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Post by oe on Oct 5, 2011 9:59:45 GMT
There was an interesting little incident on an early H&C ex Barking train this morning. I was in the back carriage, busy with my sudoku when the train came to a halt. As it was still dark it took a few seconds to work out where we were. As expected the driver announced that we were being held at a red signal in the siding and that he would need to wake up the signalman. A few minutes later he came back on to say that there had been problems with signal since Monday and on that occasion it had taken over an hour to sort it out - he hoped that that was not the case today. Another few minutes passed and the driver came back on the tannoy to say that he suspected we were going to be allowed to reverse back into the bay at Plaistow and then resume our journey. And indeed this came to pass. What i found interesting was the responses of the passengers as the driver made his way back through the train. One obnoxious fellow accused the driver of going the wrong way! and refused to listen to the drivers explanation (the driver gave up); while a young postman next to me remarked that there was no point blaming the driver calling the culprits d*ckheads. The driver took us back into Plaistow and whilst doing announced that he would be turning straight round and advised everyone to stay where they were rather than walk the length of the platform and over the bridge. But no, about half of the passengers got up and left the train and had just got onto the westbound when the doors closed and we set off, leaving them incredulous! Other recent threads have talked about the driver knows best and I for one felt that he didn't put a foot wrong in his communications. I arrived about 1 minute late for work in Elstree despite this twenty minute or so delay so if my journey was so subtly affected surely those merely travelling to town or Docklands would have been less affected - except of course that they all belong to the leave it to the last minute brigade.
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Post by phillw48 on Oct 5, 2011 10:37:40 GMT
I hope those idiots who berated the driver were amongst those who got off. (As they obviously did not listen to the announcements they probably were.)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2011 15:42:34 GMT
If the train operator said what you have said about the signal operator, I'd report him!
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Post by chrisvandenkieboom on Oct 5, 2011 18:03:25 GMT
There's no point of using PA if passengers don't even listen properly... If the doors at Westminster (Jubilee) don't work properly, you're not gonna blame the driver for breaking them down... you should blame the awesome technology that usually malfunctions... I'm not from London, but hearing "We're having some problems with the doors" is quite reassuring.
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Post by superteacher on Oct 5, 2011 21:10:10 GMT
If the train operator said what you have said about the signal operator, I'd report him! Not as funny as the Central line driver a few years ago, who announced: "I'm sorry for the delay, but there is a technical reason for this. The controller on duty at the moment doesn't know his ars* from his elbow." That brought a laugh I can tell you! |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2011 22:30:27 GMT
If the train operator said what you have said about the signal operator, I'd report him! Not as funny as the Central line driver a few years ago, who announced: "I'm sorry for the delay, but there is a technical reason for this. The controller on duty at the moment doesn't know his ars* from his elbow." That brought a laugh I can tell you! But is that professional for someone who is a Professional Train Operator? Maybe the information that the controller had passed on had changed due to other factors. As I said before, I would report a train operator for such comments and I'm not often one to do that! |
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Post by Colin D on Oct 6, 2011 12:38:29 GMT
Not as funny as the Central line driver a few years ago, who announced: "I'm sorry for the delay, but there is a technical reason for this. The controller on duty at the moment doesn't know his ars* from his elbow." That brought a laugh I can tell you! But is that professional for someone who is a Professional Train Operator? Maybe the information that the controller had passed on had changed due to other factors. As I said before, I would report a train operator for such comments and I'm not often one to do that! Why report this train operator, as I read the OP the T/op seems to have done everything right. Not being on the train, it sounds like just a little banter to help lighten the situation. After all he did continue on to say this signal had been giving problems since Monday and kept those who were willing listen well informed as to what was going to happen next. But then again maybe the T/op should be reported for doing His/Her job right by communicating with the passengers  |
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Post by Dstock7080 on Oct 6, 2011 12:43:39 GMT
But then again maybe the T/op should be reported for doing His/Her job right by communicating with the passengers I'm sure there was probably someone on the train with a stopwatch making sure the comments were made within 30secs. too ! |
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Post by superteacher on Oct 6, 2011 21:22:11 GMT
Not as funny as the Central line driver a few years ago, who announced: "I'm sorry for the delay, but there is a technical reason for this. The controller on duty at the moment doesn't know his ars* from his elbow." That brought a laugh I can tell you! But is that professional for someone who is a Professional Train Operator? Maybe the information that the controller had passed on had changed due to other factors. As I said before, I would report a train operator for such comments and I'm not often one to do that! So would you report the 1992 stock driver who once said" "Sadly, these trains are computer operated, and have a similar processing power to a ZX Spectrum. If anyone has a spare laptop, please bring it to the front so we can plug it in and get the train moving." Sometimes these type of humourous comments actually defuse the anger of passengers at being delayed, so I say more of the same please! |
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Post by citysig on Oct 6, 2011 21:34:58 GMT
Have to agree with my Service Control colleague on this one. Humorous quips to keep everyone's morale up during a delay is one thing, but making unfounded suggestions about actual staff is another.
