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Post by orienteer on Apr 28, 2006 21:02:32 GMT
Travelling from Baker St to Piccadilly C this afternoon, I noticed a small (cabin bag size) item of luggage by the door, it wasn't clear whose it was. As the train emptied, there was only one guy left standing opposite it after Oxford Circus, and he got off without it and with me at Piccadilly. There was no-one sitting adjacent to it.
I wondered about reporting it, but to whom? No staff on the platform, and the train departed (all terminating at Embankment due to radio probs).
What should I have done, if anything?
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Colin
Advisor
My preserved fire engine!
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Post by Colin on Apr 28, 2006 21:16:14 GMT
You should have reported it!!
Here's a few ideas:
Use the emergency alarm on the train
Use a help point
If there are public telephones - dial 999
Barriers are normally staffed (in central London)
Look for Police
Ask people around you if they are 'off duty' - staff, police, etc will know what to do....
Use a fire call point (red box) - but only as a last resort. An unattended bag is a serious issue - so using a fire call point will get staff attention and is acceptable - providing there's no other means of communication.
Open request to you all - if you find yourself in this situation, or feel that some is acting suspiciously - please, please tell someone!!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2006 21:48:17 GMT
But most important of all - DON'T TOUCH IT!!!
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prjb
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LU move customers from A to B, they used to do it via 'C'.
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Post by prjb on Apr 28, 2006 21:52:39 GMT
You should ask people in the immediate area if it is theirs and if not then clear the immediate area. Operating an alarm handle (as Colin suggests) is more than acceptable here, but best to do it at a station stop. There is always a member of staff in the leading driving cab (except at terminus stations)!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2006 23:36:08 GMT
I would agree with the above - pull the emergency alarm at a station, better to make sure!
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prjb
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LU move customers from A to B, they used to do it via 'C'.
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Post by prjb on Apr 29, 2006 0:01:16 GMT
I think the key message for customers here is not to ignore anything. If you have a genuine suspicion that something is not quite right, please act. If you are wrong you will not be held accountable for genuinely raising the alarm, but if your right...........well.
Also, staff should bear in mind that the 'HOT' procedure is still valid and can be utilised where you feel it is appropriate. Again though, no arguments should be raised from management if you do not feel happy about carrying out the procedure for whatever reason.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2006 0:12:44 GMT
There is possibly a problem with how this is advertised to the passengers. It tends to be "tell a member of staff" but of course a lot of times there is no member of staff visible. It needs to be made clear that the use of train emergancy alarms and call point alarms is acceptable for these situations.
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prjb
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LU move customers from A to B, they used to do it via 'C'.
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Post by prjb on Apr 29, 2006 0:20:37 GMT
I think your right, its a fine balancing act between telling customers to pull the handle and then having a handle down at every other station for trivial things. I certainly think that it should be made clear that if a customer suspects that there is a genuine need to operate the alarm then they should do so.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2006 13:32:36 GMT
Many years ago - in the middle of the 1970s IRA bomb campaigns - I and a schoolmate on the Circle line near Aldgate East "found" an unattended box in an otherwise empty car.
There were no staff around - so I unhesitatingly pulled the red handle which gave a satisfying gush of air from the train and stopped the train leaving.
Driver appears - we point out the box - and vacate car - hiding behind platform pilar and watch developments - expecting hordes of police etc to appear after train and platform cleared.
Driver looks at box - kicks it - and says "its only a pair of shoes lads" - resets handle and walks off with box to cab.
Not sure that would happen today - very sang froid attitude.....
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prjb
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LU move customers from A to B, they used to do it via 'C'.
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Post by prjb on Apr 29, 2006 13:52:51 GMT
Yes, we apply a little more procedure to these incidents these days! Not just since July 7th either, we have had to deal with terrorist activities in one form or another for many decades.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2006 18:07:05 GMT
What is the HOT procedure exactly?
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prjb
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LU move customers from A to B, they used to do it via 'C'.
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Post by prjb on Apr 29, 2006 18:11:07 GMT
It is a very basic list of checks that staff can utilise in order to assist them at an early stage in deciding if an item is suspicious or not. On it's own the list is not very effective, but coupled with the training and expertise our staff possess it can and does save a lot of delays on a daily basis.
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