LNER apologise for Train Manager's language

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

You'll need to brace yourself for this. What the Train Manager said is really horrific. You can tell that from LNER's apology on Twitter.

London North Eastern Railway
@LNER Replying to @laurencec123
I'm really sorry to see this, Laurence, our Train Managers should not be using language like this, and I thank you for bringing it to my attention, Please could you let me know which service you are on and I will ensure they remain as inclusive as we strive to be at LNER.

OK, steady yourselves now. I attach a screenshot of the original complaint, which I saw on another Twitter account. The complainer has made their Tweets private, probably because of the avalanche of robust and forthright hateful responses to the LNER tweet above.

I trust the Train Manager has been sent for re-training (as it were). Poor bugger.

@newnortherner111

My speculation if it was an RMT activist, the train manager belonged to another trade union (ASLEF, TSSA perhaps) or was non-union. Any reasonable transport worker would have just gone and spoken to the train manager concerned.

I'm not so sure. ASLEF only accept people in the footplate line of promotion (there's a handful of MerseyRail guards who are also qualified to drive) while TSSA is mostly for white collar staff (there is one guard at my depot but I know of no one else).

The Train Manager (another title for the guard/conductor with some of the long-distance operators) was almost certainly an RMT member. The agitator in all likelihood probably neither knew nor cared who was being dropped in the brown stuff. TRAs don't really care who gets pushed under the bus in their quest.

@Boohooyouho

As a tfl driver myself we’ve had this nonsense drummed into us for a while now. I tend to go with a cheery good morning/afternoon. Have known some colleagues receive complaints about the use of ladies and gentleman.

Not using "ladies/gentlemen" might have been vaguely mentioned in passing on my conductor training course. I seldom use it anyway, I try and keep announcements as brief as possible, particularly given that mine are in both Welsh and English.

@DdraigGoch, the complainer's LinkedIn account says they are employed as a commercial guard on SouthWest Trains. This appears to be an updated term for ticket inspector. Also a Labour Party activist.

I agree that this is in the same style of Challenor's successful complaint as a PP mentions.

I'm always amazed by the kerfuffles around this - by and large I've never encountered a train company that cares that not only are their announcements inaccessible to deaf people but mostly incomprehensible to anybody with hearing loss and often to people with adequate hearing. As PPs and Sarah P remark, solving a common accessibility/inclusivity issue like that would take financial investment and a change in culture (with no special badges or championship status involved).

One of the appalling things about this incident is that this is a trade union rep grassing up his own members and colleagues to management and demanding they be disciplined. Great solidarity there.

When I think of all the issues around trains - violence and harassment, safety, disability access, overcrowding, punctuality, hygiene, ticket prices etc. - I have to wonder how fortunate in life someone must be if this is the thing they complain about.

[quote Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]@DdraigGoch, the complainer's LinkedIn account says they are employed as a commercial guard on SouthWest Trains. This appears to be an updated term for ticket inspector. Also a Labour Party activist.[/quote]
Instagram shows pictures of the inner-suburban SWR trains. I assumed that these were operated by non-commercial guards but that might just be older staff.

A Guard for those not familiar is the member of staff responsible for the safe conduct of the train. Most have revenue responsibilities too these days. In many places they have been rebranded "Conductor" or "Train Manager". Not to be confused with the minimum wage bouncers hired from agencies purely for security.

I wonder what Lawrence's colleagues think of this. If the Waterloo messroom is anything like the ones which I am used to, 'they' won't be very popular for doing this.

“Edward says we need a... a depot station!"
"Of course! The question is..."
"What is a desperation?"
"It's when engines tell the Fat Controller something's wrong.”

Thomas the mainline record-holding Super Train (self-identified), story The Deputation. ttte.fandom.com/wiki/The_Deputation

@BlackForestCake I agree, when a quiet word would have been sufficient and seen as being helpful. I have read accounts of Waterloo depot that suggest the complainer may not be popular for what may be seen as snitching.

Does SWR have a policy about talking to the media, which this is almost an example?

From the Twitter thread, "sort out your social media toddler", is a wonderful phrase which I will be stealing in future.

There’s no fun in having a quiet word through is there? No drama or opportunity to tell as many people as possible about your plight.

Do people still use the expression ‘brass neck’?

@SirSamuelVimes

From the Twitter thread, "sort out your social media toddler", is a wonderful phrase which I will be stealing in future.

It's toddlers appeasing toddlers isn't it? What an embarrassment.

As you're obviously, in your opinion, neither a lady nor a gentleman you can safely assume I wasn't fucking talking to you.

Lucky it wasn't Milton Berle making the announcement.

"Good evening, ladies and germs," Berle would say to his audience.

"I mean ladies and gentlemen. I call you ladies and gentlemen, but you know what you really are."

This is all very funny.
Until it isn’t.
Until the likes of the cheery train conductor gets Cancelled, loses his job and his home and gets a hate crime conviction.

OTT? Maybe, but it’s heading in that direction.

I’m glad I’m old enough that by the time this kind of shit starts silencing the majority, I’ll be old and dothery.

@nauticant

There's always, always a tweet or two that exposes people, isn't there?

Always. Never fails.

True but I continue to be surprised each time. I wondered why I don't see that kind of thing in my tweets but that's the point isn't it? Someone who would take pleasure in causing trouble with an employee and their job is likely to post tweets showing other kinds of intolerance.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9574901/LNER-slammed-apologising-staff-said-good-afternoon-ladies-gentlemen-boys-girls.html

I wonder if non binary laurence expected this level of coverage?

I am sat here wondering, what is going to happen when dear old MR Punch appears on the scene in a month or so.
It's lots of BOYS and GIRLS. Mums and Dads.

It's getting so stupid, one or two people with agenda's complain and then it's Headline News , and we are all back to scratching our heads and wondering, just what we can say that won't end up with us in the Twitter Kangaroo Court.

doesn't apply to me so I won't listen

This is a fully grown adult male in a position of responsibility?

Wowzers. Perhaps the train driver could hand out smiley face stickers for good listening ears.

@EsmaCannonball

When I think of all the issues around trains - violence and harassment, safety, disability access, overcrowding, punctuality, hygiene, ticket prices etc. - I have to wonder how fortunate in life someone must be if this is the thing they complain about.

^^ yes

How utterly ridiculous. Even more so considering non-binary Laurence has been perfectly happy using those phrases in the past. What a bellend.

@BlackForestCake

One of the appalling things about this incident is that this is a trade union rep grassing up his own members and colleagues to management and demanding they be disciplined. Great solidarity there.

Completely agree. Since when did trade union members complain about colleagues or fellow workers to management on a public platform. Totally gobsmacked by the lack of solidarity or trade union values. What a dickhead.

Good afternoon ejaculators, menstruators and pre-pubescents.