Re: Passengers say the darndest things!

[consultancy@bigpond.com (greg h)]

Well, let's hope *THIS* posting doesn't turn into a pro/anti-racist,
pro/anti-freedom of speech, pro/anti-pauline hanson discussion



On Sat, 9 Jan 1999 15:56:19 +1000, "Matthew Smith"
<matticue@corplink.com.au> wrote:

>Sounds like a show Bill Cosby could host. I was a relief porter for the
>first 8 years in the Railways and I was subject to some of the craziest
>questions from passengers. I always said I would get a tape recorder to play
>the dumb questions back to the offending passenger but this never happened.
>Below are some of the questions I heard during my time on the platform. Some
>you will have heard a thousand times but are true nonetheless. Here we go :-
>
>Lady looks at destination board on train arriving at Zillmere then asks me "
>Does this train go to Darra like it says it does?"
>
>Lady standing on platform 3 at Central looking at indicator board which
>displays "Shorncliffe all stations". As the train arrives (bearing a
>"Shorncliffe" dest board) she listens as the PA blurbs "Shorncliffe train
>platform 3, this train stops all stations to Shorncliffe" (repeated several
>times). No prizes for guessing what she asked me.
>
>Then there's the oldest one in the book..... "How long is the next train to
>(wherever)?". Don't they get annoyed when you answer honestly by say "6
>cars".
>
>At Murarrie, a lady came to the ticket window and requested a "return to
>Town". She then asked me "Do you go to town?". How do respond to a question
>like that?.
>
>Another oldie but a goody (and, yes, I was asked this several times)...
>"What time is the 4.07 train to Petrie due?". Ummmm....... 4.07??
>
>Again at Central "Does this platform go to Ipswich?". (Hmmm, a platform with
>wheels??).
>
>Shorncliffe is the end of the line and only has one platform. Of course, it
>had to happen..... "What platform will the train to town leave from? to
>which I replied "Miss, there is only one platform here" . She replied "Yes I
>know, but there might be another one I can't see".
>
>I can definitely see a pattern forming here!!
>
>In this scenario, there was a total closure between Redbank and Ipswich.
>Buses were running in lieu. A heavy advertising campaign ensured passengers
>were kept informed of the expected delays. We were prepared for many
>questions and lots of abuse but nothing prepared me for this. I was actually
>standing at the bus stop when this happened:-
>" Excuse me sir, I'm going in to Brisbane and I've been told I have to catch
>a bus to Redbank because the trains are not running. Is that correct?".
>"Yes, that's right. The bus will take you to Redbank where you board the
>train for the city".
>"Do I have to pay the bus driver for a ticket?".
>"No. madam, your fare is cover by your train ticket".
>"Thank you very much. Do I have time to get a drink from the shop?".
>"Certainly, you have 15 minutes before the bus leaves".
>"Thank you", starts walking away, stops, turns around and calls out to me
>"By the way, which PLATFORM will the bus leave from?".
>
>If I think of any more (and I'm sure there are plenty) I'll post them later.
>I invite other people to comment on the weird things people say. You do not
>have to be a railway employee but it would help to know what you do for a
>living.
>
>Regards
>
>Matt Smith
>Brisbane, Queensland
>matticue@corplink.com.au
>
>You can't slam a revolving door.
>