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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2008 15:01:06 GMT
To the Met driver on a midday train I took from Uxbridge - Ruislip the other week. (been away so not had a chance to post it)
We got stopped at the stick the sidings exit (MW4 I think it was?) showing Red. After the customary minute or so he made an annoucement saying that we were stopped just outside Uxbridge and he was investigating as to why. Minutes went by, and he came back on the PA saying that he still had no idea why we were stopped. Few more minutes when by and the stick cleared. We set off to Hillingdon as normal. No apparent signs as to why we were stopped. At Hillingdon driver made a further annoucement apologising on behalf of TfL for the delay to our service, jokingly referring to "probably just a lazy signalman or something"
Apologies, Understanding and Humour - needless to say I took down the Train Number and Time and contacted TfL straight as soon as I got home, but felt the gentleman in question deserved a bit of pulic recognition!
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Post by neasdena60 on Sept 14, 2008 15:14:59 GMT
Not all the drivers are grumpy.... ;D   |
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Post by upfast on Sept 14, 2008 15:28:09 GMT
apologising on behalf of TfL for the delay to our service, jokingly referring to "probably just a lazy signalman or something" Sounds a bit un-professional to me! |
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Post by citysig on Sept 15, 2008 9:16:34 GMT
I agree. It's one thing to add a bit of humour, but not at the expense of one of your colleagues (which, despite being in a different grade, the signaller would have been).
I would imagine that there was an explanation for the delay, and I would imagine that at some point the driver would have been told, as I am sure he contacted someone via the radio / signal phone. Therefore he either did not do that, or chose to give you the information he wanted to give.
So sorry to burst the bubble jn114, but maybe the driver who does give out all the information and regularly, and does not stab his or her colleagues in the back is the one who our management need to recognise.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2008 12:24:00 GMT
I agree. It's one thing to add a bit of humour, but not at the expense of one of your colleagues (which, despite being in a different grade, the signaller would have been). I would imagine that there was an explanation for the delay, and I would imagine that at some point the driver would have been told, as I am sure he contacted someone via the radio / signal phone. Therefore he either did not do that, or chose to give you the information he wanted to give. So sorry to burst the bubble jn114, but maybe the driver who does give out all the information and regularly, and does not stab his or her colleagues in the back is the one who our management need to recognise. Citisig, you seem remarkably well informed of the events of an incident at which you were not present. But I don't think you're bursting jn114's 'bubble' with your imagined scenario's. IF the service operator (formerly signal operator) had forgotten to clear the signal (as they do from time to time-Its not at all rare-A daily occurence combine wide I'd reckon), then there is no evidence of 'colleague back-stabbing' in the driver's monologue. He may well have been told by the controller that the service operator had forgotten to clear that signal. Who know's? Frequently, when a driver called a service controller to enquire about a delayed signal clearance, the controller could be heard (pre connect radio era) to say that he would give the 'signalman' a poke/wake him up/throw something at him (Earls Ct), and low-and-behold the signal would turn green. Not coincidence. Just human nature, which at times is lazy, absent minded, distracted, or one's attention has been diverted to other matters momentarily. Whatever the case, the driver could have been more professional in his choice of words. Still, well done jn114 for taking the time to put 'pen to paper' (or finger's to keyboard!) to highlight to TfL what you believe were commendable actions. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2008 13:14:39 GMT
I agree it is wrong of the driver to make assumptions, it makes us sounds un-organised and divided, quite often the problem i have at rayners lane is stiff buttons, i may have selected the stick and shifted my attention to something else, does that make me lazy? on occassion i admit i have forgotten about trains and i have been honest enough to tell the driver or controller about my error. Anyway here is a final point for consideration, why would a signaller clear a starter and leave the advance starter on? none of us have an interest in that.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2008 13:51:23 GMT
Maybe I should've kept my mouth shut then! I didn't want to cause an uproar....
I think the driver could have been a bit more careful with his words, but it was a welcome relief to myself and probably most passengers on the train that the driver took the time to actually explain the situation at the next station, rather than ignoring it once we had passed the trouble spot. To a passenger as myself it's nice to be informed, even if it is simply speculation.
somerhimpson you raise a good point - why wasn't the advance starter cleared? Stiff buttons? Perhaps this is just one of those things that we'll never know the answer to.
