I suspect that’s partly because they will take the view mainline staff = driver. There has become quite a tidemark between train staff and station staff on LU, hence it’s probably not to be unexpected that this carries over to mainline staff as well. Sad, but there we go.
I daresay some LU staff will have encountered the odd arsey mainline guard at some point as well, however that’s probably less likely to be the reason in the vast majority of cases.
It does sound like TfL is a somewhat toxic working environment. I’ve (half) joked before on here about everyone hating drivers; it sounds like on the TfL side it’s literally true! What a pathetic state of affairs.
Given there's no formal reciprocal arrangements in place between mainline and LU, this isn't hugely surprising. There's plenty of mainline staff who won't recognise an LU staff pass, and LUL are also very hot on gate line staff allowing other staff to travel at the moment. Can't blame individuals for not risking their job when the likelihood is the same courtesy wouldn't be reciprocated.
Indeed, certainly in my gate line days at a Z1 gateway station service by 9 TOCs (three of whom do have reciprocal arrangements with TfL) most TOC staff expected to be let through, rather than asked nicely, including those eligible for the reciprocal travel passes. Big difference in how things are approached.
To be clear I never ask for nor expect any favours whatsoever from LU staff. The situations I (and colleagues) have encountered have arisen from simply presenting a valid priv residential season ticket (in my case on a smart card) during ticket acceptance, and receiving a Spanish Inquisition - even though the card clearly states what it is, and is backed up with a valid TOC ID. I realise they don’t know what it is due to insufficient training, but that is their problem, not mine, and I don’t particularly like being accused of lying, as has happened more than once (and if I’m honest has led to a couple of heated arguments).
My point regarding road learning was simply that if it's okay for them to be in the cab under those circumstances, then how is it *really* any different if they're in the saloon instead?
But it’s only okay if the driver is happy to have them there. If they aren’t, they’re entirely free to say “no@, with no requirement to give a reason or justify themselves in any way. That isn’t something anyone should take offence at - it’s just the way it goes.
Not if current events and debates continue, they won't.
Which “current events and debates” might those be?
Most passengers have more pressing concerns about the railway.
Absolutely. It’s an odd and extremely petty thing to get wound up about - a little like the preoccupation some have with staff sitting in passenger seats when travelling “on the cushions”.