"REDSKINS" wrote in
:


"Tristán White" wrote in message
. 109.145...
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.....
:-)

So are you trying to say that between every stop this guy after
closing the doors and operating the train start proceedure so it could
proceed to the next station, physically walked to the front driving
seat, sat down fell asleep, then got up at the next station and did
the same again?


No mate, he was doing it all from the seat. He had a button for the doors.