Great Western Coffee Shop

Waiting at Chippenham, I'm used to seeing dispatch staff helping to close doors and get trains on there way ... but yesterday evening as far as I could see there were none, train staff (manager and assistant on each?) doing the job, with knowledgable customers helping where less knowledgable ones left doors open.  Change in staffing arrangements?

Coupled with me experience earlier in the week where I had to program the TVM from my laptop to get the tickets I wanted, and reading of one of our members providing customer advise at Westbury, are we seeing a further move to the DIY railway for customers?

Probably just staff shortages, it does happen from time to time. In the evening there is unlikely to be anybody available to cover, so if the rostered member of staff goes sick then the station will just be unstaffed.

Can comfirm was a staff shortage only.

That happens at Maidenhead very occasionally on the one or two service we are allowed the luxury of an HST..

I've noticed more and more (and even when despatch staff are there) that passengers will close doors they see that are left open as they pass and I always do... Now if only we could train the people who leave them open in the first place ::)

... And close the windows but that might be asking way too much.  ;D

The despatch guy at Maidenhead was closing windows too tonight... Apart from the one that just wouldn't budge  ;D

Thanks.  That's what I was hoping.


I do that too if there's no-one close by  / as a courtesy to help get the train away but ... I've wondered if the independent passenger (i.e. one who's not even passed through the door) is supposed to do so, or whether there's a safety case and insurance issue.  Apparently no-one around, shove on the door and - oops - someone's getting off late and gets hit by the closing door.

How on earth do you program a TVM from your laptop? Can you program 1st class tickets at a favourable rate?

So I'm not the only one who closes the windows as well! ;D

I always close doors behind me too as a 'courtesy' and I find the noise vaguely satisfying...!

OK ... I was just using it as a smart network printer ;D for things that can't be done from its customer panel.  And data entry onto a remote computer rather programming that remote computer ...

Yes, I too close the windows, whenever possible. And that industrial strength door slamming is so therapeutic ...  ;) :D ;D