Stupid passengers

[Starmill]

I fell foul of the Brighouse route at Sowerby Bridge, intending Dewsbury I somewhat surprised to be passing through Halifax. It transpired that the train I was on was the previous service, running 20 minutes late. It obviously hadn't occurred to the guard that it might be a good idea to make an announcement before departing, and the station CIS was pretty much non-existent at the time.

Indeed. As both trains would be blue and could have been of any type and would both say "Leeds" on the front there would be absolutely no way of knowing - other than asking the guard or driver.

I'm not sure if it has now had auto announcements fitted, but Alderley Edge/is was much the same. The trains are all Northern 323s and on the up platform all go to Crewe. Not uncommon to see someone having to ask the driver if they are stopping at Chelford or Goostrey (there are some trains that don't stop at Holmes Chapel or Sandbach too) - the guard is often 3 coaches away from where everyone waits!
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Part of the problem - certainly in London and especially on the Underground - is that some people seem to think that "better information" means "make more announcements". As such, your journey is filled with a continual babble of noise which you blank out, and then miss the important stuff.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please do not cycle or skateboard anywhere on the station."
"Please keep your Oyster and bank card separate to avoid card clash"
"Security guards patrol this station 24 hours a day"
"If you require assistance, please speak to a member of staff"
"The 10.30 to Edinburgh will now depart from Platform 5".
"There is no lift service at X station until April"
"Please remember to keep your luggage with you"
"Next weekend services may be disrupted"

ad infinitum!!

I'd argue that a platform alteration is a very important piece of information! However; it shouldn't be being masked by gubbins like "This is a customer information announcement from Network Rail on behalf of Transport for London <crap about contactless> Thank You."

 

[Tom B]

I'd argue that a platform alteration is a very important piece of information! However; it shouldn't be being masked by gubbins like "This is a customer information announcement from Network Rail on behalf of Transport for London <crap about contactless> Thank You."

Absolutely it is - but when it's filled between pointless crap, who's going to notice it?

Prize place goes to a TfL one along the lines of :- "Ladies and gentlemen. If you need any help whilst making your journey, please speak to a member of staff. Thank you.". Really? If I need help whilst on the railway, I should speak to somebody from the railway company? Well, I never!

 

[EM2]

Prize place goes to a TfL one along the lines of :- "Ladies and gentlemen. If you need any help whilst making your journey, please speak to a member of staff. Thank you.". Really? If I need help whilst on the railway, I should speak to somebody from the railway company? Well, I never!

Yet I've come across plenty of people that don't, they'd rather ask a police officer than ask me. Earlier comments from forum members saying how they often get approached, even though they are not staff, also show how often this occurs.

 

[12CSVT]

There was once a unit failure just outside Woking, the train came to a standstill and all lights went out. Then a passenger tried to organise a walk down the line to the station. Noone supported him.

The next ting was a door slamming and uncertain feet on the ballast

"What are you doing?"
"I'm a passenger and I'm walking to the next station"
"I'm the guard and I'm telling you to get aboard that train before you get yourself killed"

The passenger began to argue whan another train passed at speed on the adjacent line. Even experienced railwaymen don't put themselves in that situation. Door reopens and one sheepish passenger climbs back on board. It only took a few minutes to locate the fault and isolate the defective unit so disruption in having to turn off the power while a few people walked down the line averted

Reminds me of an incident on the WCML many years ago, before the days of central door locking. A class 90 on a Euston bound service failed between Harrow and Wembley, and the train came to a stop directly adjacent to North Wembley station. One imbecile with a very large suitcase (and obviously a very small brain) thought it would be a good idea to jump off and walk across the tracks then onto the platform at North Wembley to catch a London bound train. Had he done this a minute later he (or his remains) would have ended up underneath a northbound train. All he achieved was having all lines blocked and the juice switched off on the D.C. lines, so nothing moved in the area for about 90 minutes.

 

[Tom B]

Yet I've come across plenty of people that don't, they'd rather ask a police officer than ask me. Earlier comments from forum members saying how they often get approached, even though they are not staff, also show how often this occurs.

