The most stupid question you have been asked

[quarella]

One from my early days in working in a TOC Control when a driver was asked to attach to a set left behind due to a line blockage and the traincrew not signing the diversionary route.

Driver-"This set you want me to attach to has got snow bags on. Who's going to remove them?"

Me - "You."

 

[Flamingo]

- "Why is coach A so far down the platform?"
- "Which way will the train be going?" (Standing beside the buffers at Paddington).
- On a platform at Cardiff "when I get to Oxford, what number bus will I need?"
- "Is this train going to Westbury?" On being told "No", I got the follow-up "Why not?"

 

[Lewisham2221]

Student: "Is this the bus for the station?"
Driver: "No, you want the stop across the road for buses to the station."
Student: "So you're not going to the station?"
Driver: "No. I'm going to end of the campus, where I terminate. You need to stand at the stop across the road if you want a bus to the station."
Student: "Are you sure?"
Driver: "Positive."
Student: "Oh."

The student then stepped off the bus and continued to wait at the same, incorrect, bus stop as the bus drove off down the road. :roll:

 

[Flamingo]

I have heard of a student turning up at a ticket office wanting to buy a 16-25 railcard. On being told no problem, he would just need some Photo-ID with a date of birth on it, and a passport photograph, he asked "A passport photograph of what?"!

 

[PR1Berske]

Arrogant passenger after poking me in the back as I walked up to the cab "Does this train go through Surbiton"

Me "yes"

25 minutes later we go through Surbiton


Doing 85mph!

That's not on at all - how close to professional malpractice do you think your actions were?

 

[jon0844]

I have heard of a student turning up at a ticket office wanting to buy a 16-25 railcard. On being told no problem, he would just need some Photo-ID with a date of birth on it, and a passport photograph, he asked "A passport photograph of what?"!

Don't worry, he'll be helping fund your pension in future years...

 

[Wyvern]

During my days driving rail replacement coach services, I was waiting at Nottingham to depart for Manchester. An intending passenger gets on and checks that I am the correct replacement coach, and then asks me if I follow the same route as the train. Ummmm....

Perhaps he wanted to go to Sheffield

 

[trentside]

I have heard of a student turning up at a ticket office wanting to buy a 16-25 railcard. On being told no problem, he would just need some Photo-ID with a date of birth on it, and a passport photograph, he asked "A passport photograph of what?"!

I've had that one, and indeed "A photograph of my passport?", though the latter was a foreign student so I'll let him off.

It was still quite a funny response though

 

[fireftrm]

May I refer all tot he thread question and answer with - the thread on 'If it snows and the train stops' as a perfect example?

 

[quarella]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 455driver View Post
Arrogant passenger after poking me in the back as I walked up to the cab "Does this train go through Surbiton"

Me "yes"

25 minutes later we go through Surbiton


Doing 85mph!

That's not on at all - how close to professional malpractice do you think your actions were?

The question which was asked was answered accurately. The train went THROUGH Surbiton. As to what the questioner actually wanted is another matter. If they wanted to alight then "Does this train go to Surbiton?" or "Does this train stop at Surbiton?" may have been clearer. There are people who will ask "Does this train go through Surbiton?" wanting a limited stop service, or, for reasons best known to themselves have something against Surbiton.

 

[steamybrian]

In my early days on BR I worked as a relief clerk in the Telephone Enquiry Bureau at Waterloo. It was a quiet Saturday evening with few telephone calls so it gave us time for a few minutes chat and jokes amongst fellow clerks. Then the phone rings.-
Lady asks " Can you please answer something which has been puzzling me for sometime. Why do the ferry boats to the Isle of Wight between Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde take 30 minutes going out yet take only 25 minutes to comeback?"
Me- "Well madam- it is down hill coming back.!"
Lady " Oh- thank you very much..!".
the phone is then put down very quickly.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

The question which was asked was answered accurately. The train went THROUGH Surbiton. As to what the questioner actually wanted is another matter. If they wanted to alight then "Does this train go to Surbiton?" or "Does this train stop at Surbiton?" may have been clearer. There are people who will ask "Does this train go through Surbiton?" wanting a limited stop service, or, for reasons best known to themselves have something against Surbiton.

Exactly, on top of that I mark stations down for 'passage' to, and if I wanted to pass somewhere that would be the simple question, after all it might stop to pick up only or stop for staff purposes which would stop me from passing it.

 

[Goatboy]

The question which was asked was answered accurately. The train went THROUGH Surbiton.

I think we all know what 99.9% of the public mean when they ask a question like that, as did he hence mentioning it as a story

 

[quarella]

I think we all know what 99.9% of the public mean when they ask a question like that, as did he hence mentioning it as a story

I thought I knew what 99.9% of public meant till I started a career in customer facing positions in public transport, road and rail.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
"Where are the buses?" This was from a guard to Control on a service that had just been declared a failure, was in the middle of no-where and when asked they had no idea how many passengers were on board.

 

[455driver]

That's not on at all - how close to professional malpractice do you think your actions were?

Couldnt give a monkies, he should not have assaulted me by poking me in the back several times!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The question which was asked was answered accurately. The train went THROUGH Surbiton.

Thank you!

 

[A-driver]

That's not on at all - how close to professional malpractice do you think your actions were?

'Professional malpractice'?!!! Give it a rest. If people are rude to me or speak to me like dirt or arrogantly then ill treat them in the same manner.

If people are polite then I will go out of my way to be as helpful as possible.

Just because I work fur the railway it didn't mean I am open to be verbally abused, grabbed, prodded, sworn at, treated like dirt, patronised or worse.

And before anyone goes on about 'customer service' its a 2 way street-treat me with respect and ill do the same in return- just like any customer facing role in any industry.

 

[Pete81E]

I was chatting on the platform with my brother who works for FGW when a passenger came up and said "Sorry to bother you, but I couldn't find my a*** with both hands" and quick as a flash before he got any further my brother answered "Well, I'm afraid I can't help you with that sir, but if you want to know anything about trains I'll do my best!"