on these immaculately refurbished units and am glad no RPIs were there. But anyway, I notice that the tables are badly designed. The leg falls right between the aisle seat occupant's legs.

The injury that this could cause a male passenger on sharp braking does not bear thinking about. You should consider moving it to the left to keep the elfin safety brigade happy.

A

Hi Dieter

Having checked, we have no reported incidents or accidents involving tables on the class 321's.

We have fed back to the engineering team to see if any alterations could be made if necessary
 

jopsuk

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I was poking about on wikipedia one day- found some arguments he'd got into (about the 313 page not using his picture, instead using a better one...)- I think he might be banned from there now.
 

O L Leigh

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What a pillock.

Mind you, it is amusing to see the condescending tone he's getting in his replies. I wonder if he has the wit to recognise it himself.

Oh well.

O L Leigh
 

jon0844

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There were/are a number of people that posted spoof questions using his name or similar (you can write any name you want on the forum).

I know he asked a lot of questions and always wanted to arrange depot visits, but I don't think some of the dumber questions are likely to have been him.
 

causton

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soil

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O L Leigh

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...except that he's been around railways for a good number of years.

I mean, really. What manner of braking is going to be required for a person to be injured by a table support...? What sort of coating could one apply to a heater to make it more conductive...?

O L Leigh
 

soil

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...except that he's been around railways for a good number of years.

Yes the same person (well not literally), a couple of decades later. Unfortunately while people show a degree of understanding towards the 10-year-old, that seems to be absent towards adults.

I mean, really. What manner of braking is going to be required for a person to be injured by a table support...? What sort of coating could one apply to a heater to make it more conductive...?

O L Leigh

It's hard to tell which of these comments are people taking the p***.

Anyway, FCC are quite happy to answer his questions.

http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.u...-us/meet-the-directors/30-jun-2010/?number=77
 
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jon0844

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The table question was almost certainly not him unless he mistyped his own name.

I'd say his questions are harmless and the bizarre ones are people who are having a laugh at his expense. For what it's worth, on one forum I actually said as a question that many posts from him were likely jokes. They could easily check the submitted email address or IP address if they so desired. Instead they seem to just answer with the same vague and generalised rubbish that has stopped me even bothering with the FCC forums anymore.

Perhaps the jokers actually played a part in stopping FCC taking any questions seriously?
 

Skimble19

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A few years back the forums were actually helpful, and responses were worth reading.. these days it isn't even worth going through them, let alone asking a question. Such a shame really.
 

jon0844

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Successive changes of management, with people that seem to just want to give PR answers. In the early days, you got thorough replies and even details of upcoming projects, timetable changes and aspirations.

Now it seems like a company going through the motions with a major drive on revenue protection and little else.

I apologise for those people working at FCC that will say this isn't the case - but it's the impression given by management.
 
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