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Post by abe on Jan 17, 2012 8:00:30 GMT
A northbound Chiltern train (ex-Marylebone 15.56) failed at Harrow-on-the-Hill platform 1. I was on the train behind, which ended up stuck on the approach to Harrow for about 15 minutes. I was impressed on how the control staff (who are LUL) handled this. Firstly, when it became apparent that the defective train was not going to move they allowed our train to enter the south end of platform 1 and draw up behind the failed unit, allowing passengers off. Secondly, they altered the next Amersham train from 'all stations' to 'fast' so as to minimize delays to passengers from the Chiltern service. Given that this problem was not of LU's making I was impressed at the speed of the reaction to the problem. The announcements on the Met line train, telling people that it was now fast were also very clear. Good job all round - and if the controller was a forum member, many thanks!
Finally, it was interesting to see how the S Stock handled the change to the service pattern. The driver didn't alter it at Harrow, so North Harrow continued to show as the next station. As we passed North Harrow on the fast lines the displays blanked out, and remained thus until we approached Moor Park, at which point they showed that station as being next (but continued to refer to the train as being 'all stations'). I presume that GPS or distance measurement is used, and if something unexpected occurs then it goes quiet until it can work out what is happening.
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Chris M
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Post by Chris M on Jan 17, 2012 8:51:18 GMT
If you haven't already, I encourage you to send formal feedback via the Help & contact section of the TfL website. When I've had occasion to report positive feedback previously I've always been thanked for doing so, and I understand that it is appreciated by the staff involved. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2012 10:54:22 GMT
A cheque can be sent to the usual address: MetControl/Linecontroller66, Ivory Tower at Baker St etc etc. Neither of us were on yesterday, but we're off on the TfL jolly together today to the Olympic Village  I'm sure we'll pass it on to the colleagues concerned.  As stated by Chris M, sometimes we (as in all staff) get something right and it's good to send in positive feedback, particularly for the T/Op and any other staff concerned to be recognised for their actions. I hope all this never resulted in a Chesham being cancelled? ;D |
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Post by superteacher on Jan 17, 2012 22:52:07 GMT
I would say that events as described above are dealt with well far more often than badly, but it's usually only the bad ones that get reported.
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Post by citysig on Jan 18, 2012 0:26:18 GMT
Just to mirror the above (and in all seriousness) send in your feedback. Whilst I don't wish to knock anyone doing a good job, nor blow my own trumpet, internally we are bombarded with stories of station and train staff doing x,y,z for the good of the company, but it is rare to hear of the actions of Service Control being praised (a notable absence of mentions for SC at the "Company Event" mentioned by Lc66 above.) It was the result of some of our colleagues which brought this about, and well done to them. However, cheques can be sent as detailed above and we will (of course ) see that they reach the correct parties ;D |
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Post by charleyfarley on Jan 18, 2012 1:07:26 GMT
I for one never knew that LUL would intervene in a Chiltern issue. Although the unit was apparently stuck at an LUL station, it was presumably in its own platform and not interfering with LU services. Seems the very opposite in cooperation terms to a recent situation where London Midland passengers were left without a train (to London) at Birmingham and Virgin wouldn't accept their tickets despite the identical route.
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Post by abe on Jan 18, 2012 7:58:02 GMT
Don't worry, positive feedback was sent to LUL. I can't abide people who are only too happy to complain when things go wrong but then shrug and say "why should I?" when people go the extra mile to help out and it's suggested that they write to say thanks. I included train details etc. so that hopefully the train driver can be more easily thanked.
And if it highlights the good that service control do, so much the better. That's why I deliberately referred to controllers in my message to TfL.
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castlebar
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Post by castlebar on Jan 18, 2012 8:40:48 GMT
Sending positive feedback sometimes backfires, especially if somebody has exceeded their own level of authority, irrespective of obtaining the right result. History dictates that initiative and free thinking is frowned upon in the whole London Transport structure. Historically, people have lost their jobs for it. I fear for anyone who has made an on the spot decision. Latereral thinking appears nowhere in any rule book.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2012 15:52:43 GMT
Permissive working on LU? Didn't realise that was allowed!
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Post by redsetter on Jan 18, 2012 16:02:01 GMT
Sending positive feedback sometimes backfires, especially if somebody has exceeded their own level of authority, irrespective of obtaining the right result. History dictates that initiative and free thinking is frowned upon in the whole London Transport structure. Historically, people have lost their jobs for it. I fear for anyone who has made an on the spot decision. Latereral thinking appears nowhere in any rule book. thats very common in large organisations,does the face fit,are they going to rock the boat.thats the way we do things here. the emphasis today is on teamwork and having someone doing there own thing or standing out is not acceptable |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2012 16:25:37 GMT
Permissive working on LU? Didn't realise that was allowed! Sounds like the train detained outside passed signals at danger - expecting to find a train ahead and entered the platform. It's fairly common, sometimes if the train already in a platform can move forward by one car too (but won't be able to get much further) that can help. Applying the correct procedures and points being secured and what not of course. I think I've had a train in a platform and a WDM one way and another two to the rear! |
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Post by citysig on Jan 19, 2012 19:59:49 GMT
Don't worry, positive feedback was sent to LUL. I can't abide people who are only too happy to complain when things go wrong but then shrug and say "why should I?" when people go the extra mile to help out and it's suggested that they write to say thanks. I included train details etc. so that hopefully the train driver can be more easily thanked. Yes, there's always those people, and of course those who look into what has been done, and rather than thank us, they interrogate us to see if we really have been doing our job properly... Permissive working on LU? Didn't realise that was allowed! |
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