Great Western Coffee Shop

now I post this as someone who is physically allergic to tobacco smoke and has an improved quality of life since the smoking ban so I may be biased.

Stuck at Evesham foe 15 minutes. First host goes onto platform and out to front of building WHICH IS STILL STATION PROpERTY with a no smoking sign and lights up.

Tm directs passenger to same point!

So they are encouraging illegal acts.

Note-walking thru a cloud of smoke can make me I'll so I am sensitive to this but even if u don't agree with the law having staff encouraging breaking it is wrong - as wrong as some of u think boarding a train with no ticket but with the intention to pay is

There were some youths smoking in the ticket office at TM recently. Several of them, and only one of me, with no staff around, so I decided to say nothing, as they didn't look the friendly type. Then five minutes later I saw some others (not connected) hiding having a smoke on the platforms. These were the first instances that I've seen since the ban, and on the same day.

Yes, I'm allergic too, as it quickly brings on asthma,so I think the ban is terrific, but I can see this setting off a debate unrelated to the railways.

 

Hi, I'm back and about to tell you an experience from my journey back from Weymouth this evening.
I boarded the 15:11 Weymouth-Gloucester which was a TPE 158 in place of a 150.  ;D
Shortly after leaving Yeovil Pen Mill, the Conductor went into the rear cab followed by a man and woman not in FGW uniform who he obviously knew. As the man went through the doors he said I'm going to have a fag and sure enough the smell of cigarette smoke started seeping into the carriage, I am going to complain to FGW about this as this guard was in the wrong.
It was a world away from the brilliant Guard I had on Monday.

It really p***es me off that even after the smoking ban some conductors and drivers continue to smoke in the cabs, I hope a couple of them get done for it and this sends a message out to everyone else, I too hate tobbacco smoke and I think the smoking ban was overdue. As for your experience mookiemoo, FGW staff are not allowed to smoke in public view whilst in uniform and can be disciplined for doing so!

When I was in Scotland (West Highland Lines) last year, First ScotRail staff, at every stop where there was a wait, got out of the train and had a fag (with many passengers). >:(

I was shocked with this, and almost made a complaint. The smoking ban in England was not here yet.

Many months later, I realsied that the smoking ban in Scotland does not include rail stations (or at least on open platforms). ::)

Good job I did not put my foot in it! ;D

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The year before, I was in Wales (Cambrian Coast Line), we had a 10 min wait at Harlech, and I remember the guard saying "you can get off, but you must leave the station to smoke. make sure your back on board 3 mins before departure.... etc."

She even told people who were standing on the steps to the platform that they were breaking the law, and that they would have to move about 2-3 yards East off the station property to smoke! Not exaggerating- she was enforcing it to the centimetre!

At the time, it seemed mad - it was an open platform, and myself having a little stretch of legs would not have minded that much. The people seemed a little confused, but they moved. The ban was relatively new.

Still .... I am glad the ban is in -let's hope it stays enforced!

I, too, was rather disappointed to see FGW staff setting a bad example at Nailsea, some time ago.

See the related topic at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=1624 for more comments on the subject of smoking on stations.

 ???

ATW are very strict about enforcing this and staff have obviously been briefed thoroughly. Was on a Penarth-Cardiff train last year and after we stopped at Dingle Road the driver told a man smoking on the platform to stop and pointed out the notice he was standing next to.

Yes ATW stations often have the announcement " all of our trains and stations are no smoking area's" etc.   I have even heard it on board the 175 trains.

I will complain about the guard I saw yesterday and as FGW staff are not allowed to smoke in public view, nearly everyone at Penzance standing outside the station smoking is breaking the rules.

Hypothectical question.

If a driver/guard smoked in the cab during a journey, would the next driver taking over the train be able to refuse to take that trian until the cab was cleaned and defumigated?  It being a contaminated area and hence unsafe.

Drivers can refuse to crew a train for all kinds of reason, the lingering smell of smoke probably would be enough if the cab air-conditioning hadnt cleared things.

Oh yes! and there are a couple of drivers and guards who have said they will start doing just that.

Good on them!

