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JayMac
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« Reply #105 on: March 24, 2011, 23:08:55 » |
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None of that would be unique to Truro. So hardly a valid reason to prevent access to the platform for those wishing to help friends or relatives onto a train. A quick word from the gateline staff to say, "Please don't board the train yourself," should suffice.
Also easy enough for a despatcher/TM‡ to shout "STAND BACK" to anyone too close to the train.
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« Last Edit: March 24, 2011, 23:41:24 by bignosemac »
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"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
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LiskeardRich
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« Reply #106 on: March 24, 2011, 23:39:06 » |
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i use falmouth branchline to truro daily from Penryn, and i'd say 3 days out of 5 on my service i use, the guard/ TM‡ or whatever cant get round the whole train leaving large numbers arriving at truro with no ticket to get through the barrier,
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All posts are my own personal believes, opinions and understandings!
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jester
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« Reply #107 on: March 25, 2011, 00:23:43 » |
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Regarding people needing help, how do these people manage at the other end of the journey? Most major destinations have the same set-up, you cant just stroll onto the platform to meet someone.?? There's also security and of course revenue. I'm sure we would all be shocked to be told how much was slipping through the net before barriers. Or is this just because its Cornwall and we've become complacent and dont like change??
As for the falmouth issue, I am sure the guard does the best he/she can!! I have seen them issuing them on the platform on arrival, which is no mean feat bearing in mind the tight 'turn-around' they have.
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JayMac
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« Reply #108 on: March 25, 2011, 01:23:22 » |
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I can only really speak for Bristol TM‡. The gateline staff there are usually happy to let people through to see off or meet friends or relatives. Having briefly worked for FGW▸ (agency temp) in the booking hall area as additional Customer Service staff, I can vouch for the discretion shown by the majority of gateline staffers. Common sense is applied.
Many reasons were given - a common one at the time was to allow Solo and Electron card holders access to the ATMs‡ in the subway as back then the booking office did not accept them. Yes, there's a risk that the reason given for access to the station maybe spurious, but it's wrong to assume everyone is a fair dodging scrote. I don't think we want to see a situation where 'rail-side' becomes totally off limits to non-passengers. Let's not forget that TOCs▸ 'welcome rail enthusiasts' onto their stations (although even that can be problematical - I have personal experience!) Hardly fair to allow them access and not the odd person wishing to help granny or see off the wife/girlfriend/secret lover!
At a major station like Paddington it is not necessary for people to meet and help relatives. Network Rail provide staff and electric buggies to help the elderly and infirm. All that is needed for this on an incoming service is a call placed by the Train Manager.
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"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
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Ollie
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« Reply #109 on: March 25, 2011, 01:32:28 » |
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At a major station like Paddington it is not necessary for people to meet and help relatives. Network Rail provide staff and electric buggies to help the elderly and infirm. All that is needed for this on an incoming service is a call placed by the Train Manager.
Or book ahead... |
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inspector_blakey
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« Reply #110 on: March 25, 2011, 15:15:07 » |
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Also easy enough for a despatcher/TM‡ to shout "STAND BACK" to anyone too close to the train.
Easy enough to shout, yes. However, whether or not the offending individual will (a) hear, (b) listen or (c) take any notice is not at all certain from personal experience. |
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vacman
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« Reply #111 on: March 25, 2011, 16:59:48 » |
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the meeting arguement at Truro holds no water i'm afraid, there are now additional customer assist staff there. Bristol gateline just let anyone through, thats evident by the amount of people I get on the train from there with no ticket just saying "the man let me through", so to say that people who are let through don't get on trains is tripe.
Also, what difference does it make saying goodbye at the barrier or at the train? or meeting them at the barrier or off the train? just look at the chaos at exeter st davids when all of the people who were let through to meet people come back through at the same time as the other 300 people who have just got off the train!
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JayMac
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« Reply #112 on: March 25, 2011, 18:56:39 » |
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Also easy enough for a despatcher/TM‡ to shout "STAND BACK" to anyone too close to the train.
