| home |
|
| news |
|
| discussions |
|
| content |
|
| site |
|
|
| technical support | Need Help? Lodge a support ticket!
Note: This is for technical support only. General questions about railways should be posted to the Forums.donation 
Please Donate!photo comp Have YOU voted yet on Photo of the Month?
Click Here!
Voting Closes 30/11search |
| |
| Author |
Message |
jparrie
Locomotive Fireman
Joined: Jan 29, 2005
Last Visited: Apr 23, 2008
contact
|
post
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 7:29 pm
|
G'day all
Well, a confession, I am a Transit Officer. There, I've said it. Now what I would really like is to get a general consensus of us. Are we good, bad, ugly or what? Don't hold back please!
John
|
|
 |
Thomas the tank engine
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Mar 11, 2003
Last Visited: Oct 18, 2008
Location: In bed doing what I do best!!!!!!!!!!!
contact
|
post
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 7:33 pm
|
|
Good when you guys are doing your job and catching those who flaunt the law.
|
|
|
drnilescrane
Assistant Commissioner
Joined: Aug 14, 2004
Last Visited: Mar 24, 2008
contact
|
post
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 7:52 pm
|
It depends on the person. If you are a good, decent person I'd happily have you serving the public. If you charge people with petty crimes for the fun of seeing them squirm, I'd happily wish you to hell.
Dr. Niles Crane
Mourning the Loss of a Good Sig
 |
|
|
mjja
Sir Nigel Gresley
Joined: Jan 13, 2003
Last Visited: Nov 17, 2008
Location: Mount Waverley, Melbourne
contact
|
post
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 8:02 pm
|
|
Go for it! Get those idiots who play the fool and cause trains to become defective! Get those cheapskates who want other pax and the govt to pay their fares! Uphold Laura Norder!
Happy Gunzelling and remember, "Go by rail!"
Michael Angelico
President, Smart Passengers Inc
(My opinions are my own unless specifically stated.)
|
|
|
TheLoadedDog
El Sombrero!
Joined: Jun 19, 2003
Last Visited: Sep 28, 2008
Location: Macquarie Fields NSW
contact
|
post
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 8:17 pm
|
It's a tricky one, this.
The Transit Officers I've had dealings with have been generally polite and professional. That said, I'm not a soft target - I've seen teenagers and certain other groups get hassled by TOs to too great an extent.
The one time I nearly had trouble was on Sydnenham station late at night. I'd just finished work, and I was looking pretty scruffy and working class, I suppose. The TOs had some plain clothes officers working with them. The uniformed TOs were hassling a young guy on the platform opposite, and when he showed them his valid ticket, they seemed disappointed, so made him empty out his bag. He was clean. Meanwhile, the plainclothes guys were eyeballing me. They were standing a ways away from the uniforms, but they couldn't have been more obvious if they tried. They looked like thugs. When the uniformed officers finished with the teenager, the plain clothes went and talked to them and motioned in my direction. They all headed towards the footbridge to come over to my platform. My train came, and I got out of there.
What would this law-abiding, ticket-holding individual have been in for if my train hadn't come? The plain clothes guys were just oozing aggro.
Despite all this, it's probably not an easy job, and many of the scum that ride the trains deserve to be hassled. It's also comforting to see TOs when I'm going home to Liverpool at 11pm on the "Smack Express". So I dunno. It's hard to give an opinion one way or the other.
The black gestapo uniform is a bit over the top though.
All I can say to you jparrie is to ask that you please keep in mind the fact that, rightly or wrongly, you guys do intimidate people. Please understand that, and know when to ease off. Also, sometimes - just sometimes - when a passenger tells you why they haven't got a ticket (or whatever), they may be telling the truth.
Now I have a question for you. I live halfway between Liverpool and Casula stations. It's a nicer (safer) walk to Casula, which is a pretty station. I'd rather use it, but it's unattended and I can't buy a ticket there. I'm within my rights therefore to buy one at my destination, but I can imagine every second fare evader telling the TOs "I got on at Casula" (the only unattended station in the metro area). I can't help feeling I'd somehow end up walking away with a fine, or at very least having a smeg and humiliating experience. So I walk through dodgy areas of Liverpool and get the train there. What would you, as a TO, think if I told you I "got on at Casula"?
Humphrey! We're leaving!
|
|
|
jparrie
Locomotive Fireman
Joined: Jan 29, 2005
Last Visited: Apr 23, 2008
contact
|
post
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 9:34 pm
|
I have to comment on this statement:
| TheLoadedDog™ wrote: |
The uniformed TOs were hassling a young guy on the platform opposite, and when he showed them his valid ticket, they seemed disappointed, so made him empty out his bag. |
You say they "made him empty out his bag". I would suggest that what happened was that they requested he empty his bag and he complied voluntarily with their request. I'm not trying to defend anyone here, just trying to point out the more likely scenario.
I will answer your question after a few more replies, but thanks for the posts so far guys.
