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Bruce[_2_] · August 6th 09, 11:07 AM posted to uk.transport.london

On Thu, 6 Aug 2009 10:18:34 +0000 (UTC), wrote:

On Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:02:36 +0100
Bruce wrote:
Drivers' pay leapt after privatisation because it was more expensive
to train up your own drivers than to poach someone else's. The result
was a lot of grossly overpaid train drivers.

Bus drivers have a far more difficult job yet get paid much less,
typically only slightly more than half the wages of train drivers.

In most walks of life people are generally paid pro rata with the amount
of knowledge required to do the job properly, not by how difficult the
job is on a day to day basis. Bus drivers have a ****ty job compared to train
drivers but I suspect their knowledge of the vehicle is limited to driving
it whereas AFAIK train drivers are expected to be able to do minor servicing
and troubleshooting if theres a problem on a much more complex vehicle.

Complete rubbish.

Bus drivers have a far more difficult job; they have to steer the
vehicle, take account of other traffic and also take fares. The train
driver has a very soft job; he only has to obey signals and the
timetable. The signals take care of all other traffic, leaving very
little decision making in the hands of the driver.

As for the "knowledge" required, there have been several train drivers
posting here over the years who are clearly of well below average
intelligence. They might be safe on a train, but I wouldn't trust
them to drive a bus, or any other road vehicle safely.