Uniforms, the smartest and scruffiest?

[Christmas]

What are the smartest and scruffiest uniforms on the network? This is for TOCs only really as freight drivers have a rather different role. I've recently noticed that ScotRail staff are wearing blue polo shirts which to my mind looks terrible. Nothing beats a smart shirt and tie. My personal favourite is Greater Anglia, smart colours and very professional looking. The scruffiest is Northern without doubt, shorts and a baggy polo shirt looks ridiculous and commands no respect.
What are your thoughts?

Oh and I have no idea how to add a poll.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I find that the Northern and Chiltern polo shirts look incredibly scruffy. It isn't that I have a problem with using practical uniforms like polos, but rather that the specific colour chosen, a mid blue, just looks awful. A deeper colour with a subtle logo to me looks much better.

As you say it also appears that they have put no effort into ensuring that they fit properly.

Tailored shorts I think look fine, but that isn't what they are all wearing, some are quite scruffy. A reasonable guideline would be that it is allowed if it would be on a premium golf course.

 

[bramling]

What are the smartest and scruffiest uniforms on the network? This is for TOCs only really as freight drivers have a rather different role. I've recently noticed that ScotRail staff are wearing blue polo shirts which to my mind looks terrible. Nothing beats a smart shirt and tie. My personal favourite is Greater Anglia, smart colours and very professional looking. The scruffiest is Northern without doubt, shorts and a baggy polo shirt looks ridiculous and commands no respect.
What are your thoughts?

Oh and I have no idea how to add a poll.

Northern and London Underground = horrendous. LU’s is simply horrific, both in terms of style and colours, whilst the Northern one the shade of blue used simply doesn’t work. Both of these are worse even than the infamous Connex uniforms.

Not too much a fan of GTR’s either. The uniform is okay, but the grey colour I dislike. This is more personal taste than scruffiness though.

 

[py_megapixel]

I find that the Northern and Chiltern polo shirts look incredibly scruffy. It isn't that I have a problem with using practical uniforms like polos, but rather that the specific colour chosen, a mid blue, just looks awful. A deeper colour with a subtle logo to me looks much better.

Northern's blue looks like it was chosen to perfectly "complement" the daylight white LEDs!

 

[Scotrail314209]

ScotRail, Avanti and LNER have smart uniforms imo, as do Great Western Railway.

I prefer a formal look to the casual one worn by Northern and Chiltern.

 

[RPM]

Not much love for the current Chiltern uniform on here, but it is actually the most comfortable and best quality iteration we've had since day 1.

 

[Llama]

Shorts on Northern were a temporary dispensation in 2018 in response to the hot weather. Give some people an inch though...

 

[newtownmgr]

As a driver i much prefer polo shirts & cargo trousers/shorts to wearing a shirt & tie. Especially on warm days. Probably haven’t worn a tie at work except on very rare occasions since late BR/early Central trains days, even if wearing a shirt.

 

[86246]

From what I have seen in these recent post lockdown times I believe that LNER staff look the smartest.

My local TOC Greater Anglia staff certainly stand out without looking the smartest amongst the TOC uniforms. If I can tell that they are a member of staff and if they are comfortable in their uniform I couldn't care less beyond that.

 

[Horizon22]

GWR look pretty sharp I feel, as do LNER. Shows that you don’t have to be outrageously formal to be good (although many are). The long trench-coat style for guards, station staff is good. Overground look fairly awful the colours clash really badly and don’t look very professional.

I think expecting ties is IMHO quite old-fashioned; there’s lots of office jobs now that don’t require them.

As for fitting, that’s notoriously bad for company uniforms…

 

[CarltonA]

Not much love for the current Chiltern uniform on here, but it is actually the most comfortable and best quality iteration we've had since day 1.

Fair enough, though I was genuinely surprised when I first saw what appeared to be a PE teacher produce a set of keys and go into the cab.

 

[iphone76]

I feel that our uniform can be smart, however, they don't really enforce the regulations, so some drivers can look quite scruffy. Management have finally relented regarding polo shirts, and they are due to be delivered any day now. They won't, however, give way regarding shorts, so some male drivers did wear skirts this year. ( I have deliberately not named my company).

 

[Fyldeboy]

Fair enough, though I was genuinely surprised when I first saw what appeared to be a PE teacher produce a set of keys and go into the cab.

I guess uniform is less of an issue for non-customer facing staff like drivers. I don't care what people are wearing up front or in control.

 

[lordbusiness]

GA uniforms were designed by Wayne Hemingway of Red or Dead.

 

[Spandau]

Most Merseyrail staff look pretty smart though some look rather like bailiffs. One of the best uniforms was the old First North Western sports jacket. The current Northern attire is indeed ghastly.

