tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119743532011-05-18T14:39:58.520ZBeing a member of TrainCrew in the North of the SWT operating area I get to meet a lot of staff who work for the organisation. This is meant to be a round-up of many of the encounters and lives of those that live to serve!SWTTrainCrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366033809821859625noreply@blogger.comBlogger211100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11974353.post-1122240089504621442005-07-24T21:07:00.001Z2005-07-24T21:21:29.510Z

Yeah I know, its been a while since I posted.A number of incidents recently (within the company), led me to place my resignation into the hands of my management team. I got quite annoyed at the way that a group of indiviuals, to an extent those that know little about the job yet are better than those they command, are acting regarding trivial matters.I have so far being given warnings for not

SWTTrainCrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366033809821859625noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11974353.post-1121288707400156232005-07-13T20:54:00.000Z2005-07-13T21:05:07.406Z

.... that is of course if you are trying to exfoliate your bits and pieces by going to a sauna.Lets take the thought that at all times you do as the company tells you, and when you have a complete failure of air conditioning in coaches, you phone designated stations for water in order to cool down the passengers and potentially cool down what could turn into a nasty conflict.Its okay until you

SWTTrainCrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366033809821859625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11974353.post-1120854824760961392005-07-08T20:24:00.000Z2005-07-08T20:33:44.766Z

Its great to see that everyone pulled together yesterday, but shame it only lasted that day.Customers were travelling today instead of yesterday for a reason, yet this did not deter the SWT way of thinking from being any different... "We make it as difficult as possible"No obviously a lot of train crews across the country will have been ignoring yesterdays date on a lot of tickets, I did today

SWTTrainCrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366033809821859625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11974353.post-1120770566857862852005-07-07T20:53:00.000Z2005-07-07T21:09:26.863Z

Following the events of Thursday 07 July 2005, when collegues in our associate company London Underground have suffered the severest level of action against the service they operate, our thoughts should be with those that suffered doing their jobs, but those they transported across the capital.Again the open nature of the UK transport system have been exploited and shows just how easy it is to

SWTTrainCrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366033809821859625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11974353.post-1120674129548266162005-07-06T18:02:00.000Z2005-07-06T18:22:09.560Z

One genious passenger today asked me the ultimate question:What is the difference, ticket wise, between a Conductor, a Revenue Protection person and a ticket checker?As I am sure those who read this blog are aware, I quite happily like to rant and rave about the difference and lack of ability in the company to notice the logic between who works where, but this made me think up a solution.Now I

SWTTrainCrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366033809821859625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11974353.post-1120266550011061112005-07-02T00:57:00.000Z2005-07-02T01:09:10.016Z

Credit going where its due this evening. South West Trains, has done a vaguely good job of crowd management facilities at Portsmouth harbour Station for the International Festival of the Sea, with a large number of customer service staff on hand to guide and assist... well actually some of them were Revenue Protection Staff, so who was watching the revenue beats me (only joking guys, yes I do

SWTTrainCrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366033809821859625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11974353.post-1119881246371416382005-06-27T13:56:00.000Z2005-07-02T01:11:10.093Z

Yes its been three weeks since I posted here, and its not that I was on holiday, but because I have been doing a few projects for SWT (off my own back) to try and make the work of the local depot a little easier.Its nice to see that not a lot has really changed however, and SWT is being SWT as usual.Unfortunatly it is the turn of Basingstoke to become the reason of my moaning this time, and the

SWTTrainCrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366033809821859625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11974353.post-1118174655342692282005-06-07T19:52:00.000Z2005-06-07T20:04:15.346Z

... another signal failure.Network Rail (NR) decided that Tuesday morning was going to be the day that they brought 99% of the SWT network to almost a grinding halt. It appears that only a few services where not affected, such as Romsey - Totton via Eastleigh, and Southampton - Portsmouth.SWT did try to get active service recovery in place, finding the stock and crews to start a London - Weymouth

SWTTrainCrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366033809821859625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11974353.post-1118014239978382922005-06-05T23:20:00.000Z2005-06-05T23:30:39.983Z

I was not expecting to be adding more to the blog tonight, yet two of the five e-mails sent within hours of each other made me want to put fingers to keyboard.One was from an RPI, who does point out that in the concept of conflict avoidance, many guards are weary of being strict on the conditions of carriage. In retrospect I can agree with this point, and can see that many instaces where I have

SWTTrainCrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366033809821859625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11974353.post-1117991075711942692005-06-05T16:10:00.000Z2005-06-05T17:04:35.726Z

On April 25th, Graham eccles hosted a live chat online in order to answer some of the passengers questions.Just how much PR did he shoot off, and how much rubbush did the traveling public take in?This post will re-write some of the answers given, to reflect what the staff are told.Question 8: Whilst everyone finds the new rolling stock a vast improvement, could you please consider changing the

SWTTrainCrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366033809821859625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11974353.post-1117937075557988232005-06-05T01:51:00.000Z2005-06-05T02:04:35.563Z

