The most stupid question you have been asked

[A-driver]

Were they standing by the 2 car stop marker board? Those things get mistaken for platform markers more often than you might think.

I happen to know a certain driver who has done that the other way around and mistaken the platform 4 board for the 4 car stop marker - and the platform sign is about 2 cars into the platform!

 

[Lewisham2221]

A couple of weeks ago I was at Longton waiting for the Crewe via Stoke train. Despite the platform display clearly showing that the train called at Stoke, the clear, automated announcement that the train called at Stoke and the fact that Stoke is the next station down the line, with no way to avoid it and every train from Longton to Crewe calling at Stoke, I was still asked by a fellow passenger, as the train pulled in "Does this train go Stoke, it looks strange?" (it was a 158 instead of the usual 153, but I still don't understand what was strange about it!)

 

[wintonian]

I was at Portsmouth Harbour yesterday and got asked which way the train left :roll:

Quite a reasonable question considering the state of things down here yesterday.

 

[IanXC]

I happen to know a certain driver who has done that the other way around and mistaken the platform 4 board for the 4 car stop marker - and the platform sign is about 2 cars into the platform!

Is this confusion a part of the reason some stations (presumably those where everything stops in the same place) are increasingly displaying "S Car Stop" boards?

 

[EM2]

Another one which is a little odd.
When I get to St.P, especially on a late shift, I take a moment or two to check the departure boards, just to see how things are running, and in the meantime, sort out my headphones and put my iPod away.
Whilst doing this one day, and not in uniform (I get changed in the locker room), a woman came running up to me, panicking and looking for a Huddersfield train. As it was 14:10, I asked her if it was a Megabusplus service (14:15 departure), and said that it was. I gave her the directions she needed, and than asked 'How did you know I worked here?'
'You just look like you do...'

 

[A-driver]

Is this confusion a part of the reason some stations (presumably those where everything stops in the same place) are increasingly displaying "S Car Stop" boards?

Well s car boards are always used where everything stops in the same place-or at least should be. But more and more stations are becoming single stop mark stations to reduce stop shorts which are on the rise with many companies at the moment. Unfortunately the health and safety brigade keep getting in the way with the whole slips trips and falls argument.

 

[craigwilson]

Were they standing by the 2 car stop marker board? Those things get mistaken for platform markers more often than you might think.

Does Orpington have 2-car stop boards? It might, I suppose there's a chance some of the metro service might be 2-car maybe?

It's easier down here in Southeastern-land to confuse them, as the stop boards and platform signs are both blue (but different shades).

Well s car boards are always used where everything stops in the same place-or at least should be. But more and more stations are becoming single stop mark stations to reduce stop shorts which are on the rise with many companies at the moment. Unfortunately the health and safety brigade keep getting in the way with the whole slips trips and falls argument.

Reminds me of an incident at Margate one morning where our driver evidently forgot he only had 4 carriages, and flew past us down to the 8-car board! Cue a little running down the platform to get on from the waiting passengers!!

 

[FenMan]

On XC, heading south from Reading to Basingstoke, I was asked "Is this the London train?"

They were attending a christening in NW London. Oops!

I suggested they had a chat with the train manager straightaway so they could go to Waterloo and take the Jubilee from there. They did and and he marked up their tickets with no problems. Two mightily relieved people!

 

[robby p]

This is sought of a question but using body language. When your tearing through a station at 80mph+ and a guy casually strolls to the platform edge and puts his hand out to stop you like a bus, then as you get closer throws a strop that you've not stopped!!

 

[Trainfan344]

Talking with someone who works at london bridge, they complained of this question:

Where is the Shard?

 

[jnjkerbin]

Were they standing by the 2 car stop marker board? Those things get mistaken for platform markers more often than you might think.

No they were far away from the only car stop marker, which happens to be an S car stop marker, so no excuses!

 

[Dave1987]

What really really gets me is when a passenger says "Where is platform number 2" and they are standing next to a pretty big sign stating platform 2 or there are signs everywhere saying platform 2 with an arrow in the relevant direction. This ov course is not just confined to platform 2 but every platform. Do ppl automatically switch off their common sense when entering a railway station? It is ov course the leisure traveller that is worst for this as commuters then to know exactly where they are going, the times of the trains. But the signs are all there for the ppl who have never been to the station before. Do they just not look because they cant be bothered or do ppl genuinely have no common sense nowadays? I wouldn't go into a shop and expect the sales assistant to show me where every item I wanted was.

 

[O L Leigh]

Commonsense...? Don't make me laugh!! No such thing.

I had just rolled into Liv St from Stansted and was approached by a lady asking if this was the train for Romford. I told her no, she had to go to platforms 16, 17 or 18. She said no, it's definately this platform and, after a bit of to-ing and fro-ing, I asked her what made her say this.