 

[island]

I feel that our uniform can be smart, however, they don't really enforce the regulations, so some drivers can look quite scruffy. Management have finally relented regarding polo shirts, and they are due to be delivered any day now. They won't, however, give way regarding shorts, so some male drivers did wear skirts this year. ( I have deliberately not named my company).

Your location field narrows it down to two

 

[Bletchleyite]

I guess uniform is less of an issue for non-customer facing staff like drivers. I don't care what people are wearing up front or in control.

In Germany drivers don't wear uniform and can wear what they like, that took a bit of getting used to, but I guess they are not customer facing.

 

[hexagon789]

In Germany drivers don't wear uniform and can wear what they like, that took a bit of getting used to, but I guess they are not customer facing.

AFAIK that's the norm on most of the continent or it certainly was.

 

[CAF397]

TPE and SWR seem to share much of the same uniform, with small differences. I personally prefer shirt and tie.

 

[Horizon22]

I guess uniform is less of an issue for non-customer facing staff like drivers. I don't care what people are wearing up front or in control.

Drivers are a lot more “customer-facing” then many think. Walking around stations, walking down platforms (turnarounds), waiting for trains (to pass on or relieve another driver), chatting with other staff etc. Possibly on a DOO service resolving a fault or resetting a passcom. Trust me, you get noticed!

 

[tpjm]

TPE and SWR seem to share much of the same uniform, with small differences. I personally prefer shirt and tie.

Procured from the same supplier at the same time. There are a number of differences, but generally a smart looking uniform for both TOCs in my (biased) opinion.

 

[John Bishop]

Drivers are a lot more “customer-facing” then many think. Walking around stations, walking down platforms (turnarounds), waiting for trains (to pass on or relieve another driver), chatting with other staff etc. Possibly on a DOO service resolving a fault or resetting a passcom. Trust me, you get noticed!

100% this!

The amount of times I’ve been stopped and asked questions by a customer is incredible. They don’t normally distinguish between a Driver or any other grade when they see a uniform. They just see you as a company employee and will engage.

 

[RPI]

The Northern uniform is hideous, looks like they're about to ride the Tour de France, probably biased as I have to wear it but the GWR uniform is smart and I actually quite like the XC uniform too

 

[ValentaFan1974]

I was waiting for someone to mention XC

I’m wearing mine just now (all just freshly washed and ironed I’ll have you know lol) and about to head on out of the house for the day - again a biased opinion but I do like our uniform.

 

[Whistler40145]

What are the smartest and scruffiest uniforms on the network? This is for TOCs only really as freight drivers have a rather different role. I've recently noticed that ScotRail staff are wearing blue polo shirts which to my mind looks terrible. Nothing beats a smart shirt and tie. My personal favourite is Greater Anglia, smart colours and very professional looking. The scruffiest is Northern without doubt, shorts and a baggy polo shirt looks ridiculous and commands no respect.
What are your thoughts?

Oh and I have no idea how to add a poll.

I agree with you on the Northern uniform, looks cheap and scruffy

 

[ScottGallagher]

The Northern uniform is hideous, looks like they're about to ride the Tour de France, probably biased as I have to wear it but the GWR uniform is smart and I actually quite like the XC uniform too

The shade of blue especially is a bit say CBeebies ...

Do Toc's really ever do more than a token ask of the workforce before they introduce a new uniform , it even sounds that some may not even do that.

There may well be a standard (ish) GBR uniform in a few years time but as to what that will look like or include will be for a speculative thread!!

 

[dk1]

From what I have seen in these recent post lockdown times I believe that LNER staff look the smartest.

My local TOC Greater Anglia staff certainly stand out without looking the smartest amongst the TOC uniforms. If I can tell that they are a member of staff and if they are comfortable in their uniform I couldn't care less beyond that.

It was a good decision that GA drivers can choose a ‘casual’ option that was made back in 2012. Suits me as I detest wearing a tie or doing my top shirt button up.

 

[87007]

Transport for Wales in black look like on-board security

 

[Llama]

Northern uniform *is* cheap and scruffy - plus manages to be both too warm for summer and too cold for winter. The old pre-Arriva Northern uniform was much better, there was actually some thought put into the design.

We've had male drivers turning up in skirts too this year, and that despite shorts still being tolerated. What has been seen can't be unseen.

 

[43066]

100% this!

The amount of times I’ve been stopped and asked questions by a customer is incredible. They don’t normally distinguish between a Driver or any other grade when they see a uniform. They just see you as a company employee and will engage.

The best way to avoid that is to walk purposefully, and preferably wear your own jacket so that it isn’t immediately obvious you’re staff!