removing staff? What happens to security?
 

A few years ago, I found myself alone in a southbound tube train with only a
bulky item of baggage left near the doors for company. Thinking it was my duty
to draw attention to this "suspect package", and being about to get out at the
next station anyway, I followed the LU instructions to report this item to a
member of staff. As there was nobody on the platform, the first person I saw
was the man on the ticket barrier. Of course by then the train would have been
well on its way.
AFAIK the bag was harmless, as I heard no more about it. But I had done my
duty.
Last night I heard on the news that LU "no longer needs" so many staff, and
that people will no longer be needed in ticket offices or or on the barriers. I
suspect that either the news teams know this is crap, but don't care, or that
probably like some of the management, they don't use public transport very
often. Hence they won't have witnessed the patient way some staff have to deal
with sometimes reasonable and sometimes quite stupid questions. They won't have
experienced the bewilderment and frustration of waiting for information on an
apparently deserted station. Nor will they have seen the Greater London Schools
Athletics teams vaulting gracefully over the automatic ticket barriers.
But what I would like to know is the procedure for reporting suspect packages
when one arrives at completely unpersonned stations. (And there I thinking we
were having too many "terrorist alerts"! )
I'd also be interested to hear the mayor's ideas on how removing staff will
square with his past pledges to make stations safer for women and elderly
passengers.
And talking of which, if LU wants to redeploy staff, how about putting guards
on trains to deter vandalism and anti-social behaviour? It might reassure the
rest of the travelling public that someone actually cares, and encourage us to
stand up to the yobboes..

removing staff? What happens to security?
 

"CharlesPottins" wrote in message
...

A few years ago, I found myself alone in a southbound
tube train with only a bulky item of baggage left near the
doors for company. Thinking it was my duty to draw
attention to this "suspect package", and being about to
get out at the next station anyway, I followed the LU
instructions to report this item to a member of staff.
As there was nobody on the platform, the first person
I saw was the man on the ticket barrier. Of course by
then the train would have been well on its way.

I would have pulled the red lever in the carriage, and got the driver to
deal with it.

--
John Rowland - Spamtrapped
Transport Plans for the London Area, updated 2001
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acro...69/tpftla.html
A man's vehicle is a symbol of his manhood.
That's why my vehicle's the Piccadilly Line -
It's the size of a county and it comes every two and a half minutes

removing staff? What happens to security?
 

On 01 Jul 2004 08:20:11 GMT, (CharlesPottins)
wrote:

A few years ago, I found myself alone in a southbound tube train with only a
bulky item of baggage left near the doors for company. Thinking it was my duty
to draw attention to this "suspect package", and being about to get out at the
next station anyway, I followed the LU instructions to report this item to a
member of staff. As there was nobody on the platform, the first person I saw
was the man on the ticket barrier. Of course by then the train would have been
well on its way.
AFAIK the bag was harmless, as I heard no more about it. But I had done my
duty.
Last night I heard on the news that LU "no longer needs" so many staff, and
that people will no longer be needed in ticket offices or or on the barriers. I
suspect that either the news teams know this is crap, but don't care, or that
probably like some of the management, they don't use public transport very
often. Hence they won't have witnessed the patient way some staff have to deal
with sometimes reasonable and sometimes quite stupid questions. They won't have
experienced the bewilderment and frustration of waiting for information on an
apparently deserted station. Nor will they have seen the Greater London Schools
Athletics teams vaulting gracefully over the automatic ticket barriers.
But what I would like to know is the procedure for reporting suspect packages
when one arrives at completely unpersonned stations. (And there I thinking we
were having too many "terrorist alerts"! )
I'd also be interested to hear the mayor's ideas on how removing staff will
square with his past pledges to make stations safer for women and elderly
passengers.
And talking of which, if LU wants to redeploy staff, how about putting guards
on trains to deter vandalism and anti-social behaviour? It might reassure the
rest of the travelling public that someone actually cares, and encourage us to
stand up to the yobboes..

Couple of months ago I found myself in a similar situation in the rear
carrage of a Thameslink train.

My actions were to remove myself to the next one up and then wait for
the next station (St Albans). I then used the PassCom to hold the
train whilst the driver and platform assistant ambled down and removed
the package.

Keith J Chesworth
www.unseenlondon.co.uk
www.blackpooltram.co.uk
www.happysnapper.com
www.boilerbill.com - main site
www.amerseyferry.co.uk

removing staff? What happens to security?
 

On Thu, 1 Jul 2004 at 08:20:11, CharlesPottins
wrote:

A few years ago, I found myself alone in a southbound tube train with only a
bulky item of baggage left near the doors for company. Thinking it was my duty
to draw attention to this "suspect package", and being about to get out at the
next station anyway, I followed the LU instructions to report this item to a
member of staff. As there was nobody on the platform, the first person I saw
was the man on the ticket barrier. Of course by then the train would have been
well on its way.

