hello to all from fgw driver

[whole diary]

[smithy]

Think it might be a good idea not to start WW3!

dont get me wrong i am not trying to start ww3 i am just expressing my view about the us and them attitude the hst crews seem to have.
it is almost like they think they are better than us,i must stress this is not all of em but you do come across a lot like it.
maybe hstdriver can enlighten us why there seems to be this attitude towards us? afterall we are all 1 big family now

[gaf71]

Think it might be a good idea not to start WW3!

dont get me wrong i am not trying to start ww3 i am just expressing my view about the us and them attitude the hst crews seem to have.
it is almost like they think they are better than us,i must stress this is not all of em but you do come across a lot like it.
maybe hstdriver can enlighten us why there seems to be this attitude towards us? afterall we are all 1 big family now

yeah right! One big family with a massive division down the middle! I'm ex wessex like you Smithy, and the attitude of some (not all) HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) crews stink! Ever get the look down the nose and ignore thing? Life's too short!

[devon_metro]

Personally I'd rate Local staff more friendly and more interested in collecting tickets, although to be fair I was sufficiently checked on all AXC^» (Arriva Cross Country - about)/FGW^▸ (First Great Western) HSS^▸ (High Speed Services)/FGW local services I was on last weekend!

[Tickets Please]

Think it might be a good idea not to start WW3!

dont get me wrong i am not trying to start ww3 i am just expressing my view about the us and them attitude the hst crews seem to have.
it is almost like they think they are better than us,i must stress this is not all of em but you do come across a lot like it.
maybe hstdriver can enlighten us why there seems to be this attitude towards us? afterall we are all 1 big family now

maybe its the way that west crews are left alone by fgw crew management. maybe its the way that some of the west crew walk around like they have wrapped themselves in gaffa tape and rolled around in a dust bath. maybe its the way that some of your west colleagues want the same money as hss crew but dont want to work a train with 500+ people on it to London and all the grief that entails.

maybe those are some of the reasons why

[devon_metro]

HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) is far more relaxing i'd say - if in doubt, sit in the buffet and use the doors in F!

[Btline]

HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) is far more relaxing i'd say - if in doubt, sit in the buffet and use the doors in F!

Quite. If I worked as a guard I would prefer HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train). Less tickets to sell (in theory), etc, etc.

[smithy]

Think it might be a good idea not to start WW3!

dont get me wrong i am not trying to start ww3 i am just expressing my view about the us and them attitude the hst crews seem to have.
it is almost like they think they are better than us,i must stress this is not all of em but you do come across a lot like it.
maybe hstdriver can enlighten us why there seems to be this attitude towards us? afterall we are all 1 big family now

maybe its the way that west crews are left alone by fgw crew management. maybe its the way that some of the west crew walk around like they have wrapped themselves in gaffa tape and rolled around in a dust bath. maybe its the way that some of your west colleagues want the same money as hss crew but dont want to work a train with 500+ people on it to London and all the grief that entails.

maybe those are some of the reasons why

not strictly true,yes they do want same money but majority also want to work hss but refuse to until harmonised.
on the other hand will hss crews want to work local trains say down the beach?i think not.
in my opinion going to london is less grief,limited stops,mainly green signals and rarely check tickets so it is swings and roundabouts.
the remark about gaffa tape and dust baths is only applicable to a small minority of which some hss crews are the same.
it is basically a case of hss think they are better than us.

[smithy]

Think it might be a good idea not to start WW3!

dont get me wrong i am not trying to start ww3 i am just expressing my view about the us and them attitude the hst crews seem to have.
it is almost like they think they are better than us,i must stress this is not all of em but you do come across a lot like it.
maybe hstdriver can enlighten us why there seems to be this attitude towards us? afterall we are all 1 big family now

yeah right! One big family with a massive division down the middle! I'm ex wessex like you Smithy, and the attitude of some (not all) HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) crews stink! Ever get the look down the nose and ignore thing? Life's too short!

oh yes i get the look down nose and ignore treatment from hss crews (as you say not all as some are quite friendly) yes life is too short

[Ollie]

in my opinion going to london is less grief,limited stops,mainly green signals and rarely check tickets so it is swings and roundabouts.

