funny central line driver

[gavelex]

took a short trip from shepherd's Bush to Leytonstone yesterday ;D, so much fun ;D

*2.75 MB, .wma format

enjoy

[Colin]

Well he's certainly enthusiastic - must be new ;D ;D

[gavelex]

colin said:

Well he's certainly enthusiastic - must be new ;D ;D

relatively- i have been on his train a few times but only had the idea of recording him when I was with Mind The Gap.

[Deleted]

Think i've had that driver before as well. There's nothing wrong with drivers making PA's, but sometimes it gets too much and becomes an annoyance. There's a Geordie bloke on the Bakerloo line who doesn't ever shut up, and i've also had a Met guy that can't keep off the PA's either. Drives me mad. Sometimes I have to get off and wait for the next train, especially with the Bakerloo guy.

Don't get me wrong, i've cracked the odd joke myself but if you keep making announcements relentlessly the passengers will switch off and miss it when you say something important. Let the DVA take the strain and then people will take notice when a "real" voice comes over the tannoy. Drivers are also not supposed to make PA's when the train is in motion as they should be concentrating on the road, especially the Met guy who is on a 2 handle stock!

I must sound like a right miserable old git, but it's always been a bugbear of mine.

[gavelex]

prakash said:

Drivers are also not supposed to make PA's when the train is in motion as they should be concentrating on the road

think it may be out of boredom on the central though, what else have they got to do.

well, theres always the choice of giving a cab ride and talking to somebody ;D ;D

[ongarparknride]

Hiya Prakash, went to the OP Link, heard it, and seen your reply.

Sticking my oar in, I refer also to the thread remarking that manual driving is effectively not promoted on the "automated" lines these days that opens up a vast difference between traditional driving a train, and (absolutely no disrespect intended) sitting back whilst the black boxes and pc's take the strain.

What (forgetting the political correctness) it really boils down to is that there are still on some lines Train Drivers, and on other lines Train Supervisors, rather than Operators. Increasing automated operation outside the control and REGULAR PRACTICAL DRIVING EXPERIENCE IN SERVICE of the driver/operator stunts the job expectations, and ability to respond to an emergency situation from lack of REGULAR training or actual experience.

I think your post above is perfectly valid (and of course you have the right here to voice your opinion) and I don't consider you a "right miserable old git" at all, because I reckon I'm one of the best qualifiers for that title myself these days...

IMHO I'd need to quote from two or three threads I've studied here - the gist boils down to Ato Train Operation on the Central leaving it to mandatory computer control means you can exit a station and see the next train behind you entering it on your platform monitor VDU's, because The Computer Says So.

And you can only practise driving your train on Sundays in the open sections on the Central.

And the Victoria Line guys can't practise anything. Hence the remark that the ticket barriers become the highlight of one's life, on another thread.


My personal point is that the Motorman/Driver is responsible for the safety of his/her (any lady drivers? Sorry, don't know and just asking!) Train if anything goes wrong - and what I am seeing on this forum is increased automation to which a train Driver has decreasing input - AND LACK OF ACTUAL "TRADITIONAL" DRIVING EXPERIENCE - so no wonder they feel the only contribution they can make is to entertain the passengers on the PA. After all, they know their passengers are crammed in, hot and sweating, far worst than EU regulations would allow sardines to be packed in a tin.

So thanks for your post, Prakash, and I'm thinking about it. It seems that you are just putting one side of what is clearly an important and wide discussion as to what the guy at the pointy end of the train's responsibilities, training, and potential liabilities SHOULD ANYTHING GO WRONG be assessed.

cheers,

[Deleted]

Brilliant ;D

What does he say at the end?

'' We'll be moving shortly, there's a slight problem .... oh, there ya go, what ....... relief (??) ''

[auxsetreq]

ongarparknride said:

And you can only practise driving your train on Sundays in the open sections on the Central.

There seem to be alot of misunderstanding about ATO on the Central Line............

