Re: [VIC] Revenue protection [WAS [Melbourne] W-class trams]

["Daniel Bowen" <dbowen@custard.REMOVE.net.au>]

I think you have a valid point, though I don't think the "bad" conductors
were in the majority. Maybe some of them did just sit on their bums in their
Z class seats, but I think their very presence deterred the kind of fare
evasion levels and anti-social behaviour that we're seeing now.

The behaviour thing is particularly a problem after dark, mostly from
teenagers - I recently encountered one group on the 67 all shouting about
how they were going to "f*** the Met". But even during daytime, I've seen
twice recently people smoking in the back of the tram (though holding their
cigarettes out of the window - how considerate). Actually it may have been
the same person twice.


Daniel
--
Daniel Bowen, Melbourne, Australia
dbowen@custard.REMOVE.net.au
Melbourne public transport FAQ http://www.custard.net.au/melbtrans/


"whitehat" <whitehat@alphalink.com.au> wrote in message
3ab24e0c@news.alphalink.com.au">news:3ab24e0c@news.alphalink.com.au...
> OK - I know I'm going to regret this, but here goes.
>
> As someone who has used Melbourne trams for 30 years, I am continually
> amazed by the romantic vision of tram conductors that now prevails. It
must
> be true, because I never see anybody contradict it. Well it certainly was
> not my experience.
>
> Certainly there were good conductors, there were mediocre conductors, and
> then there were a large number who were surly, unprofessional, and did
> little to protect public revenue and property. My colleagues and I often
> watched and commented over a period of about 10 years how these people
were
> systematically writing themselves out of a job - and unfortunately for the
> good ones, that is what happened.
>
> I realise that my view appears to be a minority one and therefore I can
> expect to be attacked by the PC majority. However, if people are afraid to
> express a minority view, it never gets heard. I would prefer to travel on
> trams with conductors, but preferably with ones who felt the system was
for
> the benefit of the travelling public rather than themselves. I will watch
> with interest the attitudes and behaviour of the new staff.
>
> whitehat
>
>
>