What do people really think of Transit Officers?

Syd-TO · Beginner Joined: Oct 25, 2007 Last Visited: Oct 30, 2007

Hey guys, i'm a new TO, seems things seem to be changing as training was focussed alot on talking and defusing, a much better option imo. What do you guys think? Agree/Disagree?

TheLoadedDog · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 11:42 pm

Agree/disagree?

Both.

Speak softly and carry a big stick. You can use "old fashioned policing" (thump!) or you can use discretion and lenience. The trick is to know which to use, and when. A shame our erstwhile colleague jparrie did not have that ability, but methinks he may have had some anger issues of his own.

Welcome to the boards, Syd-TO, and best of luck with your chosen career.

Humphrey! We're leaving!

hunter21 · Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 7:59 am

Training has always been based on talking and defusing, and this is the way to go, unfortunately as you will soon learn, not all of our customers are interested in talking. My tip is, don't worry what people say about TO's, just do your job in an honest ethical way and initially treat people as you would like to be treated, then go from there Cool

davo_1620 · Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 10:51 am

[, yes. It is also zonal, and time-based. I think there is something to do with the phases of the moon in there as well, and quite possibly goat sacrifices to Cthulhu.

I just dropped my beer then, thankyou, after reading that.
I guess such pagan practices are all part of Railcorpses diversity network program.
Of course a bit of blood and slaughter is what is needed, to put one in the mood, to deal with some of the so called "passengers" these days!

ARE YOU BORED BY LACK OF GUNZEL ACTION?
THE HARD THROBBING KIND?
Help is at hand...
Email your foaming self to......
lubricated_flange@yahoo.com.au
For your free copies of Issues 1,2 and 3...4 coming soon!
BEWARE...MAY CONTAIN TRACES OF FEMALES!
Trains-hornbags-doom..
Can be found at.......!
www.dribblyfoamertype.blogspot.com

Syd-TO · Beginner Joined: Oct 25, 2007 Last Visited: Oct 30, 2007

Warks · Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 9:34 pm

On a vaguely related topic - remember the days of the Chubb Security guys on every train. Not sure when that was. Just reading Paul Sheahan's "Girls Like You" about a certain gang rape case. Apparently a few of the M*K brothers got jobs with Chubb doing rail security even when they were in trouble with the law already - prior to the rape cases though.

Whatever anyone thinks of TOs it's better than having these guys running security!!

Nathan1987 · Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 9:47 pm

I have had really nice Transits and some that are complete bastards including some female ones so its a 50/50 result from me.

SonnyG · Beginner Joined: Aug 20, 2008 Last Visited: Aug 21, 2008

hi guys im seeking advice with a bus fine.. please do not jump on me im only asking for help let me state my case..

my name is sonny, im an 18 yr old apprentice and am trying to survive here in syd with my family.. we do it tough and as an apprentice i contribute alot of my already small pay to help my family.

last week i was fined ont eh way from leichhardt to ultimo tafe for having a travel 10 concession and not having the concession pass.. i didnt know that my travel ten 1-2 section didnt cover from leiichardt to ultimo as no where does it state where sections start or finish or that the concession had to be carried with the card..

#2. i have been waiting for my apprenticeship card to the different entitlements and it actually arrived today so ive been waiting a while for that.. i wasnt fare evading i always buy the ticket on the bus, i actually purchased the ticket that morning because the lady said it was cheaper than normal travel.

he fined me 100 and i was being co-operative and gave him my name and adress i trated him with respect but he wouldnt let me ask him to let me off i was just traveling to study..

so id like to know is there a way (not court) that i could ask the govt or somebody to take the fine away i could use the money to pay for important things for my family..

cheers,
antonio

Somebody in the WWW · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:52 pm

It should be noted that you would have been fined by a State Transit Authority Inspector/Officer and not a Transit Officer (who work for RailCorp). They have different powers. This forum may be more appropriate for bus-related matters.

Jahommed · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:59 pm

On the cronulla branch we rarely get transit officers. The ones we get are really nice.

They come up and say: I trust you all have train passes? Then we all say yes. So they just say: Oh well thats good, how was your day at school or something like that

Tangara G sets are the best trains on the cityrail network.

Oldfart · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 7:29 am

I'm always happier and feel safer when TOs are around. All the ones I"ve been approached by have been OK; although curiously several of them have asked if I was a cop (must be the short hair!). Two I saw deal with a sick passenger at a station were excellent, as was the station staffer (and yes, I did email in positive comments to Cityrail about that).

One incident that amused me was what appeared to be a supervisor TO trying to coordinate some of his underlings by mobile phone. You could make out that they wanted to work a route that gave them an easy day whereas he wanted them to work where they were most needed. I know exactly how he felt; the lot that work for me, especially the Gen Xers (Y's are much less of a problem) pull the same stunt.

It's interesting how Countrylink passengers tend to regard TOs more favorably. A couple of factors at work there (including average age of passengers) but a significant one is that they aren't checking tickets, but providing visible safety and security. I often think TOs would be better regarded on Cityrail services and stations if they did more of the latter (patrolling and just 'being there') than seeming to passengers as always being focussed on 'raising revenue'.

A man of great genius makes no mistakes; his errors are volitional and become the portals of discovery (James Joyce).

Blackadder · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:05 am

Can't say I have any bad experiences with TO's (both before starting with Cityrail and currently), simply don't try and be smart or argue with them and you will be fine from what I have seen. Cool

Welcome to the forum, and good luck with the job Syd-TO. Cool

Here or there

janesmith1 · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:24 am

Its so good when you can call for them when you have people drinking and smoking on your train and then the scum get fined for not having the correct ticket as well as there drinking and smoking as it really makes there night.
Jane

tsgsjm · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 7:23 pm

The thing is they are never around when you really need them, like on a Friday or Saturday night on the Cronulla line.

anuthanearmiss · Beginner Joined: Aug 21, 2008 Last Visited: Sep 10, 2008

Try and get a transit officer past blacktown on the Richmond branch line after 8 pm.

One friday evening after a spate of fires,graffitti,assaults and vandalism over a number of months we counted at least 20 "on static" at the main barriers at Blacktown whilst the passengers and train crew were left to fend for themselves.

I understand that it is a tough kob and one i would not do, i also understand it is there main role to ensure the safety and train crew and passengers on the network.

Not fining the drugged out bum with no ticket who wont pay the thing anyway.