"It's written down", she said.

"Where?" I asked.

"Here", she said taking a timetable out of her bag and pointing at the top left-hand corner (at this point one railway numbered each line's timetable, the GE Metro timetable being the same number as the platform my train was standing on).

O L Leigh

 

[SPADTrap]

This is sought of a question but using body language. When your tearing through a station at 80mph+ and a guy casually strolls to the platform edge and puts his hand out to stop you like a bus, then as you get closer throws a strop that you've not stopped!!

Shirley not!??? Shocking

 

[O L Leigh]

Yup. I've been given all manner of obscene hand gestures when running through platforms, from the "bird" to the "hand shandy" and all points between. I've also had watch-tappers and people with their thumbs out.

O L Leigh

 

[317666]

Not so long ago I was on the Cambridge (Mis-)Guided Busway. Line A runs from Trumpington Park and Ride, via Addenbrooke's Hospital, the Station and the City Centre to St Ives. I got on the bus at the Hospital, which is a stop where passengers must buy tickets from the driver. It was a bus heading for St Ives, and when we stopped at the railway station a group of people who had also got on at the hospital asked me if the bus was going to Trumpington...

Now, I know common sense is severely lacking these days, but on the basis that these people presumably had to ask the driver for a ticket to their destination (they didn't have passes as I had to queue behind them whilst they bought their tickets, although I wasn't listening to what they were saying), surely they would've found out that they were going the wrong way from the driver? Either a case of pure stupidity or the driver was a bit lost

 

[Lrd]

surely they would've found out that they were going the wrong way from the driver? Either a case of pure stupidity or the driver was a bit lost

Unless they just bought day tickets and didn't state a destination.

 

[Dave1987]

I've had a passenger who missed the last up London from Colchester say was the railway going to pay for a taxi to get him to London. When told no it is clearly advertised in the timetable what time the last departure is he said he didnt care and that it was the railways responsibility to get him to his destination. Needless to say he didn't get his taxi

 

[AlexS]

Commonsense...? Don't make me laugh!! No such thing.

I had just rolled into Liv St from Stansted and was approached by a lady asking if this was the train for Romford. I told her no, she had to go to platforms 16, 17 or 18. She said no, it's definately this platform and, after a bit of to-ing and fro-ing, I asked her what made her say this.

"It's written down", she said.

"Where?" I asked.

"Here", she said taking a timetable out of her bag and pointing at the top left-hand corner (at this point one railway numbered each line's timetable, the GE Metro timetable being the same number as the platform my train was standing on).

O L Leigh

Similar issue with passengers who look at the 'Connections' posters to various destinations posted on stations. They then see the '1' in a box for First Class accommodation, don't bother looking at the key, and then proceed directly to Platform 1, and complain when they (if they're lucky) notice that the train is going from the opposite side of the station when it's advertised for platform 1.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

I wouldn't go into a shop and expect the sales assistant to show me where every item I wanted was.

Try working at Asda! Being on the department near the door, it seems some people can't be bothered actually finding the item. I don't mind taking them to one or two items, but sometimes you can end up as some personal shopper as they go on 'where is the milk please' then 'where is butter, jam, mulled wine, spices, chocolate blah blah blah' and I'm thinking have you ever thought about what I do when I go shopping, and just walk up and down the isle?

Funnily enough today, we had someone screaming as she thought our Wine glasses were misleading, as they sit in a box (bit like a wine carrier) with 6 in each box. the Shelf Edge Label (SEL) clearly reads 50p each. This customer was thinking that it was 6 for 50p! I know we are cheap but bloomin hell, anyway she was not happy and wanted 6 for 50p. She was then shown the SEL and admitted she didn't see it, and paid £3 for 6...

 

[Starmill]

Try working at Asda! Being on the department near the door, it seems some people can't be bothered actually finding the item. I don't mind taking them to one or two items, but sometimes you can end up as some personal shopper as they go on 'where is the milk please' then 'where is butter, jam, mulled wine, spices, chocolate blah blah blah' and I'm thinking have you ever thought about what I do when I go shopping, and just walk up and down the isle?

Funnily enough today, we had someone screaming as she thought our Wine glasses were misleading, as they sit in a box (bit like a wine carrier) with 6 in each box. the Shelf Edge Label (SEL) clearly reads 50p each. This customer was thinking that it was 6 for 50p! I know we are cheap but bloomin hell, anyway she was not happy and wanted 6 for 50p. She was then shown the SEL and admitted she didn't see it, and paid £3 for 6...

