Re: Passengers say the darndest things!

[andrew-d <andrew-d@rivernet.com.au>]

here is one for you . does this train go to the city? i reply yes. are you sure
this goes to the city? yes mama. the city? she asks and you are that pissed off
the only answer is NO!!!

Matthew Smith 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.