Tristán White wrote:
This morning I took the DLR - it appeared to be the only line that
hadn't completely gone tits-up - and sat at the front on the right.
The "driver" (or whatever you call him, as he doesn't have to drive
it) was so tired he fell asleep between every single stop.

I don't know why - could be because he moonlights as a taxi driver
at night for all I know - or he could be sick, suffer from
narcolepsy, or the poor sod has had a sleepless night for whatever
reason, screaming baby, whatever. That is not the point.

What is the point is that he clearly should have realised he was
not fit to "drive" and gone home sick.

Which made me think again. Maybe he is doing contract work (like
me) and doesn't get paid for sick leave. And can't afford to lose a
day's pay.

Is that ever the case? If it is, perhaps they should ensure that
all staff get full paid sick leave. After all, fatigue is a very
dangerous problem and can kill.

But then I got to thinking even more. Had nothing else to do,
forgot to pick up a paper and had left my book at home. If this
"driver" was allowing himself to fall asleep, in full view of his
passengers, between every stop, what happens in the privacy of the
tube-driver's cabin?

Driving a tube is far more dangerous (I imagine) and the driver
really does drive it and look out for signals and whatnot. Whereas
a DLR train is essentially driverless.

Anyway, just my 2 cents worth. Had a long and frustrating day.....
:-)

Have you reported this to DLR management? If not, please do so. As you
say, he was clearly not in a fit state to do his job.
--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)