Guessing you haven't travelled between Paddington and Reading/Didcot then?

[smithy]

in my opinion going to london is less grief,limited stops,mainly green signals and rarely check tickets so it is swings and roundabouts.

Guessing you haven't travelled between Paddington and Reading/Didcot then?

maybe there is conjestion in that area but on the whole signals in their favour,plus they do not spend all day swapping sets going to different places.
just a case of btm-pad have a pnb and then return to btm

[Jim]

it is basically a case of hss think they are better than us.

I'm affraid thats where I stand as well. I have seen at least once, a member of dispatch staff at Westbury getting verbal abuse, because a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) LOCAL train has taken there path. NOT ON.

[Ollie]

in my opinion going to london is less grief,limited stops,mainly green signals and rarely check tickets so it is swings and roundabouts.

Guessing you haven't travelled between Paddington and Reading/Didcot then?

maybe there is conjestion in that area but on the whole signals in their favour,plus they do not spend all day swapping sets going to different places.
just a case of btm-pad have a pnb and then return to btm

Yes, there is near enough always congestion, I was merely stating it isn't greens all the way.
Maybe HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) and West Drivers should swap for a day and then see... **

**Yeah not possible I know route knowledge etc..

[gaf71]

Think it might be a good idea not to start WW3!

dont get me wrong i am not trying to start ww3 i am just expressing my view about the us and them attitude the hst crews seem to have.
it is almost like they think they are better than us,i must stress this is not all of em but you do come across a lot like it.
maybe hstdriver can enlighten us why there seems to be this attitude towards us? afterall we are all 1 big family now

maybe its the way that west crews are left alone by fgw crew management. maybe its the way that some of the west crew walk around like they have wrapped themselves in gaffa tape and rolled around in a dust bath. maybe its the way that some of your west colleagues want the same money as hss crew but dont want to work a train with 500+ people on it to London and all the grief that entails.

maybe those are some of the reasons why

try working a rush hour train from exmouth into exeter or vice versa, packed to the roof, 2 minutes between stops, lots of unmanned stations without TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine)'s. Expected to operate doors safely and check tickets after every stop, because there are also request stops. Some HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) guards would not stand a chance! Where's the buffet and my nice cuppa?

[Jim]

Think it might be a good idea not to start WW3!

dont get me wrong i am not trying to start ww3 i am just expressing my view about the us and them attitude the hst crews seem to have.
it is almost like they think they are better than us,i must stress this is not all of em but you do come across a lot like it.
maybe hstdriver can enlighten us why there seems to be this attitude towards us? afterall we are all 1 big family now

maybe its the way that west crews are left alone by fgw crew management. maybe its the way that some of the west crew walk around like they have wrapped themselves in gaffa tape and rolled around in a dust bath. maybe its the way that some of your west colleagues want the same money as hss crew but dont want to work a train with 500+ people on it to London and all the grief that entails.

maybe those are some of the reasons why

Excuse my attitude, but that is exactly the attitude that gets me! It seems that because you work a bigger train, and go to London, you think you should get more!

But, at the end of the day, HSS^▸ (High Speed Services)/Local both:
MAke sure the train is safe,
Deal with the passengers,
Sell Tickets,
Book on,
Sign off.

So whats the difference, why shouldn't they get the same amounts?

[grahame]

Gentlemen (or ladies and gentlemen!)

It seems to me as someone who sees what you do from the customer side that there are many similarities and some differences - some differences making the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) crew's job the more demanding, others making the Local job more demanding .... e.g. a higher customer count v a higher number of station stops.  And, no, I couldn't (myself) say if these things even out or not.  Let's discuss them by all means, but let's not turn it into a competition where everyone tries to come up with winners and loosers; ALL roles / services are vital and there simply is no competition!