Hot Weather TOC Uniforms

[rangersac]

Just had an amusing and interesting discussion with one of the customer service team at Horsham. I won't name drop on the off chance there could be repercussions (details to follow) but said gent (let's call him Bob) was wearing the usual Southern TOC shirt with a black skirt. This was much to the amusement of an eastern European lady (Polish I suspect), who enjoyed having photos taken with Bob comparing both their skirts! After playing amateur paparazzi I asked why the skirt instead of shorts. According to Bob Southern don't allow men to wear shorts as part of their uniform despite a trial being done a couple of years back to introduce them. This is apparently because leg tattoos might be visible, which is rather illogical as visible arm tattoos are allowed!

Anyway after I congratulated Bob on his creativity I couldn't help think that it's bonkers that Southern don't permit men to wear shorts in hot weather. A tailored set of shorts and a shirt is completely appropriate attire for a customer facing role and I think we've long moved past the notion that only ruffians, cutpurses and highwaymen have tattoos. Additionally for a role which is going to have a good amount of time spent out in the sun there's a fair argument on health and safety grounds that it's a necessity to prevent overheating.

Lastly kudos to Bob for directing me to the declassified first class section at the end of the Thameslink service.

 

[higthomas]

An of course women in skirts might also have leg tattoos!

 

[irp]

A number of years ago, I remember a story on the BBC about school boys wearing skirts because shorts were banned (These kids went thru the paperwork and discovered a similar loophole that "Bob" seems to have found!)

I'd love to know where Southern would stand on those trousers that you can zip of at the knees. Do they qualify as shorts or trousers ?

 

[Hamma52]

A number of years ago, I remember a story on the BBC about school boys wearing skirts because shorts were banned (These kids went thru the paperwork and discovered a similar loophole that "Bob" seems to have found!)

I'd love to know where Southern would stand on those trousers that you can zip of at the knees. Do they qualify as shorts or trousers ?

I remember this story too!

I'm sure other TOCs allow shorts. I'm 90% sure I've seen Northern staff wearing shorts before, maybe TFW too.
I don't really understood professionalism over comfort, when it comes to clothes in the summer or winter.
Especially for those working on platforms in the sun all day, potentially in busy environments where very few people are actually going to care about what the dispatcher or platform staff look like, surely employee comfort should take precedence?

I'm not really fussed whether the staff member is head to toe in tattoos or not, so long as they're comfortable and I get to where I need to be on time and in a pleasant fashion.

 

[ValleyLines142]

TFW guards are permitted to wear shorts all year round, I've seen dispatchers at Newport wearing shorts in December!

 

[Hamma52]

TFW guards are permitted to wear shorts all year round, I've seen dispatchers at Newport wearing shorts in December!

Too right! Anything less in the Costa del Gwent would be barmy!

 

[GW43125]

The one that always upset me in my platform days was how drivers were allowed shorts in their air conditioned cabs but us poor platform staff had to wear shirt and trousers in 40°C heat!

 

[Krokodil]

A number of years ago, I remember a story on the BBC about school boys wearing skirts because shorts were banned (These kids went thru the paperwork and discovered a similar loophole that "Bob" seems to have found!)

Didn't some SJ (Sweden) drivers do this?

At TfW shorts are permitted (originally it was traincrew only). I believe that it started under Arriva when a driver said that if he wasn't allowed to wear shorts he'd be delayed when changing ends at Longsight while he waited for the 67 cab to cool down. Management took the pragmatic approach.

I remember on the Snowdon Mountain (where the windows on the rebuilt heritage carriages don't open far, and they have a lot of glass) a guard (who was also a fireman, so used to working in hot conditions) had an expletive-filled meltdown over the radio. Nothing was ever done, management just let us suffer. Would have been lovely to have some carriages in the pre-war state with no windows at all.

 

[Bradford PA]

IIRC the postmen at Royal Mail had to undergo a major battle before they were allowed to wear shorts on their delivery rounds. Now we also see postmen wearing shorts in December. I work in a school and it is a while since male staff were required to wear a tie in most establishments. Shorts do not see to be an issue either for male staff where I work. At one time schools would instruct that tattoos were to be covered up but this does not seem to be enforced as it once was. With the onset of the hot weather, with sleeveless dresses and scalloped necks and backs being worn, some quite exotic tattoos have emerged on quite a number of our female staff.

 

[Zomboid]

Tattoos as a justification is a bit out of date these days. I don't know if they're especially fashionable these days, but more people of my generation (I'm just about millennial) seem to have them then not, and having a full sleeve is no longer a sure sign that someone is either in an extreme metal band or a member of the Yakuza. They may well hold safety critical roles on the railway and it doesn't matter one jot.

 

[D1511]

Just had my ticket checked by an Avanti train manager wearing shorts

 

[43066]

As a driver the conversation can become: “if I can’t wear shorts I’ll be too uncomfortable to drive safely, and the train will be cancelled.” In which case shorts will suddenly become allowable, irrespective of the general policy!

