Miserable tube drivers for Olympics
Discussion
Dixie68 said:
Okay, I can as I work on them - engineering, not driving, and I'm regularly in the control rooms. The busy times are from around 0730 to 0900 in the morning, and 1600 to around 1830 in the evening. Between those times it tails off so the trains have a lot less passengers on them, plus we move trains around that don't have passengers on them, (from one depot to another for example), these trains will be marked as "Not in Service" on the passenger information boards and on the front of the train and are a regular occurrence.
The line that will take the brunt of the passengers for the Olympics is the Jubilee Line into Stratford, and to a lesser extent the DLR. Both of these lines operate an onboard automatic driving system that drives and stops the trains, the driver (in the case of the JL as the DLR doesn't have one) presses a button to close the doors at which point the train takes over again. Because computers now control the JL trains, more can be placed in service - in the time you would have seen two trains arrive at a platform you will now see three.
Also, train drivers already drive trains out of what would be normal working hours for engineering reasons, moving trains around, clearing lines etc, and are paid overtime to do so. Funnily enough we never have a shortage of drivers willing to do this in normal times - maybe they aren't all as keen to spend quality time with their families as you are?
It's nice that you think that they are giving up their free time selflessly for the Olympics, but this is a move by the unions that was predicted on the day we were awarded them by the Olympic Committee - I was in the RMT at the time in another post and we were called into a meeting with our union rep where he stated quite openly that they would do nothing until it was close to the start date and then "screw the government for every penny", (his words). I even came onto PH and posted about it. I stopped paying my subs on that day.
If you have any more questions about the running of the Tube feel free to ask.
It's nice to know that not everyone involved in our public transport is a stuck in the past mentalist. The line that will take the brunt of the passengers for the Olympics is the Jubilee Line into Stratford, and to a lesser extent the DLR. Both of these lines operate an onboard automatic driving system that drives and stops the trains, the driver (in the case of the JL as the DLR doesn't have one) presses a button to close the doors at which point the train takes over again. Because computers now control the JL trains, more can be placed in service - in the time you would have seen two trains arrive at a platform you will now see three.
Also, train drivers already drive trains out of what would be normal working hours for engineering reasons, moving trains around, clearing lines etc, and are paid overtime to do so. Funnily enough we never have a shortage of drivers willing to do this in normal times - maybe they aren't all as keen to spend quality time with their families as you are?
It's nice that you think that they are giving up their free time selflessly for the Olympics, but this is a move by the unions that was predicted on the day we were awarded them by the Olympic Committee - I was in the RMT at the time in another post and we were called into a meeting with our union rep where he stated quite openly that they would do nothing until it was close to the start date and then "screw the government for every penny", (his words). I even came onto PH and posted about it. I stopped paying my subs on that day.
If you have any more questions about the running of the Tube feel free to ask.
GarryA said:
Unsure, was at Invensys when they were showing off a fully auto mass transit system in the far east. looked good, if there were any problems they could take control in Chippenham and sort it out.
Been in rail signalling and telecoms maintain / faulting / new works since 2001 :-)
Just since 2006 for me: first TMS then TBTC Comms Been in rail signalling and telecoms maintain / faulting / new works since 2001 :-)
Wills2 said:
Willy Nilly said:
The_Burg said:
Not part of TfL but work on a support contract to them. We will be required to work 12 hour shifts including nights to cover any issues.
While you're working 12 hour days, I'll be working 14 hours, 7 days a week and might not have a weekend to myself for 4 months. Much like every other f
king summer. I'll be interested to understand what you do?
The whole 4 months isn't 14 hour days, but there is a rather intense 2 months in the middle of it. Get up. go to work. go home. go to bed. and repeat. There will be many hundreds of people like me doing the same. It's not unknown to get in my cab at 7.30am, switch the engine on and get out at 10pm with no break.
A friend of mine is self employed. He makes me look like a part timer.
Could I stand 2 weeks of 12 hour days for the Olympics? Err, yes. I'll probably listen to most of it while I'm at work.
There are plenty of people up and down the country doing all sorts of different jobs that have to put the hours in and don't hold the country to ransom.
Well if were playing who works the most hours, my farther in laws a dairy farmer works 7 days a week and is up at 3 each morning for the 1st milking session, he probably gives himself 2 weeks off a year.
Farming was the profession he choose , he knew the long hours involved but he's not bitter that others work 9-5 in a nice warm office or get bonus payments for working beyond there contracted hours.
Farming was the profession he choose , he knew the long hours involved but he's not bitter that others work 9-5 in a nice warm office or get bonus payments for working beyond there contracted hours.