Easy enough to shout, yes. However, whether or not the offending individual will (a) hear, (b) listen or (c) take any notice is not at all certain from personal experience. Then the next, louder, shout is "GET THE F*** AWAY FROM THE TRAIN!"  |
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"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
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RailCornwall
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« Reply #113 on: March 25, 2011, 21:17:47 » |
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Meet and Despatch are part of the experience, it is simply polite and civilised. Reintroduce platform tickets if necessary.
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vacman
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« Reply #114 on: March 26, 2011, 09:11:52 » |
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Meet and Despatch are part of the experience, it is simply polite and civilised. Reintroduce platform tickets if necessary.
so the scrote will just buy a platform ticket to get through the barriers to get on the train. |
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LiskeardRich
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« Reply #115 on: April 12, 2011, 19:38:20 » |
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i travelled today with my partner and our baby in pushchair, Penryn to Truro,
We were both on the same ticker, so the gateline staffhad to let me out at the show of my ticket when i arrived at truro, when i returned to Truro later on in the day the Gateline attendant (polite friendly male) opened the gate before i showed my ticket and said "dont worry i remember you from earlier" and let me through.
that to me is great customer service, remembering faces considering the large amount of passengers who he must see each day!
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All posts are my own personal believes, opinions and understandings!
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #116 on: April 12, 2011, 21:27:38 » |
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Thanks for posting that very encouraging example of FGW▸ staff and their ability to provide excellent customer service, richwarwicker.  |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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chrisoates
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« Reply #117 on: April 13, 2011, 00:39:12 » |
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Thanks for posting that very encouraging example of FGW▸ staff and their ability to provide excellent customer service, richwarwicker. I was at St Erth couple of years ago and before boarding the train emptied out my pockets of used tickets - was then gripped and couldn't find my rail card - sheepishly told TM‡ I must have binned it at St Erth - incredibly she believed me - hopped of at Redruth and asked dispatcher to phone St Erth and ask if it would be possible to look for the rail card. Three weeks later I was at St Erth and the Lady Station Manager presented me with my rail card - she not only emptied a rubbish bin to find it but remembered who I was - fantastic. Recently on St Ives branch I queried a fare - several days later I met the same Conductor who had done some digging and agreed with me. Very often the Conductors ask me where I off to and as I'm a bird watcher if there's anything of interest they can point out to other travellers. Don't get that on buses..... |
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grahame
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« Reply #118 on: April 13, 2011, 09:56:47 » |
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There are some ... fantastic ... front line staff with FGW▸ . I'm not supposed to name names / identify staff here (almost wish I could) but I can pick out a couple particularly - she'll know who she is if I say "last December - Santa Special"; made the word special.
I suspect that "don't get that on the buses" was in jest. Actually, our town gave a civil reward to the regular driver of the town bus last year. Really looks after people on his half-hourly round trip all day, every day. We don't say "Thank you" enough to such gems.
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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thetrout
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« Reply #119 on: April 14, 2011, 12:52:24 » |
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I agree with Graham... There are some superb members of Staff with FGW▸ . Some of the Customer Hosts remember how I like my Tea/Coffee and will even serve me at the Buffet without the need to show my ticket...  I'm also known on first name terms to some of the Guards/ TM‡'s who know which railcard I have and where i'm going. Buses equally as good I find, we have a few friendly drivers on the 267 & 234. There is another driver on a Wiltshire Service that I won't detail as I know it's breaking the rules, who lets me use my Bus Pass a little before 9AM for being so polite and a regular user... I've also recently experienced the Spanish Railways recently, my train into Alicante should have arrived at 19:30.But it was over an hour late due to a trackside problem. My connection onto Lorca was at 20:39 and I found the Train Manager and showed him my ticket to Lorca and asked if I would make the train. He phone through to Alicante and ensured that the train would wait for me at Alicante, As it turned out I arrived at 20:42 and the Lorca train arrived behind the train was on and had to do a Locomotive change, so it didn't need to wait for me anyway. And despite leaving 15 minutes late, we arrived at Lorca 2 minutes early  Pity I can't say such positive comments about my flight back home with Ryanair    |
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