Trog
Established Member
I've been mistaken for a member if staff working for Sainbury's after popping in for a shop straight after work.
Try working for the P-Way wear a black shirt and trousers. Then go into B&Q during your dinner break.
I've been mistaken for a member if staff working for Sainbury's after popping in for a shop straight after work.
While wearing a particular pair of blue trousers and a purple shirt I have been mistaken for a Northern employee! It happened twice in one day, and another time by an actual member of staff. and I think a couple have 'done a double take' as it were. I was wearing my own coat, which was black. It's not like I had any branding or anything and these were clearly respectable members of the public, at a few different locations, not just P13.
Someone asked me where the frozen chicken was in ASDA once because I had the audacity to go there while still in my railway uniform.
I hope you responded by saying something like "Have you tried the freezer?"
The way I see it is that we are all one railway and if I can make a passenger's experience better then I will.
I must now have an 'I know what I'm doing' look as it seems to happen more often now. I think at the station I work at, people recognise me so ask anyway, but how it happens elsewhere I don't know. Was in SWT land yesterday wearing a blue t-shirt that vaguely resembles SWT/EMT colours (but is a bit brighter) I got asked questions a couple of times. One guy actually apologised saying "I know you're off duty but..." - as it was a Clapham Junction I had to refer him to station staff, that place confuses me too much to give him an accurate answer.
It's never happened to me. Perhaps because I don't dress smartly.
In fact a lot of the times when I've tried to help someone who looks a bit lost or confused, they seem to take offense that a member of the public thinks they need help.
I've had more than one passenger wanting to be mistaken for staff, wearing quasi-uniform, high-vis, "look like a freight driver at first glance" type clothes, invariably they didn't have a ticket.
I once took a FGW lanyard off a chap who when asked for his ticket pointed at his lanyard - him and his mate (both teens) had drivers bags as well, it was the shorts and flip-flops that made me suspicious!
I know the bank I used to work for recommended that uniformed staff commute out of uniform, and that people with ID badges refrain from displaying or wearing them outside the office.
How many people really wear purple shirts or maroon jackets?
Methinks ATW have a fairly greenish uniform? But do they still have grey trousers/waistcoat? And LM's shirts are a very odd colour!
On the flip side, have any on-duty staff been mistaken for passengers?
On the flip side, have any on-duty staff been mistaken for passengers?
is there a rule against cyclists wearing hi-vis on platforms in case it confuses people or drivers?
......................it was the shorts and flip-flops that made me suspicious!
Flamingo, I am shocked! That is no way to treat our French colleagues!
Some Southern staff have been confused for working for ''Gatwick Express''.
I think G4S RPIs have asked rail staff for their tickets before. :roll:
Some Northern staff (with ID) have been refused access to a platform, due to not having a ticket, by G4S staff. The Northern staff in question were on duty and due to work a train.
is there a rule against cyclists wearing hi-vis on platforms in case it confuses people or drivers?
I think there might be one for not having bike lights on, as i was sharply told off for that on the overground once
Out of interest has anybody been confused as staff while traveling on a train and ended up getting a free ride
It's not an official rule, but I do ask cyclists to turn their red lights off when on the platform. On the East London Line approaching some stations through the tunnel, flashing red lights reflect off the walls and all we see is a flashing red light on approach, which to us is a hand danger signal. A few times I've had to slow right down to a crawl and approach the station at walking pace until I can see what the problem is only to find it's a cyclist. As we can't see the full platform most of the time until the cab is at the beginning of the ramp we have to treat it each time as if someone is displaying a danger signal. We just can't take the risk.
Some Northern staff (with ID) have been refused access to a platform, due to not having a ticket, by G4S staff. The Northern staff in question were on duty and due to work a train.