I'd take the customer service I get from ASDA over that which I get from a certain TOC up North anyday

 

[wintonian]

I'd take the customer service I get from ASDA over that which I get from a certain TOC up North anyday

I once took a broken item (it was the only one left on the shelf) to a member of staff in Asda and asked if they had any more at all, I was grumpily informed that they didn't have a clue and and that department is only staffed overnight and I would have to come back then if I wanted an answer. Very helpful I thought. :roll:

Anyway I would never actually buy anything with Asdas name on it (except something like milk, teaspoons etc.) as it either tastes vile or falls apart inn 5 mins.

Having said that I had the most ridiculous argument in Tesco a few weeks ago,

I wanted a new bag for life as the one I had was now falling apart, I was informed at the check out that they didn't have any so I left with my shopping, I got a couple of checkouts down and found a couple so I took it back to the cashier and said I had found one who then informed me that she couldn't just swap them round an I would have to buy something first - the fact that she had just sold me £03 worth of goods was irrelevant. :roll: I went to customer services who before I had finished asking what I wanted and screwed the old one up, shoved it in the bin and told me to just keep the new one.

and then there's Salisburys who just keep selling out of date food, a waste of money if your in a hurry and forget to check whilst your in the shop, and why do they have to sell things that are like 50, 100, 200% more expensive than in Tesco?

I hate Supermarkets and I'm going to pop to Tesco in a bit for a couple of bits so I don't have to torture myself at some point in the next few days. :-x

 

[RichmondCommu]

Try working at Asda! Being on the department near the door, it seems some people can't be bothered actually finding the item. I don't mind taking them to one or two items, but sometimes you can end up as some personal shopper as they go on 'where is the milk please' then 'where is butter, jam, mulled wine, spices, chocolate blah blah blah' and I'm thinking have you ever thought about what I do when I go shopping, and just walk up and down the isle?

Now hang on a minute, given that you work in a supermarket it's your job to help to customers!

 

[fgwtt1988]

Not a stupid question, more of a stupid action... Whilst once working at Axminster station on a quiet afternoon I was sat at the desk in the ticket office having a look through the CCTV cameras and witnessed a lady go up the lift on platform 1 then came out the lift and went straight down the stairs in front of her only to get confused at the bottom as to why she's still on the same platform! Like the lift was meant to be some kind of Dr Who TARDIS! :roll: After a quick look around to see if anyone saw her doing it and seeing no one she went back up the stairs and finally found her way to platform 2.. unknown to her I saw everything and was having a really good laugh to myself!

 

[wintonian]

Not a stupid question, more of a stupid action... Whilst once working at Axminster station on a quiet afternoon I was sat at the desk in the ticket office having a look through the CCTV cameras and witnessed a lady go up the lift on platform 1 then came out the lift and went straight down the stairs in front of her only to get confused at the bottom as to why she's still on the same platform! Like the lift was meant to be some kind of Dr Who TARDIS! :roll: After a quick look around to see if anyone saw her doing it and seeing no one she went back up the stairs and finally found her way to platform 2.. unknown to her I saw everything and was having a really good laugh to myself!

The Liverpool Adelphi has lifts like that, press 1 and the doors open on G, press 1 again the doors open on 2 or 3 or 4 etc. etc. By the 3rd night I decided it was less stressful and quicker to walk the 6 flights of stairs in the morning.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Now hang on a minute, given that you work in a supermarket it's your job to help to customers!

I was merely quoting what the person said about not expecting a shop assistant to tell the person where everything is, I'm saying it does happen, then you get other people asking for everything else then you don't end up getting deliveries done, and management want to know why...:roll: It isn't a daily occurrence though at least.

If anyone is having customer service trouble though, I'd complain to Asda House in Leeds. We do take pride in customer service and try to do everything different to other places, and we get extensive training on this. Our store is very good and is top of the region, however it seems there are a few stores lagging behind badly on the customer service front

 

[sarahj]

Its not long after working for the railway that you learn the question 'is this the london train' needs to be answered with , where are you going'. This happens after someone says, is this the london train, yes, then you storm through preston park and they come up and complain.

Train from Vic to Littlehamton
PIS, calls at eg Hove, Portslade, Shoreham, Worthing etc
Me, Passengers for Aldrington, fishersgate, Southwick, Lancing, East Worthing please change at hove and remain on the same platform.
Trains stops at hove and then off we go.
Coming into Shoreham. me: reminder to passengers after shoreham the next station is Worthing. Last chance to Change here for lancing. This service does not call at Lancing.
Train storms though Lancing. Passenger comes up. 'why did we not stop at Lancing'. Me, we are not supposed to stop at lancing, did you not hear the announcements. Pass, yes, i heard them, but I thought it did stop.

