should fgw staff encourage law breaking?

[whole diary]

[Mookiemoo]

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

[John R]

There were some youths smoking in the ticket office at TM^‡(resolve) 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.

 

[Conner]

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^▸ (Trans Pennine Express) 158 in place of a 150. 
Shortly after leaving Yeovil Pen Mill, the Conductor went into the rear cab followed by a man and woman not in FGW^▸ (First Great Western) 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.

[vacman]

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^▸ (First Great Western) staff are not allowed to smoke in public view whilst in uniform and can be disciplined for doing so!

[Btline]

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!

----------------

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!

[Chris from Nailsea]

I, too, was rather disappointed to see FGW^▸ (First Great Western) 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.

 

[willc]

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."

ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) 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.

[Jez]

Yes ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) 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.

[Conner]

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^▸ (First Great Western) staff are not allowed to smoke in public view whilst in uniform and can be disciplined for doing so!

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.

[eightf48544]

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.

[devon_metro]

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.

[vacman]

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.

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

[Conner]

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.

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

Good on them!

[miniman]

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.

[Btline]

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!