Random Tube Ride

[jossi]

Hi, I just wondered if anyone has ever had an experience like I did after work last week. I was exhausted and was waiting for my tube ride on the Jubilee line where the front of the tube stops. It was hot and the tube was packed. I must have looked fed up because the tube driver opened his cab door and asked if I wanted a seat in the front of his cab. I hesitated but thought what the hell. He proceeded to tell me how the train operated and it was fascinating travelling 9 stops through the tunnels. He wasn't dodgy but a lovely man. He said he offered rides to pregnant woman and the elderly when conditions were like this. My partner was horrified and said this guy could've lost his job. Has anyone else ridden in the front like this?

Not unlikely OP, untrue.

Driver could be at risk or accused of all sorts. Why would they take the risk health/safety/security etc

I've done this a handful of times, since 2018.

But my DP drives one. So it's either been with him or with one of his colleagues.

You can organise to ride in the cab for certain reasons, usually a kid who is nervous and needs an introduction to things because of neurodivergence.

The drivers who are allowed to do it have DBS checks.

There's nothing to stop a friend of theirs waiting where OP was waiting and being allowed to hop in.

It's an incredible experience and makes the trip less dull. My youngest has been in the cab too.

I was going to post that Daily Mail link too.

It obviously happens (very rarely) so I'm not sure why people are so incredulous.

Drivers are probably bored and lonely so want the distraction of someone in their cab.

Call me a cynic, but I'd question if the driver fancied OP and was thinking about trying it on.

A few decades ago, before health and safety and fear gripped the world, a lot of personal interaction with industries was possible.

It was common for kids to accompany parents to work, particularly if they had a job in transport. If you’ve never seen a child sitting with their parent or relative in the cab of an HGV you won’t remember a time without smart phones.

I was about 10 when my father was working for a day at an airfield in Oxfordshire. While he was going through his roster I went up in a ‘sky van’ type of plane when soldiers were being instructed in parachuting. Not just once, but was allowed to go up in two successive flights.
The crew were lovely but I had to sit in a seat and not stand up or distract them when it came time for the parachutists to jump. The pilot was called Barry - a name you don’t find much these days.

Well I’ve been in the “cab” of the Flying Scotsman (truthfully). Yes I do have photos, no I’m not posting them. 😁

My friend is a driver on the jubilee line. She took us in, one by one to ride with her-kids too. I believe you!

Because we are boarding a train owned or leased by a TOC (train operating company)
The trains are not our property.
We manage the infrastructure