I was once on a bus, the traffic was that bad the driver put his feet up on the dashboard, it was brilliant seeing somebody have a laugh and a joke instead of just monotonously sitting there feeling frustrated.
Mind, it wasn't a normal bus service, it was a special event.
Also, seeing this thread made me think of Blackpool Tramway, you can pretty much see into the cabs and the drivers deal with that perfectly well. Same goes for Manchester Metrolink if I recall correctly.
Edit: seems somebody allready said something along the same lines, apologies.
As has been said, no one has suggested drivers couldn't deal with it. It's more a case of what on earth would be the point in a window? Why start putting them into mainline trains? What benefit would there be?
The DLR has no issue with people being able to see out of the front. Likewise passengers upstairs in double deck buses.
Meanwhile, in coaches, taxis, and indeed for 40 years of Mk 1 dmus (and just a few electrics, like the Glasgow Blue Trains) it didn't cause any issue at all. Even the GWR diesel railcars of the 1930s had it. All the dmu drivers had come from steam locos and never felt any issue I can recall with the passengers being behind. Nor was there ever a case of passengers being difficult through the window that I can recall - and it doesn't happen on buses and coaches, does it ?
It was however a key marketing feature when the trains first came in, and in part led to a notable upsurge in patronage. Much was made of it in publicity of the time.
There is no issue with people seeing out of the front of a train. The DLR dosnt have a driver at the front so is not comparable.
Personally when I'm working I don't want people staring over my shoulder watching everything I do. And many other drivers feel the same way. Yes other forms of transport have a visible driver but that doesn't mean trains need it to. I wouldn't feel comfortable driving a tram where I had people watching me. That means I wouldn't go for a job as a tram driver.
As I say, no one has come up with any reasons for the driver to be visible-and there was a long thread on it a while back (after the Spain crash) where again no one came up with any reasons for the driver to be visible. On those grounds it's unlikely to ever come back-it's not financially beneficial, there is no reason for it to be considered and those who work in the front would oppose it so why would anyone consider introducing it?!
I'll also add that far from considering adding a window the opposite can be seen to be happening. A lot of work is being done on the bulkhead of the class 700 to soundproof the cab. The original mock up had a very thin wall and didn't contain sound. The union reps who were consulted insisted this be changed (which it has been) due to TPWS4 which is fitted. TPWS4 talks to the driver if activated and it was feared that the last thing we need is it alerting anyone in the front coach to the fact that the driver has had a spad or whatever. It will lead to incidents being blown out of all proportion amongst other things.
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