South West Trains

[Golfmmad]

Just to add to this and in defence of Toad. A good mate of mine at our club is a train driver and remember when he went through his training. He showed me one manual that he had to read and learn, you wouldn't believe how many pages there were. He seemed to be always taking exams, which he eventually passed.

He also told me of one incident where on passing through a crossing, a cyclist was one very lucky guy, although he didn't realise, had said cyclist been a second slower.....

He was duty bound to report it, following that, was taken off line and thoroughly interviewed concerning the incident. The outcome was that the driver was not at fault and could carry on as normal. I suppose that's a measure of possible litigation and of course Health and Safety.

Golfmmad.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Swingslow,

Drivers have certain route knowledge specific to the depot they work from, they are required to know the routes they work over intimately for example all speed changes, curvature, gradients and braking points for each station, trespass risk areas, location of all signals and junctions amongst other things, this makes it impossible and illegal for a driver without the required route knowledge to drive over a route he has not been fully assessed for.

Did you teach Bob Crow everything he thinks he knows??!!

Bang out of order I'm afraid. I asked out of frustration when trains were running immediately after the bad weather and not when everything else seemed to be geeting back to a semblance of order (where I live). The guy was good enough to come on and give a rational and detailed explanation. End of.

All these ideas about filament, heavier trains etc are pie in the sky. Prices are set to increase again in January. Are we getting our money's worth? Of course not but that isn't this guy or any of the train operators fault. Its the Sepp Blatter effect and fat cats raking too much profit with marginal re-investment.

In my humble opinion it'll never get better until it is re-nationalised but that is not going to happen for decades if ever. In the meantime infrastructure gets worse and in the economic climate excuses are easily made as to why there won't be investment. Reading where I go into each morning is about to close over Christmas for a major revamp to try and bring it up to the levels required to handle the volume of customers and trains passing through. Is it more important than electrifying the West coast line or any of the numerous track and signla upgrades. Probably not. However if it means the trains run smoother and people can get in and out without the current hassle then maybe the train crews won't be the villains

Rant over!

 

[Dodger]

Swingslow,

Drivers have certain route knowledge specific to the depot they work from, they are required to know the routes they work over intimately for example all speed changes, curvature, gradients and braking points for each station, trespass risk areas, location of all signals and junctions amongst other things, this makes it impossible and illegal for a driver without the required route knowledge to drive over a route he has not been fully assessed for.

Did you teach Bob Crow everything he thinks he knows??!!

Not sure what your issue is here,Toad has been good enough to come and give an insight and you get all arsey about it,John must be wondering why on earth he wasted his fingers...I know I would be.

 

[Toad]

Sam stop being a knob, all of the assessments a driver goes through is to safeguard you the passenger.
I'm sure even you would prefer a driver in charge of your train that had been properly trained and assessed over a route so that he is able to safely drive at 100mph in thick fog, falling snow and darkness.

At my depot drivers have 1900 miles of route knowledge, training takes on average 18 months from start to finish and that are continually assessed to ensure thay remain competent in all aspects of the job.

Thankfully the days of simply asking if he knew the route and was comfortable to drive over it are gone as the railway is now one of the safest ways to travel.

Finally before I go to get some kip as I'm in at 04:30 again you got the wrong union leader, Bob Crow represents the guards and platform staff ASLEF represent the drivers.

 

[viscount17]

Had occasion to use trains for the first time in ages on Wednesday (going to a funeral in Chiswick). It honestly couldn't have been easier; six trains and every one on time.

Now I'm also going up to Lunnon on the next two weekends - will I be as lucky?

 

[SwingSlow]

Thanks - really helpful information and response to what was a bit of a facile comment trying to lighten the mood - not intending to take a pop at drivers. Play golf with a train driver occasionally and some of the stories he tells make you wonder about the sense of your fellow traveller.

 

[USER1999]

Not keen on trains. Way too expensive.

Went into London recently, spent over £50 on transport. Could have driven the 14 miles and parked for nothing. 30 miles at £5 a gallon, total expenditure £5.

Why is rail travel so flippin expensive?

 

[mweston1016]

SWT are not that bad I find.... best of a bad bunch

 

[Grumps]

the most used phrase in our bothy is
"trains would run on time and hassle free if we didnt have to open the doors and let the passengers on "