John
|
|
|
Snowy
Chief Train Controller
Joined: Sep 13, 2004
Last Visited: Nov 19, 2008
Location: Northern Sydney
contact
|
post
|
|
|
|
rherkes
Chief Commissioner
Joined: May 22, 2004
Last Visited: Nov 1, 2008
contact
|
post
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 10:05 pm
|
| Quote: | smeg
OK, I purchase a yearly periodical ticket and about 6 months into it the writing on the ticket started to fade. This was not because I mishandeld it, infact I kept it in the little plastic wallet thing CityRail gave me, and only took it out to shove it in the metal gates.
I knew this was going to get worse to I took a photocopy of the ticket which I kept with me, just in case. However I didnt think it would be much of a problem seeing as the magnetic strip still worked.
I had tried to get a replacement ticket, however the station assistants had said that as long as the magnetic strip worked. If I were to get a replacement ticket I would need to buy a new yearly periodical ticket, and would need to wait for it to be processed.
Now cut to a few weeks back. I was on my way home from work in my suit. Transit officers begin their routine check on my carriage. I present them my faded ticket. You can barely make out the date and writing on it, but if you look carefuly you can. The officer, without saying anything to me, called on his partner, and told him to look at it. I knew what they were going to say, so I produced my photocopy, and a reciept for the ticket (which had also pretty much faded and was a bit tatterd by now). This was where the smeg hit the fan.
They escorted me off the train at the next station, saying they were to fine me for fare evasion, for travelling with a defaced ticket, and for fraud for producing fake copied tickets.
At this moment I was pissed off and told them my ticket was valid and it gets me thorough the machines everyday and I started walking to the exit barriers stating I would show them. Now they grabbed me and called the police stating I tried to escape.
I was getting really annoyed. They wouldnt let me goto the barriers to prove my ticket worked, so I said can you run it through the station masters machine then if he has one. They ignored me.
To cut a long story short I ended up going to the police station in the back of a paddy wagon, got fined over $2000 for fare evasion, travelling with a defaced ticket, fraud charges for copying a ticket, more fines for "resisisting arrest" and for abusive language at the transit officers and many others which I have now put in a paper shredder.
f**k you smeg and Transit officers. This is what I get for paying for a whole year of travel. For giving you over $900 for that ticket.
I now drive. It takes longer and is more expensive.
|
Some Transit officers can be unfair and can fine you for just buying a ticket. Most are nice, but their reputation is destroyed by transits who simply are power hungry.
|
|
|
Snowy
Chief Train Controller
Joined: Sep 13, 2004
Last Visited: Nov 19, 2008
Location: Northern Sydney
contact
|
post
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 10:09 pm
|
| rherkes wrote: | | Quote: | smeg
OK, I purchase a yearly periodical ticket and about 6 months into it the writing on the ticket started to fade. This was not because I mishandeld it, infact I kept it in the little plastic wallet thing CityRail gave me, and only took it out to shove it in the metal gates.
I knew this was going to get worse to I took a photocopy of the ticket which I kept with me, just in case. However I didnt think it would be much of a problem seeing as the magnetic strip still worked.
I had tried to get a replacement ticket, however the station assistants had said that as long as the magnetic strip worked. If I were to get a replacement ticket I would need to buy a new yearly periodical ticket, and would need to wait for it to be processed.
Now cut to a few weeks back. I was on my way home from work in my suit. Transit officers begin their routine check on my carriage. I present them my faded ticket. You can barely make out the date and writing on it, but if you look carefuly you can. The officer, without saying anything to me, called on his partner, and told him to look at it. I knew what they were going to say, so I produced my photocopy, and a reciept for the ticket (which had also pretty much faded and was a bit tatterd by now). This was where the s**t hit the fan.
They escorted me off the train at the next station, saying they were to fine me for fare evasion, for travelling with a defaced ticket, and for fraud for producing fake copied tickets.
At this moment I was p*ssed off and told them my ticket was valid and it gets me thorough the machines everyday and I started walking to the exit barriers stating I would show them. Now they grabbed me and called the police stating I tried to escape.
I was getting really annoyed. They wouldnt let me goto the barriers to prove my ticket worked, so I said can you run it through the station masters machine then if he has one. They ignored me.
To cut a long story short I ended up going to the police station in the back of a paddy wagon, got fined over $2000 for fare evasion, travelling with a defaced ticket, fraud charges for copying a ticket, more fines for "resisisting arrest" and for abusive language at the transit officers and many others which I have now put in a paper shredder.
f**k you smeg and Transit officers. This is what I get for paying for a whole year of travel. For giving you over $900 for that ticket.
I now drive. It takes longer and is more expensive.
|
Some Transit officers can be unfair and can fine you for just buying a ticket. Most are nice, but their reputation is destroyed by transits who simply are power hungry. |
Whoa, crap. Bloody unlucky! 
|
|
|
delayed
Train Controller
Joined: Oct 15, 2004
Last Visited: Aug 17, 2008
Location: Sydney
contact
|
post
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 10:16 pm
|
| jparrie wrote: | I have to comment on this statement:
| TheLoadedDog™ wrote: |
The uniformed TOs were hassling a young guy on the platform opposite, and when he showed them his valid ticket, they seemed disappointed, so made him empty out his bag. |
You say they "made him empty out his bag". I would suggest that what happened was that they requested he empty his bag and he complied voluntarily with their request. I'm not trying to defend anyone here, just trying to point out the more likely scenario. |
probably was threatening the person
i wonder if it's the majority of the transit officers that are power hungry or just the minority
|
|
|
TheLoadedDog
El Sombrero!