Edited by egor110 on Friday 9th March 23:05
I often work past my contracted hours - and on the Tube too. I don't expect or receive any bonus, I just get the overtime rate as described in my contract. If us Tube engineers & train technicians threatened to strike too then maybe we would also get a lovely bonus for doing our jobs - after all if the tracks or trains are broken nobody is going anywhere. But we tend not to be a bunch of militant, money grabbing bds.
ds.PugwasHDJ80 said:
Crossflow Kid said:
And you know this how? Have you been driving Tube trains for a while then?
ahh so as a frequent customer i'm not allowed to make a judgement on those i buy services from? that's pretty much whats wrong with Tube Drivers- they seem to think that for some reason we OWE them a living- actually we don't. Either your customers appreciate what you do, or they fk off. In the tube's point of view, we don't have any other options so we can't take our trade elsewhere- hence this idea what tube drivers are somehow "special". You're not.
What it does do is give you an expert's eye view of the biggest problem with the Tube.
And I'm not a driver.
egor110 said:
'What it does do is give you an expert's eye view of the biggest problem with the Tube'
Just because you use a service regularly doesn't give you a expert eye view in anything. It gives you a opinion based on said experience but it's not expert anything.
I'm an expert in how the Tube runs and I disagree with the majority of what you've written throughout this thread. Ergo, by your reasoning, you are wrong. Just because you use a service regularly doesn't give you a expert eye view in anything. It gives you a opinion based on said experience but it's not expert anything.
Who/what is ergo?
You may work on the tube and disagree with what i've written others on here also work on the tube but agree.
It's called a different opinion, it's quite alright to have one, if we all agreed we each other on everything then this forum would be dead.
At the end of the day, if people feel so strongly about this then as a customer they can vote with there feet and withdraw there custom from the tube, we all know people are lazy though and will moan about it on a forum but still use the tube rather than try cycling or walking.
You may work on the tube and disagree with what i've written others on here also work on the tube but agree.
It's called a different opinion, it's quite alright to have one, if we all agreed we each other on everything then this forum would be dead.
At the end of the day, if people feel so strongly about this then as a customer they can vote with there feet and withdraw there custom from the tube, we all know people are lazy though and will moan about it on a forum but still use the tube rather than try cycling or walking.
egor110 said:
Who/what is ergo?
You may work on the tube and disagree with what i've written others on here also work on the tube but agree.
It's called a different opinion, it's quite alright to have one, if we all agreed we each other on everything then this forum would be dead.
At the end of the day, if people feel so strongly about this then as a customer they can vote with there feet and withdraw there custom from the tube, we all know people are lazy though and will moan about it on a forum but still use the tube rather than try cycling or walking.
How is being told by a union rep that the union will wait until it's too late for the government to do anything and then screw them for every penny an opinion? That's not an opinion, that's a fact. And as for the others that work on the Tube agreeing, well if they're drivers or union members then yes they would wouldn't they? You may work on the tube and disagree with what i've written others on here also work on the tube but agree.
It's called a different opinion, it's quite alright to have one, if we all agreed we each other on everything then this forum would be dead.
At the end of the day, if people feel so strongly about this then as a customer they can vote with there feet and withdraw there custom from the tube, we all know people are lazy though and will moan about it on a forum but still use the tube rather than try cycling or walking.
By the way, because I know what 'ergo' means, (and the difference between 'their' and 'they're' too), doesn't mean I went to public school.
I never mentioned anything about where you recieved your education.
This whole tube issue, some of the staff are for it, some are against but those of us with no connection have no power to do anything except not use the tube.
We can stay bickering on here until the cows come home, the fact stil is they are getting the bonus, people who don't get a bonus are not happy and that's how it will stay.
This whole tube issue, some of the staff are for it, some are against but those of us with no connection have no power to do anything except not use the tube.
We can stay bickering on here until the cows come home, the fact stil is they are getting the bonus, people who don't get a bonus are not happy and that's how it will stay.
Even though a lot of the drivers are complaining, protesting etc they have probaby had 20yrs + of union bull$hit and brainwashing put upon them, eventually they just become like the people that went before them. It is a poison spread far and wide on the railway in general. The first day I walked in the mess room as a young lad I had all the RMT forms / propaganda etc shoved in my face. I did sign up, but not long after I saw through it and chucked it in. I was not looked upon in a favourable light after that.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-173681...
Wonder that 'unlimited flexibility' is other than, 'after the games we can do whatever we want'...
Wonder that 'unlimited flexibility' is other than, 'after the games we can do whatever we want'...
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