One snowy morning a few winters ago, I decided to take my waterproof orange hi-vis with me, to avoid getting drenched on the walk to the station. Unfortunately services were disrupted and, naturally, people thought that I was a railway official. A hi vis jacket confers some sort of authority, seemingly!

Mind you, on another note, I was walking through my own workplace a while ago with no uniform or identification or anything that would differentiate me from any member of the public - but someone stopped me and asked me a question. On my asking how they knew that I was a member of staff, they said "You were just walking in a manner which suggests you work here!".

 

[EM2]

Mind you, on another note, I was walking through my own workplace a while ago with no uniform or identification or anything that would differentiate me from any member of the public - but someone stopped me and asked me a question. On my asking how they knew that I was a member of staff, they said "You were just walking in a manner which suggests you work here!".

Yep, I've had that one too!

 

[SamS]

I will admit that on my second ever train journey last year we did get a bit confused at Sheffield when our train was going from Platform 2 but we could only see 2a & 2b.....

Apart from that I've never managed to get a wrong train, although when connecting at York for Poppleton I would occasionally check that I was on the correct train as sometimes I would board before the platform screen was showing the train.

I'd argue that a platform alteration is a very important piece of information! However; it shouldn't be being masked by gubbins like "This is a customer information announcement from Network Rail on behalf of Transport for London <crap about contactless> Thank You."

Is York one of the few places where platform alterations are well announced? "This is an announcement for customers awaiting the xx : xx to xxxx, this train will today depart from Platform X. This is a platform alteration, the xx : xx to xxxx will today depart from Platform X."

Heck, even Sheffield which uses an automated system manages to make a reasonable job of it.

 

[Starmill]

I will admit that on my second ever train journey last year we did get a bit confused at Sheffield when our train was going from Platform 2 but we could only see 2a & 2b.....

Apart from that I've never managed to get a wrong train, although when connecting at York for Poppleton I would occasionally check that I was on the correct train as sometimes I would board before the platform screen was showing the train.

Is York one of the few places where platform alterations are well announced? "This is an announcement for customers awaiting the xx : xx to xxxx, this train will today depart from Platform X. This is a platform alteration, the xx : xx to xxxx will today depart from Platform X."

Heck, even Sheffield which uses an automated system manages to make a reasonable job of it.

The Southern system does a very good job of it.

"Your attention please, this is a platform alteration. The XX:XX service to Y, originally due to depart from Platform A will now depart from Platform B. Platform B for the XX:XX service to Y." or something along those lines. Some automated systems have a special tone that they play to announce platform alterations too.

 

[Flamingo]

I have heard one (not railway) where somebody shouted "Sexy Tits" into a microphone, then a few seconds later continued "Now that I have your attention, I have an important announcement..."

 

[dannypye9999]

You could award the "stupid passenger award" to passengers who queue up endlessly at the ticket office when there are ticket machines available right in front of their very eyes. An example of this can be seen at Macclesfield.

 

[Deerfold]

Is York one of the few places where platform alterations are well announced? "This is an announcement for customers awaiting the xx : xx to xxxx, this train will today depart from Platform X. This is a platform alteration, the xx : xx to xxxx will today depart from Platform X."

They could do with sorting TPE at platform 5 out.

There's platforms 5A and 5B, long enough to hold an HST each. XC and EC trains are announced at 5A or 5B. TPE trains are just announced as platform 5.

I'm an occasional user of York station and was waiting there recently with a 93-year old and wanted to know where on the huge platform the 3-car train would stop but staff didn't seem to know.

 

[341o2]

Reminds me of an incident on the WCML many years ago, before the days of central door locking. A class 90 on a Euston bound service failed between Harrow and Wembley, and the train came to a stop directly adjacent to North Wembley station. One imbecile with a very large suitcase (and obviously a very small brain) thought it would be a good idea to jump off and walk across the tracks then onto the platform at North Wembley to catch a London bound train. Had he done this a minute later he (or his remains) would have ended up underneath a northbound train. All he achieved was having all lines blocked and the juice switched off on the D.C. lines, so nothing moved in the area for about 90 minutes.

The Southern.s bleakest day has to be when one of the signalboxes collapsed at Clapham Junction bringing all trains to a standstill. A bad situstion was made worse by passengers getting out of stranded trains with the result that power had to be turned off

 

[Andrewlong]

You could award the "stupid passenger award" to passengers who queue up endlessly at the ticket office when there are ticket machines available right in front of their very eyes. An example of this can be seen at Macclesfield.