At the end of the day, I mentioned this to TfL - they or whoever will have investigated I am sure and the appropriate action will have been taken. I always report pleasant and informative drivers as I believe they deserve more recognition than they get.
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Post by superteacher on Sept 15, 2008 17:30:34 GMT
One phrase - "Sense of Humour . . ."
It's amazing how people get so uptight when folks make a humourous comment about their work.
People take life far too seriously sometimes.
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Post by signalfailure on Sept 15, 2008 17:55:57 GMT
Oh comeon guys.
How many of you drivers (especially if you run the Chalfont to Chesham Shuttle) have not had a stick cleared at departure time. Then you ring the signalman, he doesnt answer your call then the signal clears.
Seconds later he's on the radio to you telling you he was watching eastenders!
If you tell me this hasnt happened then your mad, or just not right.
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Post by upfast on Sept 15, 2008 18:04:06 GMT
One phrase - "Sense of Humour . . ." It's amazing how people get so uptight when folks make a humourous comment about their work. People take life far too seriously sometimes. Whilst making whitty comments about signals not working as a 50p hasn't been put in can be funny. Blaming a delay on one individuals alleged inability to do their job, when it may not be their fault that the signal has cleared, and then telling the passengers makes the staff involved look un-professional When train operators (and station staff) are told of delays via internal means, they are not always suitable for public consumption. Whilst I applaud JN114 for taking the time to write in ;D ;D and also the train operator for at least making a PA, some of the content was not! How about, if the train had had a SPAD (aka Signalling Problem to passengers) which was beyond their control and then arrived at the next station to have a PA blaring out "This train terminates here, as the train operator could not drive properly". I doubt they would be too pleased! |
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Post by upfast on Sept 15, 2008 18:34:00 GMT
Oh comeon guys. How many of you drivers (especially if you run the Chalfont to Chesham Shuttle) have not had a stick cleared at departure time. Then you ring the signalman, he doesnt answer your call then the signal clears. Seconds later he's on the radio to you telling you he was watching eastenders! If you tell me this hasnt happened then your mad, or just not right. It may happen. Sometimes the signalman will say something like that to make light of a situation. But to then to say something like that to the passengers isn't good! |
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Post by signalfailure on Sept 15, 2008 19:23:43 GMT
Granted.
But what about the driver on the Jubilee who started a riot of laughs after a delay? All i can recall is a man got on with an Ironing Board at the back car and driver started saying something like anyone need any ironing done please see the man on the back car.
But for even drivers starting to be unprofessional must mean they are unhappy at work. Sounds to me like this paticular driver is fustrated at the fact that he has not been informed of the delay when he should have well been informed.
If i was the driver at the time, I would be frankly embarrased to be running a brown stuff service day in day out.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2008 20:11:13 GMT
Point 1: "probably just a lazy signalman or something"
He should never had said that, makes us all look un-professional. I normally say "signalling problems".
Point 2: "I would imagine that at some point the driver would have been told"
Negative, if we dont follow it up we will never be told what the problem was.
Point 3: Whatever the case, the driver could have been more professional in his choice of words.
Yes, exactly.
Point 4: quite often the problem i have at rayners lane is stiff buttons, i may have selected the stick and shifted my attention to something else
Oh dear oh dear, first thing I learnt when I was in the box at harrow is that when you make a move, you check what you have done, then double check. That was drummed into both of us apprentices whilst the very senior regulators where teaching us the frame. I understand that sometimes you are very busy but whenever I see mw4 at danger I press the signallers button before I stop.
Point 5: Seconds later he's on the radio to you telling you he was watching eastenders!
Never in 20 years driving.
Point 6: All i can recall is a man got on with an Ironing Board at the back car and driver started saying something like anyone need any ironing done please see the man on the back car.
I wish I was there, lol.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2008 20:44:27 GMT
I'm locking this thread because the T/Op / Service Controller slanging match has gone far enough.
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