I dunno, I don't have long stretches between stations. There's up to
33mins from Terang to Warrnambool, if on the down that's used to
complete tally sheets, and a 'bin run' - carrying a rubbish bin through
the train, collecting passengers rubbish. On the up, it's swalloped up
checking tickets. Apart from that there's 27 or so Camperdown-Colac, at
which point (time permitting) the Conductor relieves the Catering
Attendant, who then offers "seat service" to First Class (or the whole
train if time permits). It all depends on how many tickets I need to
sell on-board. There are nights when you need every minute to sell
tickets, and there's no time to even add up the tally sheet.
Something which I like to do when I have time (and something whose value
should not be underestimated) is just go through the train and talk to
passengers. Ask what they think of the new trim in carriages, explain
service proposals, give them information about things like check luggage
(hardly anyone seems to check their luggage through these days, and
struggles to get it into carriages). Give the service a 'personal'
touch. Gives you a good chance to get customer feedback, and lets face
it, I'm in a job becuase they're using the train! It's in my best
interest (and the interests of rail in general) to give those passengers
every reason to come back and use the train again.
You can't really compare my work to say the Overland Conductor who has 4
hours or so to Ararat. I see no reason why some form of Seat Service
could not be offered, or better still have the Club Car rather than the
RBJ, and in the long stretches, the Conductor can assist the Club Car
Attendant. One of the Overland Conny's catches my train a bit, I'll ask
him a few questions about it next time I see him.
Cheers,
CH.
-- Craig Haber albatross@harnessnet.com.au Manufacturing Systems Engineer (almost) Web Page Designer, Harness Racing, Railways, and Essendon Football Club fanatic http://www.harnessnet.com.au/