Quipping that the computer on a 92 stock is not much better than a ZX spectrum, is to be honest not that harsh. Your home PC is built to carry out a multitude of functions, whereas the train is not. So you're not that wide of the mark. The trains weren't cheap, but, as a fleet, they can take the odd remark against them. Thing is, when you remark about one, you remark about all of them.
So when remarks (however light-heartedly) are made about individual staff, it tarnishes all of us. When there is a genuine signal failure, the last thing anybody in the signal cabin will be doing is sleeping. They will be dealing with umpteen phone calls, and trying all they can to get things moving.
There have been umpteen visits by all staff to each others areas of work over the years. It is a shame that there still appears to be those individuals who choose the line that the opposite side is not doing all they can, and broadcast such unprofessional messages. Whatever the cause, it's fine to make the odd quip, but make sure you're not instilling an image in people's heads that that is the real reason things aren't moving.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2011 22:14:50 GMT
I'd like to think that most of the people on the train hearing the ar5e/elbow quip would take it for it would appear to be, a humerous aside with no malice intended as some have stated above, to lift spirits which had I been on the train at the time, would be how I'd have interpreted it. However, I can also understand someone in a controller's position, such as MetControl, taking umbrage at such a comment as it could be seen by said professionals hearing it first hand as casting aspersions on his or her grade's abilities. On balance I wouldn't have reported the driver. I have no desire to try and get someone into trouble (even at the worst of times) and when I haven't been particularly inconvenienced by another's actions it does seem a bit humbug to do so. I wonder sometimes if we're all in danger of losing our ability to cope with sarcasm. The lowest form of wit it may be, but more often than not, it can raise a smile when everything around is going wrong! |
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Post by oe on Oct 7, 2011 6:37:29 GMT
I certainly didn't think that the drivers comment was meant in a disparaging sense and I certainly didn't think that mentioning it would trigger any debate. I suspect he was playing along with Joe publics perceptions rather than questioning a colleagues diligence. The OP was merely concerned with people not listening to the drivers announcements.
Incidentally I got on the same train today and was so engrossed in reading my Metro that I forgot to check if we were routed through the siding or not. Certainly if we were there was no delay.
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Ben
fotopic... whats that?
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Post by Ben on Oct 7, 2011 10:06:08 GMT
Storm in a tea cup. Read stories on this site before with a similar line being said. The assertion that a signaller would need waking up is as ridiculous as the notion that passengers are mostly ignorant enough to actually believe such an idea! Its like the one about a driver who's stuck behind a train going slowly for whatever reason. Comes on the PA, apologises and explains. Then goes on to rue the fact that the driver musn't be pedaling hard enough. If someone is going to make an unprofessional anouncement there are far more unprofessional/non-humourous/libelious things that could be said  |
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Post by maxym on Oct 7, 2011 17:32:39 GMT
Back to topic... Is there a siding at West Ham (as well as the bay platform at Plaistow)? What's the layout round there? Nothing on my Trackmap (Book 5, 3rd edition).
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castlebar
Planners use hindsight, not foresight
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Post by castlebar on Oct 7, 2011 17:59:30 GMT
maxym
google > cartometro london
You can see brilliant track diagram
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Post by maxym on Oct 13, 2011 15:12:37 GMT
Many thanks Castlebar. New siding to me (haven't been down that way for ages). Carto.metro excellent too!
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