Its always nice to see a police officer now and again. Granted its not always nice to see them in the rear view mirror, as they pull you over for a "routine check", or if they are watching you like you just murdered your granny.But it makes a change to see them on the railway... literally.If any of you were in the Clapham Junction area around 13:00 Saturday, you may well have seen just that. A

SWTTrainCrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366033809821859625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11974353.post-1117818135309126422005-05-30T16:49:00.000Z2005-06-03T17:02:15.313Z

Its nice to see that yet again those in the know have decided to screw the traincrews of the south and cause more problems than solve.Yet again from June 12th the Penatly Fare for ticketless travel on SWT (as well as Southern and co.) rises to £20. But yet again SWT have failed to ensure that this is enforced. While sat here in Waterloo TrainCrews computer room, I have had to reflect on being

SWTTrainCrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366033809821859625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11974353.post-1116893129255520302005-05-23T23:56:00.000Z2005-05-24T00:05:29.260Z

After the complete re-write of the SWT timetables on 12 December 2004, it has been decided to take the SWT timetables and change them to a deep blue colour to... you guessed it... change the train timetables again.On 12 June 2005, SWT will make confirm a number of alterations made in Feburary and April, and make very subtle changes to others. Those that use the trains regularly will no doubt be

SWTTrainCrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366033809821859625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11974353.post-1116425887109142802005-05-18T13:44:00.000Z2005-05-18T14:18:07.113Z

Has it really been 13 days since I last posted?Well yes. I have been knocking around, keeping my eyes and ears open as always, yet ther was not really that much to talk about. "...This week I mostly been seeing Basingstoke, and Eastleigh..."I have had a number of interesting e-mails from the outside world, both from staff and passengers. I am glad to say that as yet only 2 people have actually

SWTTrainCrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366033809821859625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11974353.post-1115246163011541802005-05-04T22:23:00.000Z2005-05-04T23:06:00.316Z

Hello to whoever is reading this.I have a lot of work to do yet it is time to honour those who work for the company.. and hard!Many passengers would have been affected this evening by the problems involving the 18.45 service from London Waterloo towards Portsmouth. Not many were forthcoming with help except one... this one was an off duty member of staff who had obviously been in London for a few

SWTTrainCrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366033809821859625noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11974353.post-1113949659981708872005-04-19T22:18:00.000Z2005-04-19T22:27:39.983Z

While some of the South West Train passengers have a good reason for complaining about overcrowding on services, maybe we should conside the thoughts of one gentlemen in particular.This businessman picks up an "near the end of peak" service towards Guildford, which is unfortunatly (and I do honestly mean that) usually packed to the hilt, and like a tin of sardines. South West Trains put a 10 car

SWTTrainCrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366033809821859625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11974353.post-1113729885759669852005-04-17T09:12:00.000Z2005-04-17T09:24:45.760Z

Over most of the week, migrations of Military personnel across the country occur from the depths of Plymouth to the driving might of Beverly. A proportion of these trips are paid for by the MOD in the form of a travel warrant. If you get issued these, you know what I am talking about and its you I am going to appeal to.If you are stating from a station with ticket offices but no barriers, then

SWTTrainCrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366033809821859625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11974353.post-1113729014836184922005-04-17T08:54:00.000Z2005-04-17T09:10:14.840Z

Within the South West Trains network recently, there have been incidents involving passengers who have been refused by staff to be issued a ticket. There are a number of good reasons for this and so as a guide we will show here exactly who can issue a ticket and when.At the stationWhen you join at a staffed station, the first place you should attempt to buy a ticket is at the ticket office, or

SWTTrainCrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366033809821859625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11974353.post-1113628556823369282005-04-16T05:00:00.000Z2005-04-16T05:15:56.826Z

With an increase in malicious behaviour from the younger population of South West Trains, when can we be really sure that it is the train's guard or driver that is doing something for our benefit... or not.News recently came to light of a buffet steward who thought that it would be helpful to assist a busy guard and open the doors of a train at the station. The problem with this was that the

SWTTrainCrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366033809821859625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11974353.post-1112983619654200172005-04-08T17:55:00.000Z2005-04-08T18:08:11.100Z

Sitting at Waterloo Station in the evening peak, I overhear a conversation... more like a one way fight... between a disgruntled businessman, who had decided to take in the local bars prior to going home, and one of the station managers at London Waterloo.Why?Because a train had failed on its way into the terminal!Now I can understand the frustration of this gentleman, howevr telling a manager to

SWTTrainCrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366033809821859625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11974353.post-1112819123409447802005-04-07T04:15:00.000Z2005-04-06T20:25:23.410Z

WOW! After a search on an Internet search engine I have not seen disgruntlement like this since last weekend!To be honest though I can see why most complaints exist. I have the pleasure of operating trains over the majority of the South West Trains infrastructure, such delights as:Southampton Central (with its constant harrassment from Freight trains delaying service) Portsmouth (where one small

SWTTrainCrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08366033809821859625noreply@blogger.com0