I really can't see the justification for banning smoking on open platforms. At Chippenham there's a fog of smoke at the bottom of the steps in the North car park, and in front of the ticket office, that every passenger has to walk through. These people wouldn't be smoking there if there was a small smoking area at the far end of the platform.

I know exactly what you mean.

Having to walk through a "cloud" to enter many platform/stations can be much worse than having smoking on the platform!

Willc - I am not surprised they have had training! "Move 3 yards...." ;D

I used to think that, but I see why now, as the platform staff don't have to spend half their time swwping up fag butts from the platforms now!

Not just Chippenham, Trowbridge people smoke on the platform. I have noticed seems to be people under 30 years old.

Instead, of course, no-one at all sweeps them up from the bottom of the steps! Personally as an ex-smoker, given the choice between putting a fag end in an ashtray / sand bucket or stubbing it on the floor, I would always use the bin if one was provided!

Whilst there will always be a hard core of Smokers who consider the Smoking Ban DOESN'T apply to them, let some members of train crew be warned,
The Smoking Ban is a H & S Issue, and breaking this ban in a Train Cab, could cause a relieving Crew to refuse to work the train further.
This leads the offending (smoker) Train Crew Member open to Disciplinary Action by FGW (or other TOCS), and whilst there are actions by Staff that the Unions will represent staff at hearings for, there is little a Union can (or will do) when staff are dismissed for Illegal acts such as Fraud, Assaulting someone (unless self defence) or beaches of H & S Law.
Smoking in Enclosed Areas is breaking H & S law and is something the RMT is unlikely to defend in a Court of law.

Something Smokers fail to realise is just how much SMOKING STINKS

Very true, I was sitting behinnd the closed vestibule doors and the closed cab door in a 158 but could still smell it.

Should have pulled the emergency handle and claimed you could smell a fire ;)

That would have gone down well.  ;)
But as I wanted to make a connection, it probably wasn't the best idea.
Mmm, chaos.
Me: Fire, I smell fire!
Everyone: AHH!
Followed by screams and lots of panic.

Doing stuff like that is always tempting, but the potential delay is always the problem.......!!!!! >:(

If nothing is wrong it only takes a minute or two.
Had it happen before on 158750. A toddler clambering around in a packed ex-FC at the front pulled it by accident.
Brakes come sharply on.
Conductor runs to front as Driver comes out of cab.
Establish girl pulled it.
Off we go.

Suppose, but a "minute or two" into Reading.......

I see what you mean.

Pulling 'the cord' on a 2 car unit and a 8 car HST is slightly different...

And between Truro and Redruth or London and Reading.

I would say it would cause more disruption if you pulled it at Saltash than if you would at Reading - contraversial view I know but I have that theory due to the single line.

Not Saltash, on the bridge.

Anywhere in that general area IMHO - doesn't matter whether on the single line or in the station, a release will still need to be taken on the signalling if its in the station and that could take some time!

The ban is fantastic and of course FGW should not encourage law breaking- but they softer than ATW or SWT. A guy was smoking pot or something on my train not long ago in the toilet from Sailisbury to Fratton and the guard did nothing, let alone get a fare!!!  In the Wessex days the guard on my regular 2000 CDF-PMH on a Sunday would inform passengers of a wait at Salisbury -  the trolley dolly would be out there smoking then walk round again before Romsey peddling his sarnies stinking of fags!!! 
Last year on holiday I saw a guard at Whitland refuse to take someone to Saundersfoot for smoking on the platform.  The next train was not for another 2 hours.  As they say in the valleys "have a nice day".

Also known as "Self Presevation"

Announcement on todays up train when stopped at EVesham for 10 minutes.....

"Just to let you know we will be standing here for at least 10 minutes waiting for the train to clear the single track.  If you feel like stretching your legs, please feel free but stay near the train.  I won't even say anything if you wish to have a smoke on the platform even though this is strictly not allowed"

hmmmmmmmm

I've worked the last train to Exmouth/Paignton many times on a Friday or Saturday night. Sometimes on arrival there can be a couple of dozen drunks smoking on the platform, as the stations are unmanned late at night. 'Self preservation' is the right phrase, there is no way i will try to get these people to stop smoking, or refuse them entry to the train. I'm a conductor not a policeman.