And you get passengers who will queue at a machine when there is a free ticket office nearby. I put it down to being familiar with machines and wanting to avoid human contact!

 

[talldave]

You could award the "stupid passenger award" to passengers who queue up endlessly at the ticket office when there are ticket machines available right in front of their very eyes. An example of this can be seen at Macclesfield.

or to passengers like me who spend time booking tickets online only to have to queue for 10 minutes for a TVM to collect them behind people who haven't!! However, it does mean I only have 10 presses of "crap touchscreen" roulette!!

 

[chris89]

I've accidentally got on the Express to Edinburgh twice, but gladly spotted my mistake before quickly got off before departing Glasgow Queen Street LL. My train soon arrived after.

A few times when the VT services to Edinburgh/ Birmingham used to arrive and depart on Platform 11 at Waverley, Quite a number of people think it is a Kings Cross train or a XC Voyager to B'ham or further.

I've been mistaken for being rail staff as well. Last year March at Wolverhampton in March (When that heavy snow) since i was wearing a dark blue coat and a beanie hat. Still helped the person though

Re headphones: I just take one out when i hear the announcement sound, but put them back in, if a general security or welcome aboard message.

Chris

 

[londonbridge]

"Please keep your Oyster and bank card separate to avoid card clash"

I just laugh at TFL having to invent the term "card clash" because they didn't anticipate contactless and Oyster cards interfereing (sp?) with one another.

 

[SETCommuter]

Most days people panic when the train splits at Ashford International with half going to Dover & half to Ramsgate. Without fail, every day, someone will hear the announcement then jump up, panic and run down the platform - or try to get through the (locked) drivers cab door !

 

[cf111]

Once got on the wrong section of an Inverness to Kyle/Wick & Thurso service, to arrive at Dingwall and the screens switch to "This is Dingwall, this train is for Kyle of Lochalsh, this train will call at Garve..."

Missed the umpteen announcements by the guard.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Part of the problem - certainly in London and especially on the Underground - is that some people seem to think that "better information" means "make more announcements". As such, your journey is filled with a continual babble of noise which you blank out, and then miss the important stuff.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please do not cycle or skateboard anywhere on the station."
"Please keep your Oyster and bank card separate to avoid card clash"
"Security guards patrol this station 24 hours a day"
"If you require assistance, please speak to a member of staff"
"The 10.30 to Edinburgh will now depart from Platform 5".
"There is no lift service at X station until April"
"Please remember to keep your luggage with you"
"Next weekend services may be disrupted"

ad infinitum!!

As I posted earlier in this thread, I agree with your point entirely. I've looked at your list and crossed out anything that the average passenger doesn't need to know.


"Ladies and gentlemen, please do not cycle or skateboard anywhere on the station."
"Please keep your Oyster and bank card separate to avoid card clash"
"Security guards patrol this station 24 hours a day"
"If you require assistance, please speak to a member of staff"
"The 10.30 to Edinburgh will now depart from Platform 5".
"There is no lift service at X station until April"
"Please remember to keep your luggage with you"
"Next weekend services may be disrupted"

So basically 7 out of 8 announcements are completely irrelevant and serve only to stop people listening to announcements altogether and thus miss the one annoucement in 8 they actually need to know!

 

[talldave]

And passengers whose native language is not English will have wasted time struggling to understand 7 pointless announcements.

Did we forget the one about carrying water with you in hot weather (or in case the 442 you're on catches fire!)?

 

[GatwickDepress]

The "no lift service" is quite useful for passengers with disabilities and luggage, as well as a reminder to staff on the ground dealing with passenger assistance.

When it's blared out ten times a minute, it's a complete pain in the posterior though. Ideally, it should only be played before a train to that destination arrives.

 

[EM2]

As I posted earlier in this thread, I agree with your point entirely. I've looked at your list and crossed out anything that the average passenger doesn't need to know.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please do not cycle or skateboard anywhere on the station."

If people didn't keep doing it, we wouldn't have to keep telling them not to!

