Almost swore...

[Ponder]

I almost swore at someone today.

To clarify, I was driving a train service from Cardiff to Bridgend via the Vale of Glamorgan this evening. Now it's Saturday evening, and there are a good deal of passengers around in a, shall we say, merry state, which is normal.

As I was changing ends at Bridgend, this bloke was moaning about the state of the toilet. I politely told him I was the driver and my responsibility is to make the train move, and suggested he see the guard. He wasn't pleased. (He did see the guard and wasn't very polite either).

When he got off at Llantwit he said, "About my complaint..." and I stopped him there reminding him, "I'm only the driver" but he kept going, "I know you're the driver but if something isn't done at HQ by tomorrow, things are going to happen!" and then he walked off before I could say, "Look, if you have a complaint about the standard of my driving, I'm the man to see, but for anything else, I ran out of fucks to give 1½ hours ago!"

[Pixilated]

Gee, why didn't you slam on the brakes and run to the washroom and deal with whatever the problem was immediately ... never mind all the other people on the train who just wanted to get to their destination ...

Or, "If you want 'something done at HQ,' I'm sure HQ will be happy to give you a mop and pail ..."

[RealUnimportant]

Yay, someone else from the railways! Well done on your restraint.

[Argabarga]

Don't you just love that?

"I have a complaint, Iknow you aren't in charge, but, you're the only person around here from The Establishment (tm), so you'll have to do."

[Ponder]

I hadn't started moving at the time, I was taking a newspaper from the cab to put it in the bin. The only time I've ever slammed in the brakes in service was when one woman was bashing at the cab door complaining about the fact we weren't going to stop at her stop (she had to change for the next train).

[Linda]

That particular route can be very ...erm... *special*
And if you can't hold it between Bridgend and Llantwit, you might need a doctor.

[PepperElf]

if something isn't done at HQ by tomorrow, things are going to happen

He reminds me of Carlotta from phantom of the opera.


Andre: Signora, these things do happen.
Carlotta: Si. Well until you stop these things from happening, this thing does not happen!


But seriously, what does he think he's going to do, terrorize you with threats of his things happening?
The only thing that's going to happen is ... us making this face. and maybe him whining a bit more.

[Jester]

I have a sneaking suspicion that whether or not he calls HQ, things are going to happen.

They tend to, ya know.

[MoonCat]

from Cardiff to Bridgend via the Vale of Glamorgan

That's much more interesting than anywhere I get to go...

[Merriweather]

That's much more interesting than anywhere I get to go...

I'm having a major attack of homesickness now, sigh. I used to live in Pembrokeshire, I love Wales. I miss it. Sigh.

Anyone willing to finance a move back across the pond for me? I SO need to win the lottery or something.

[wolfie]

The only time I've ever slammed in the brakes in service was when one woman was bashing at the cab door complaining about the fact we weren't going to stop at her stop (she had to change for the next train).

Just curious, but when this happened, were you driving an express that wasn't SCHEDULED to stop at her stop, and she had displayed typical SC intelligence by failing to check beforehand that the train would stop where she needed to get off?

[vikingchyk]

from Cardiff to Bridgend via the Vale of Glamorgan
- That's much more interesting than anywhere I get to go...

There is a definite lack of vales on the eastern US seaboard. They try to fob 'Glen' This or That off on us. I think we managed to pretty much ruin that word. Quick, hide your vales!

[Ponder]

Just curious, but when this happened, were you driving an express that wasn't SCHEDULED to stop at her stop, and she had displayed typical SC intelligence by failing to check beforehand that the train would stop where she needed to get off?

It was an odd one really, her stop was the only one that we weren't booked to call at. I made a very clear announcement over the PA on how to get to her stop but she chose to get uppity instead of actually listening to what I was saying... also stating the famous, "I was told..." quote.

[Dentarthurdent]

"I have a complaint, Iknow you aren't in charge, but, you're the only person around here from The Establishment (tm), so you'll have to do."

Threadjack. I had people do this to me a couple days ago. I was waiting to deposit my cash and needed someone to verify and was waiting by the bar for someone to look at me. Note that their uniforms are obviously a different color from mine. This guy comes up and is like "MY COFFEE IS COLD! I JUST GOT IT AND IT'S COLD!" "I'm sorry sir, I don't work here, I work over there..." "Oh..." /Threadjack