I suppose the correct procedure would have been to pull the
communication cord, or whatever it is called nowadays - the red
emergency thingy they suggest you only pull if the train is in a
station. This would have alerted the driver that something was wrong,
and he could have radioed for help/advice once he knew what the problem
was.
--
Annabel Smyth
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/index.html
Website updated 6 June 2004

removing staff? What happens to security?
 

But the official advice was to draw the attention of station staff to it.
Must admit, as I was going to work that morning and getting out that stop, I
wasn't keen to hang around anyway.
I assume the station staff will be able to contact the driver and/or the next
station. Presumably they also have to contact emergency services just in case
it is a bomb.
Incidentally, what's the advice on the Dockland Light Railway?

removing staff? What happens to security?
 

In message ,
CharlesPottins writes
But the official advice was to draw the attention of station staff to it.
Must admit, as I was going to work that morning and getting out that stop, I
wasn't keen to hang around anyway.
I assume the station staff will be able to contact the driver and/or the next
station. Presumably they also have to contact emergency services just in case
it is a bomb.
Incidentally, what's the advice on the Dockland Light Railway?

Presumably 'Tell the Train Captain' as I believe all trains have one
onboard.
--
Spyke
Address is valid, but messages are treated as junk. The opinions I express do
not necessarily reflect those of the educational institution from which I post.

removing staff? What happens to security?
 

I would probably have pushed that big green emergency intercom button on the
station platform


"CharlesPottins" wrote in message
...
A few years ago, I found myself alone in a southbound tube train with only
a
bulky item of baggage left near the doors for company. Thinking it was my
duty
to draw attention to this "suspect package", and being about to get out at
the
next station anyway, I followed the LU instructions to report this item
to a
member of staff. As there was nobody on the platform, the first person I
saw
was the man on the ticket barrier. Of course by then the train would have
been
well on its way.
AFAIK the bag was harmless, as I heard no more about it. But I had done my
duty.
Last night I heard on the news that LU "no longer needs" so many staff,
and
that people will no longer be needed in ticket offices or or on the
barriers. I
suspect that either the news teams know this is crap, but don't care, or
that
probably like some of the management, they don't use public transport very
often. Hence they won't have witnessed the patient way some staff have to
deal
with sometimes reasonable and sometimes quite stupid questions. They won't
have
experienced the bewilderment and frustration of waiting for information on
an
apparently deserted station. Nor will they have seen the Greater London
Schools
Athletics teams vaulting gracefully over the automatic ticket barriers.
But what I would like to know is the procedure for reporting suspect
packages
when one arrives at completely unpersonned stations. (And there I thinking
we
were having too many "terrorist alerts"! )
I'd also be interested to hear the mayor's ideas on how removing staff
will
square with his past pledges to make stations safer for women and elderly
passengers.
And talking of which, if LU wants to redeploy staff, how about putting
guards
on trains to deter vandalism and anti-social behaviour? It might reassure
the
rest of the travelling public that someone actually cares, and encourage
us to
stand up to the yobboes..

removing staff? What happens to security?
 

And don't believe what you see on the news. According to the BBC the
central line isn't automated in any way


"CharlesPottins" wrote in message
...
A few years ago, I found myself alone in a southbound tube train with only
a
bulky item of baggage left near the doors for company. Thinking it was my
duty
to draw attention to this "suspect package", and being about to get out at
the
next station anyway, I followed the LU instructions to report this item
to a
member of staff. As there was nobody on the platform, the first person I
saw
was the man on the ticket barrier. Of course by then the train would have
been
well on its way.
AFAIK the bag was harmless, as I heard no more about it. But I had done my
duty.
Last night I heard on the news that LU "no longer needs" so many staff,
and
that people will no longer be needed in ticket offices or or on the
barriers. I
suspect that either the news teams know this is crap, but don't care, or
that
probably like some of the management, they don't use public transport very
often. Hence they won't have witnessed the patient way some staff have to
deal
with sometimes reasonable and sometimes quite stupid questions. They won't
have
experienced the bewilderment and frustration of waiting for information on
an
apparently deserted station. Nor will they have seen the Greater London
Schools
Athletics teams vaulting gracefully over the automatic ticket barriers.
But what I would like to know is the procedure for reporting suspect
packages
when one arrives at completely unpersonned stations. (And there I thinking
we
were having too many "terrorist alerts"! )
I'd also be interested to hear the mayor's ideas on how removing staff
will
square with his past pledges to make stations safer for women and elderly
passengers.
And talking of which, if LU wants to redeploy staff, how about putting
guards
on trains to deter vandalism and anti-social behaviour? It might reassure
the
rest of the travelling public that someone actually cares, and encourage
us to
stand up to the yobboes..

removing staff? What happens to security?
 