 

[Tetchytyke]

I use headphones at Kings Cross to drown out the noise of that bloody hologram that barks at people to use "the elevator" (whatever one of those is) if they have luggage. Every ten seconds. I swear that thing will be on repeat when I get to Hades.

Most people who miss announcements only have themselves to blame, but not everybody has good hearing. One or two mumbled announcements can easily be missed, especially on noisy trains.

 

[Whistler40145]

When trains used to split at Carstairs, I've seen a passenger get on the Edinburgh portion & just as the last carriage was about to leave the station pull the communication chord as they should've been on the Glasgow portion, got off and ran back up the platform & get on the Glasgow portion!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tom B]

Another pointless one - "Services are disrupted on 5 lines this weekend, for details, please speak to a member of staff or look online" etc etc.

I can see the point if you're referring to a specific line, because it would be useful to announce on the Thursday/Friday "This line will be part suspended this weekend, with the rest of the line having severe delays, due to engineering work. Please consult posters.". This reminds passengers and notifies those who didn't know, and it is specific to that area.

But I don't see the point in a general message that some lines are disrupted. There is some sort of suspension on the LU network every weekend, it's nothing special!

 

[VauxhallandI]

One snowy morning a few winters ago, I decided to take my waterproof orange hi-vis with me, to avoid getting drenched on the walk to the station. Unfortunately services were disrupted and, naturally, people thought that I was a railway official. A hi vis jacket confers some sort of authority, seemingly!

Mind you, on another note, I was walking through my own workplace a while ago with no uniform or identification or anything that would differentiate me from any member of the public - but someone stopped me and asked me a question. On my asking how they knew that I was a member of staff, they said "You were just walking in a manner which suggests you work here!".

I was in the amusement arcade on Bognor Refis pier the other week and some bloke asked me to help him as one of the bandits wasn't paying out....

 

[Urban Gateline]

On the topic of stupid passengers, my pet hate is those who try to hold doors open when the Guard is closing them! Not only is it a byelaw offence, but it delays that train's departure and could lead to a train fault. It's a very selfish act because the person doing it didn't leave enough time to get to the platform in time for their train.

If anyone does this on my platform when I'm on shift they'll know about it as I give them a loud telling off!

 

[bILLOO]

Passenger today at Euston on an LM train to Birmingham -

"Is this train going to Victoria?"

Ehhh... hmmm.

 

[user15681]

On the topic of stupid passengers, my pet hate is those who try to hold doors open when the Guard is closing them! Not only is it a byelaw offence, but it delays that train's departure and could lead to a train fault. It's a very selfish act because the person doing it didn't leave enough time to get to the platform in time for their train.

If anyone does this on my platform when I'm on shift they'll know about it as I give them a loud telling off!

I saw someone recently pull open the doors of a train on the Northern line - they didn't just hold them, it was like some super strength. As they were shutting they grabbed the door edge and managed to physically force it open despite the door continually trying to shut. Eventually all the doors reopened on the train, so I got on, but then the driver seemed unable to get interlock on the doors. Cue long delay as the doors opened, shut, opened, shut etc and as everyone sighed, groaned and complained I kindly made an announcement and pointed at the gent to let those in my carriage know who had caused the delay. They laughed and to say he looked embarrassed was an understatement
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Passenger today at Euston on an LM train to Birmingham -

"Is this train going to Victoria?"

Ehhh... hmmm.

Can't be worse than the tourist at Euston... on the Victoria line platform, with the display board showing the next train going to Victoria, the train front and announcements saying Victoria, who then proceeds to ask if it's going to... Victoria. I know some people like to double check, but...

 

[Urban Gateline]

I saw someone recently pull open the doors of a train on the Northern line - they didn't just hold them, it was like some super strength. As they were shutting they grabbed the door edge and managed to physically force it open despite the door continually trying to shut. Eventually all the doors reopened on the train, so I got on, but then the driver seemed unable to get interlock on the doors. Cue long delay as the doors opened, shut, opened, shut etc and as everyone sighed, groaned and complained I kindly made an announcement and pointed at the gent to let those in my carriage know who had caused the delay. They laughed and to say he looked embarrassed was an understatement

Hehe good on you! Hopefully it will teach the person not to do it again, such selfish behaviour!