On the Central manual driving is allowed at any time in open sections. East of Leytonstone/Leyton and West of White City. It's entirely at the driver's discretion. On Sunday's it's mandatory and was being rigourously enforced today. In other words two thirds of the line default back to being manual. Elsewhere should ATO be withdrawn for whatever purpose then a driver will be expected/asked to drive at full line speed in coded manual.........

As for boredom, we don't get much time for that. We seem to be rushed of our rails for most of the day............

[stanmorek]

There's a T/OP on the Met who gives PAs in a very posh public school accent. I don't know if he puts it on but it makes my journey feel more pleasant.

[Deleted]

Not Guilty... but I have a vague idea as to who this can be!!! ;D

[Deleted]

ongarparknride said:

(any lady drivers? Sorry, don't know and just asking!)

We certainly do have female drivers, and have done since the late 1970s. Earls Court seems to have an unusually high proportion of women, but there are dozens (hundreds?) across the network.

[Deleted]

yes, we have a handful on the Central...

[Deleted]

LOL Probably one day from retirement or something...

Had one Picc driver who announced the gaps at all stations with one once. E.G Hounslow Central - step up.

As for female drivers, there are loads of them, but a lot of them seem to be very quiet. Although one lovely lady "apologised on behalf of London Underground" for the delays this evening at Acton on the Picc!

[Deleted]

I see so if you do get bored you can drive in coded manual. But how does that work?
Does the train suddenly slow down on sections or are you advised in the cab?? Even though you have to follow the signals how the hell does it work???

james

[ongarparknride]

Thanks, auxsetreq, for your input at post #7 above. I gathered my impression solely from other posts here. As NOT a train driver, I just feel that lack of in-service direct control over one's train should problems arise on automated operation might be a Bad Thing. Like, no-one has mentioned practice to keep in touch with accurate station stopping to actuate passenger door release etc. I'm not being "bolshy" but feel it rather denigrates the status and responsibilities of drivers/TO's who would primarily be suspects in the event of any faulkts in the ATO systems. "Pilot Error" springs to mind! :-(

Also I'd add thanks to comments re female/lady train drivers these days, and glad no-one took offence or suggested I was being sexist :-) My personal circumstances have severely restricted visiting London and travelling on the Tube since 2000, so have not much experience of watching the incoming train operatives...

So I'd better shut up whilst I'm still ahead, by thanking all LU train drivers, irrespective of their sex, for the great job they do in making "The Tube" such a safe method of transport. And covering my back completely, that good wish extends to the depot maintenance staff, signal persons, station staff and everyone else including the Management :-)

cheers,

[tubeprune]

Lady drivers? I think the total is around 6%.

[tubeprune]

eorjames said:

I see so if you do get bored you can drive in coded manual. But how does that work?
Does the train suddenly slow down on sections or are you advised in the cab?? Even though you have to follow the signals how the hell does it work???

james

How long have you got? ;D Try Clive Feather here:

www.davros.org/rail/signalling/articles/central.html

[Deleted]

In reply to Ongarparknride, I guess a lot of it is personal preference. I've only ever worked the older stock and have no experience of the newer trains, but surely the "operator" should still be watching the road? If he was on a mobile or playing on a PSP or reading a book or something there would be trouble, but using the PA excessively seems to be considered something commendable by LU. If a bloke had a one-under while making a PA about "Jubilee line to the front" when he's got a working DVA to tell the punters the interchange information and doesnt cosh it quick enough as a result, how would the company/coroner's court look at that?

Not having a dig mate, just wandering.

Drivers (or operators) of the newer stock have just as much responsibility as those of us that drive the older trains. Either way, the person on the front should be concentrating on the road ahead and platform - train interface rather than making daft PAs left right and centre. It can't help concentration/safety.

Nowt wrong with funny or quirky PA's, but there's a time and a place for it... and it's not every bloody station! ;D

[Deleted]

I've had football updates on the Central and the "Scenic route to Upminster" on the District but blimey...this is HILARIOUS!

Shame I've never had him.

[Deleted]

This is a district line train, taking the Scenic route to Upminster [this wears off after Barking]