 

[josh-j]

Shorts aren't really even that "un-smart". They can definitely be part of a uniform (and are at other TOCs) and I doubt many passengers are bothered, I'm certainly not. And since I'm currently sitting in a boiling hot station it's extremely easy to empathise with "Bob"!

 

[43055]

Seen a few EMR staff with shorts on recently.

My old office job didn't allow shorts but a few of us did a couple of years ago when it reached the high thirties for 2 days and no one was bothered.

 

[Krokodil]

Tattoos as a justification is a bit out of date these days. I don't know if they're especially fashionable these days, but more people of my generation (I'm just about millennial) seem to have them then not, and having a full sleeve is no longer a sure sign that someone is either in an extreme metal band or a member of the Yakuza. They may well hold safety critical roles on the railway and it doesn't matter one jot.

Indeed, the police and armed forces tend to stick with policies that permit tattoos provided that they wouldn't be visible when wearing ceremonial uniform (so not on the face, neck or wrists), and otherwise they must not be offensive.

 

[martin2345uk]

Eurostar don't allow shorts; but in the summer months are allowed to wear a polo shirt instead of a shirt & tie. I would love the option to wear shorts!

 

[Topological]

As long as they are tailored shorts then all should be fine. That was the rule at Lancashire CCC when I used to go.

I have seen a lot of TfW staff in shorts and very much on days when I would not be thinking to get my legs out. I guess working on the railways is hotter than simply travelling on them.

 

[DavyCrocket]

All London Underground staff have been permitted to wear shorts for a few years now. Often see station and train staff. See lots of train staff in own clothes and trainers now too

 

[dk1]

GA at long last introduced a summer uniform of shorts/polo shirts in 2024. It was not permitted to be worn before 1st June this year but due to the May heatwave and pressure from traincrews it was brought forward. Not that it made much difference on the West as they wore them regardless of head office rules

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jun 2025 ==

Best decision ever made. I detested wearing my full uniform and getting all sweaty in Summer.

 

[1D54]

Seen a few EMR staff with shorts on recently.

I've seen EMR drivers and TMs in shorts today but no station staff.

 

[londonteacher]

To be honest I couldn’t care less as a passenger what the staff are wearing. I want a reliable service and happy staff so in my opinion they should be able to wear whatever they want to make their work day better as long as it is clear they are staff and they are safe completing their duties.

 

[RPI]

At GWR we get issued shorts, but can only wear them june-September..... But not on IET's! They state that IET's have air conditioning, the fact that they allow us to wear shorts on 166's says all you need to know about the reliability of the air con on those units

 

[greatkingrat]

At GWR we get issued shorts, but can only wear them june-September..... But not on IET's! They state that IET's have air conditioning, the fact that they allow us to wear shorts on 166's says all you need to know about the reliability of the air con on those units

What happens when you are spare? Do you have both shorts and trousers with you and quickly change in the toilets when you are asked to work a train!

 

[choochoochoo]

One DI at our TOC makes a good point about shorts. They’re no fun when you’re walking in the cess with thorny plants raking your legs.

I think those cargo trousers with zip-off bottom-half-of-the-legs would be ideal.

 

[RPI]

What happens when you are spare? Do you have both shorts and trousers with you and quickly change in the toilets when you are asked to work a train!

Basically, yes! Management have been quite clear on the issue. Doesn't apply to drivers though I believe.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

We had a similar discussion in the mess room today. WMT allow drivers to wear shorts but it is forbidden for conductors to wear shorts. Female colleagues are allowed to wear the long skirts that are part of the uniform.

 

[Sheridan]

It’s only a couple of years ago that we had temperatures in the low 40s. That’s obviously an outlier and we’ll probably have far more wet and mixed summers than anything like that, but it will come around again. Any TOC who doesn’t let traincrew and station staff wear shorts clearly doesn’t want them to perform to the best of their abilities. If you’re comfortable, you can give your best. If you’re not, you can’t!

 

[RPI]

We had a similar discussion in the mess room today. WMT allow drivers to wear shorts but it is forbidden for conductors to wear shorts. Female colleagues are allowed to wear the long skirts that are part of the uniform.

It's basically everyone except catering on GWR who can have them. I've got a pair, but I haven't worn them as they look awful

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jun 2025 ==

We had a similar discussion in the mess room today. WMT allow drivers to wear shorts but it is forbidden for conductors to wear shorts. Female colleagues are allowed to wear the long skirts that are part of the uniform.

It's basically everyone except catering on GWR who can have them. I've got a pair, but I haven't worn them as they look awful

 

[Parallel]

At GWR we get issued shorts, but can only wear them june-September..... But not on IET's! They state that IET's have air conditioning, the fact that they allow us to wear shorts on 166's says all you need to know about the reliability of the air con on those units

That seems a bit silly - no doubt some depots will work both in the same day, are they expected to take a change of trousers with them?

 

[43066]

What happens when you are spare? Do you have both shorts and trousers with you and quickly change in the toilets when you are asked to work a train!

In fairness it’s not that unusual to wear own clothes in and then only change into work gear when needed, at all times of the year!