8 car train, leaves East Croydon. Coaches 1,2,3 & 4 will divide at Haywards Heath and head for Eastbourne. 5,6,7 & 8 will head for littlehampton. I'm in coach 7 checking tickets. Pass comes up, I'm going to Lewes, what coach? me, front 4 coaches, 1,2,3 or 4. Pass, where are they? Me, at the front of the train. But I was in coach 6, where is this? Me, coach 7. pass: So which way is 4? Me, back where you came from. Pass, but I dont get it, I was in coach 6 and you say this is coach 7, where is coach 4.:roll:

I've also had, where is the front of the train. (we are on the move)
As I come out the rear cab section of a 313, how are you driving. I have replied, its not easy to reverse a train to worthing.

Victoria. Pass comes up, is the the train to east croydon. Me, yes, and please board we're about to go. Pass does not board but walks down the train. Ignores whistles. Doors shut. Its then the pass turns to try and open door. train pulls away and passes pass on platform complaining to platform staff.

Train heading down the arun valley, has passed Horsham where the train split in two. Has now passed and stopped at Chists Hospital and Billingshurts. Pass comes up, is this not the train for Lewes? Me, no. Oh, there was some confusion at Clapham Junction. In the meantime the train has stopped at East croydon, Redhill, Gatwick, Three Bridges, Crawley etc and the PIS etc have all been working. Note: pass was a regular commuter with a gold card.

Train Brighton to Lewes. PIS working. Stops London road, Moulsecombe, then Falmer. At Falmer about 80% of the passengers get off and this takes time, about 1+ min. Trains heads on its way. I'm checking tickets. Passenger for Falmer. Oh I never noticed. Me, Ok, no problem. when we get to Lewes, cross over the bridge to platform 4, there is a train in 4 mins. Ok. Get to Lewes. Pass, where do i need to go? Me, over the Bridge to platform 4. Points to platform, that one there. Pass gets off train. Train pulls out. Pass still standing on P3 looking lost.

Pass comes up, the doors did not open at the last station. Me, so sorry, I never noticed, all the other doors worked. Pass moans. Come to next station in 2 mins. Train stops. Pass stands at door. Door open buttons light up. pass still stands. Me, you need to press the button.

The latest we have to deal with, passengers with headphones. Sometimes things do go wrong and we make annoucements. Pass with headphones then comes up and complains 'I never heard any announcements'

After working on the trains for a while and having passengers ask you where the toilet is, (while standing next to a door marked WC), trying to open the Universal toilet by hand, while ignoring the lit button marked 'open'. Once in, trying to close by hand, ignoring the light flashing that says 'lock', having people waiting to ask question, is this the right coach for Gatwick, me, yes. Person behind, is this the right coach for gatwick, so soon learn that at the enterance to every station is a big machine that removes everyones common sense. You do start to wonder how these people got dressed that morning.

And, no your oyster, 2 zone travelcard etc is not valid to Gatwick, Brighton etc etc. But it let me through the barrier at Victoria.

Pass faints on train in mid summer during morning rush hour as we come into Victoria. I go deal with pass. Question: what have to had to eat this morning? Answer, a cup of water. DOH!!!!!!!!!

And note, if your on the last train to london and you leave your handbag on your seat to go and have sex in the toilet, dont come complianing to me when it gets nicked. (I sent them to the platform office at three bridges)

SJ

 

[Nym]

And note, if your on the last train to london and you leave your handbag on your seat to go and have sex in the toilet, dont come complianing to me when it gets nicked.

Good thing I always remember my handbag then...


Actually, I don't have a handbag... I mainly have backpacks, and take it with me to the toilet...

 

[LE Greys]

I was merely quoting what the person said about not expecting a shop assistant to tell the person where everything is, I'm saying it does happen, then you get other people asking for everything else then you don't end up getting deliveries done, and management want to know why...:roll: It isn't a daily occurrence though at least.

Since I have considerable trouble finding things in shops (and libraries, I often say I couldn't find a Bible in the Vatican) I'm convinced the people who work in them have magical powers to make things appear and disappear. I swear that, on many occasions, I've gone right past the required area a dozen times, not seen the required item, then an assistant has taken me straight to it - presumably with a magic wand concealed up their sleeve.

 

[Dave1987]

Ive had a passenger come up to me saying "the doors did not open at Thorpe-Le-Soken, you need to pay for a taxi back there for me now", I say ok will just check the doors are working ok and nothing has tripped out. Another passenger walks past and says to me "the doors did open, he was just asleep and didnt wake up till we were leaving the platform". Ok that will be you paying for a taxi to Thorpe then SIR. When things like that happen you doubt whether ppl are telling the truth even if it turns out they are.