>> Michael Walker wrote:
>> I agree and have said so before. Again, apart from checking tickets and
>> small assistances to some passengers, what do conductors do on the > sometimes
>> long stretch between stations? (Mr Haber???) I would agree more could > be
>> done and your ideas are a good starting point.
>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.
Sounds liek a good idea. Have you thought about passing on the various
comments made re the Overland on this newsgroup to your railway bosses?
It might give them some ideas for improvement.
>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.
Please pass on his comments. I think we'd be all interested to hear them
cheers Peter