Joined: Jun 19, 2003
Last Visited: Sep 28, 2008
Location: Macquarie Fields NSW
contact
|
post
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 10:17 pm
|
| jparrie wrote: |
You say they "made him empty out his bag". I would suggest that what happened was that they requested he empty his bag and he complied voluntarily with their request. I'm not trying to defend anyone here, just trying to point out the more likely scenario |
Well, this is a classic example of intimidation - even when the TOs don't mean it or even know they're doing it. I'm sure they did say, "Can you empty out your bag please?" Technically a request. However, when you are a teenager and have not much "presence" or confidence, you don't know your rights, and you are alone on a railway station late at night with several large law enforcement types towering over you - and a few more standing a short distance away, I don't think you are going to argue.
I reckon you could ask a hundred people "Do Transit Officers have the right to demand a search of your luggage, or not?", and the vast majority would have no idea. Most people don't know their rights. If they did, a lot of lawyers would be out of a job.
So, yes it was a request. Kinda.
Humphrey! We're leaving!
|
|
|
GNR10
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Mar 02, 2004
Last Visited: Apr 8, 2005
contact
|
post
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 10:47 pm
|
I've only used the Sydney system a few times but after my last trip I nearly envy the Adelaide one.
What I liked about it -
The smooth track, the fast acceleration, the stations and within reason the cleanliness of the trains
What I didn't like about it -
Their loooong underground pedestrian tunnels at Central (I felt like I was in LA), the hectic nature of Central station, the improperly designed doors on the trains, the pathetic late running, trains using the same Central platforms within a few minutes of each other (so damn confusing, the lack of station announcements, and staff being rude to me for no reason such as at Kiama.
TOs aren't on the list.
But to the guy who wrote that quote, some railway employees are born pigheaded, try to keep a cool head (some may be trying to get a reason out of you to fine you), do everything you can to verify your ticket is valid and don't put up with any crap from TOs. If that ticket is faded yet legitimate and you haven't commited a crime refuse to pay the fine.
In theory I can't understand what you were fined for.
Please do not misinterpret my asinine comments as something intelligible
|
|
|
GNR10
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Mar 02, 2004
Last Visited: Apr 8, 2005
contact
|
post
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 10:51 pm
|
By the way, if I was a bit bigger, I would have PUT HIM off the train 
Please do not misinterpret my asinine comments as something intelligible
|
|
|
AgentZeRo
Chief Train Controller
Joined: Aug 25, 2004
Last Visited: Sep 27, 2005
Location: Sydney NSW
contact
|
post
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 12:55 am
|
News Article
Being kicked, punched and having bones broken is one of the risks of being a railway transit officer.
But officers fear RailCorps's proposal to reduce numbers at high risk stations such as Redfern and Central could worsen that situation.
Under the company's proposal, four-person patrols at high incident stations will be halved.
RailCorp is also proposing to cut the number of radios, currently supplied to all staff members, to one between every two officers.
Injured transit officer Michael Fusco, says is concerned about reducing the team sizes.
Fusco was left with permanent nerve damage in his leg after being pushed between a train and platform during an arrest last year.
"I think that raises issues around officer safety and also customer safety," he said.
Ahmed Jenzarli, who had his leg broken at Central Station last year, doesn't think staff numbers should be reduced.
Jenzarli left the force after being injured during a confrontation with two drunks at Merrylands.
He maintains the incident would not have occurred if there had been more staff on duty.
"I think it's dangerous to reduce numbers at dangerous stations, I mean Redfern is a joke," he said "An offender is more likely to arc up if there are two officers."
He says a member of the public could be knocked down or hurt in an incident, "During the exection of our duties we put our bodies on the line for passsenger safety."
"The proposal is dangerous on management's behalf because it could lead to more transit officers being injured," he said.
Do or do not, there is no try
|
|
|
AgentZeRo
Chief Train Controller
Joined: Aug 25, 2004
Last Visited: Sep 27, 2005
Location: Sydney NSW
contact
|
post
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 1:01 am
|
All i can add to that article is .... "keep up the good work, and dont let the media and the minority of people demoralise you"
I guess it doesnt make good news if you were to publish stories like "transit officer saves teens life at level crossing" or "transit officer stops lunatic committing suicide at busy city station" or "transit officers: Ticket sales increase by $9 million a year"
but, it is in our nature to only want to read about the negatives.
Do or do not, there is no try
|
|
|
|
|
All times are GMT + 10 Hours
|
You can post new threads in this forum
You can reply to threads in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB 2.0.6 © 2001 phpBB Group
Theme images and concept © 2004 by Michael Greenhill and Railpage, All Rights Reserved.
Version 2.0.6 of PHP-Nuke Port by Tom Nitzschner © 2002 www.toms-home.com
|
|
