What was the operating incident between Sutton and West Croydon 06/09

[infobleep]

I always used to use 'Operating incident' if i didn't know the cause and the control number was engaged 'frequently' and all the emails/texts we received were about booking offices closed or PERTIS machines not working.

Sometimes you had to be creative to say something when you knew nothing.

The best one I had was when the guard said I apologies for the continuing delay, which I don't have information on. When I get it I will let you know.

Whilst that's not the only time, it's the one that sticks in my mind the most.

What also sticks in my mind is being hold outside Woking with no explanation or word for the guard at all and missing my connecting train to Guildford.

 

[PHILIPE]

Extract from ATW Journey Check:-

14 34 Holyhead to Cardiff Cen

This train has been delayed at Shrewsbury and is now 27 minutes late.
This is due to emergency services dealing with an incident.
Additional Information:
Police attendance at Shrewsbury, persons fighting on board the train.

 

[craigybagel]

I always make a point of going as far as possible when it comes to giving reasons for delays or other issues - I've found you get a much better reaction from passengers that way. This includes persons hit by a train, although as per company policy that is the phrase I use for it.

However, operating incidents I feel are a different matter, especially when they're being discussed afterwards online. Whilst I'm not saying that's the case here, there seems to be a bit of voyeurism of it , and often at some point in these threads someone will ask "will the driver/guard/whatever get punished", which to me seems very inappropriate. Possibly I'm biased because I'm traincrew and if I or my friends ever screw up I don't want to see it getting discussed online or on my train, but that's how I feel anyway.

This was the thread where debate took place, this one was titled "Due to emergency services dealing with an incident", but on similar lines

www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=119093

Cheers for that.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Extract from ATW Journey Check:-

14 34 Holyhead to Cardiff Cen

This train has been delayed at Shrewsbury and is now 27 minutes late.
This is due to emergency services dealing with an incident.
Additional Information:
Police attendance at Shrewsbury, persons fighting on board the train.

That's quite detailed. I suppose if you wanted it to sound good on board you could announce that as "Police attendance to a passenger disturbance on board". Pretty sure I have heard that phrase used.

 

[DarloRich]

No, but as soon as it is available, provided the member of staff is not busy doing something more important (aviate, navigate, communicate, in that order, as they say in the airline industry) disseminate it.

I would agree staff should say if they haven't been told - but that only holds for so long before some self important type kicks off demanding detailed information and they only get worse when that isn't forthcoming.

With the exception of a need to be a little sensitive over things like fatalities and how they are explained, as well as not pointing fingers at staff for things that require proper investigation first, I respectfully disagree.

Those are the circumstances is believe should be appropriate for withholding information. I don't like the phrase "operating incident" as it is to vague but understand why it is used.


I would also be also cautious around deaths/injuries on the railway as not all are suicides. We still kill or maim too many track workers every year.