CharlesPottins wrote:
Incidentally, what's the advice on the Dockland Light Railway?

To speak to the Train Captain, I'd assume. All trains have a member of
staff on Board.
--
To reply direct, remove NOSPAM and replace with railwaysonline
For railway information, news and photos see
http://www.railways-online.co.uk

removing staff? What happens to security?
 

Chris wrote:
I would probably have pushed that big green emergency intercom
button on the station platform

Emergency buttons/switches/handles etc. are normally red, e.g. the
passenger alarms on LU trains. Why are the emergency buttons on the
new(ish) circular help panels on the platforms green? They must get a
lot of false alarms from people who assume that green means the friendly
information button. Why aren't they red?
--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)

removing staff? What happens to security?
 

CharlesPottins wrote:
Last night I heard on the news that LU "no longer needs" so many staff, and
that people will no longer be needed in ticket offices or or on the barriers. I
suspect that either the news teams know this is crap, but don't care, or that
probably like some of the management, they don't use public transport very
often.

With no barrier staff on hand, they have to leave the barriers open.
This means all journeys between two unstaffed stations are free, and
all journeys from unmanned to manned stations cost only the minimum
fare, to the unscrupulous.

I wonder how many staff this lost revenue would pay for.

With no staff on trains or in stations, vandalism would get even
worse. Last I looked, if several hundred EXTRA staff could prevent
half the existing vandalism, there would be a net cost saving.

With no staff around, many passengers - the sort who pay - will be too
frightened to travel late at night.

I wonder how many staff this lost revenue would pay for.

Why are bean-counters so stupid?


Colin McKenzie


--
The great advantage of not trusting statistics is that
it leaves you free to believe the damned lies instead!

bean counters - was removing staff? What happens to security?
 

Colin McKenzie wrote:

Why are bean-counters so stupid?

An interesting question. Is it stupid people who become bean counters or
does bean counting make people stupid?

removing staff? What happens to security?
 

On 01 Jul 2004 08:20:11 GMT, (CharlesPottins)
wrote:

Last night I heard on the news that LU "no longer needs" so many staff, and
that people will no longer be needed in ticket offices or or on the barriers. I
suspect that either the news teams know this is crap, but don't care, or that
probably like some of the management, they don't use public transport very
often.

Oh goody - another swipe at the management who "never" use the service.

Hence they won't have witnessed the patient way some staff have to deal
with sometimes reasonable and sometimes quite stupid questions. They won't have
experienced the bewilderment and frustration of waiting for information on an
apparently deserted station. Nor will they have seen the Greater London Schools
Athletics teams vaulting gracefully over the automatic ticket barriers.

I think plenty of people are aware of these issues.

But what I would like to know is the procedure for reporting suspect packages
when one arrives at completely unpersonned stations. (And there I thinking we
were having too many "terrorist alerts"! )

There will be a piece of technology to use I would imagine just like
there is on the Barking - Gospel Oak line which I used last weekend. No
staff at all apart from the driver and guard on the train and you don't
see them except when you get on or off. It's not a new phenomenon to
have unstaffed facilities.

I'd also be interested to hear the mayor's ideas on how removing staff will
square with his past pledges to make stations safer for women and elderly
passengers.
And talking of which, if LU wants to redeploy staff, how about putting guards
on trains to deter vandalism and anti-social behaviour? It might reassure the
rest of the travelling public that someone actually cares, and encourage us to
stand up to the yobboes..

All the above are fair observations. The only comments I have heard on
this subject are :-

a) Ken saying that he wants to see people's jobs changed to make them
more flexible and involving.
b) The RMT routinely stating that 800 jobs are on the line.

If the jobs are redesigned properly then staff will be far more visible,
providing more reassurance, better information and helping on the issues
to do with security and vandalism. You have to ask what value there is
in locking people away in back offices, ticket offices where they sell
few tickets at quiet times or else in collectors boxes. You will never
get guards back on trains as it increases the risk of trains not running
if half the crew don't turn up.

I have no idea what the detailed proposals are but the issue is not
going to go away. There is enormous pressure to reduce staffing all over
the business because of pressure from TfL and the need to demonstrate
"best value" under government legislation. TfL and its associated
"companies" are now part of the local authority regime and therefore
lots of changes will have to made to prevent outsourcing and all sorts
of other possibilities. If people do not perform or don't "add value"
then they are being booted out.

On a final note it seems that the respective positions of LU and the RMT
are more entrenched than ever over the strike issue. I think the fact
that the Mayor has a new mandate means that it may turn into a fight to
the death over who is really in charge of the Tube. Get your walking
shoes repaired as I expect to see lots more strikes (please note this is
my guess and is not based on inside knowledge).

--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!