Re: The stupidity of passengers.

[craigd@lios.apana.org.au (C. Dewick)]

In <368DEF7F.99934F6E@fastlink.com.au> Robert Harris <bob@fastlink.com.au> writes:

>I was working a train through the Bankstown Circle on New years Day. I
>was in the fourth car of and 8 car S set (numbered R21 and R22) The
>fifth car was locked off due to windows missing. The doors were locked,
>lights out and I even had door out of order stickers on all 4 sets of
>doors. We pulled into Lakemba, I hear a rip sound, turn and see this
>woman rip off the sticker and try to force open the doors! I tell her to
>stop it and that it was closed for a reason. She gets my details so she
>can report me for being rasist!

>It makes u wonder.

I threw a bunch of middle-eastern youth off my train at Punchbowl yesterday
after they were abusing passengers in the front car (I could clearly here
them through the back door of the cab) and vandalising the seat fittings, as
well as holding the doors open at a few previous stations. Needless to say
these people were not impressed, but I was prepared to act if they decided
to make a move on me. I know that there are many drivers and guards who keep
external doors locked at all times when travelling on the Bankstown line,
especially at night.

There are more assualts, bashings, etc. of train staff, particularly guards,
on that line that anywhere else.

AFAIK, the Bankstown line, and people who live along it, have to be the most
ignorant residential group I've ever come across. This is especially so for
people with backgrounds in Asian and the Middle-east who seem to think they
can do what they like on our trains.

I can't stand the two-faced racisim argument when dealing with the sort of
overall stupid behaviour that people from those backgrounds exhibit. These
people get on our trains, abuse the hell out of passengers and staff, and
vandalise the trains and stations at the same time. Any wonder many other
people don't like them... And then these social groups cry foul and claim
they're being racially vilified! My ass they are... They come to this
country for a new life, so if they travel on our public transport system
they have to behave like everyone else, or else they can get the hell off
the system.

The trouble is that it's mostly the youth that cause the problems - the
adult migrants, etc. are in general very respectful of public space and
property, even if they are still scared to speak out when we ask them for
information about people who cause trouble on the trains.

And because these youth have such a big 'profile' amongst railway staff,
this promotes the view that by and large these groups have no respect at all
for the common-sense guidelines which make travelling on public transport
supposedly safe, convenient and comfortable for everyone.

Sigh... this is one thing in the favour of privatisation - fully-armed and
trained security personel, like what many US and Canadian transit operators
have.. They wouldn't tolerate people doing what people get away with now on
our trains. 

Regards,

Craig.
-- 
            Craig Ian Dewick            |       Stand clear - jaws closing
 Send email to craigd@lios.apana.org.au |  Visit my Australian rail transport
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