Went to Newton Le Willows station a few days ago - the station was
rebuilt about 3-4 years ago.

The ticket office was closed - the staff had not arrived. Should be no
problems - there are 3 TVMs near the ticket office (on the South side of
the station.) Unfortunately whoever designed the station put those TVMs
inside the room containing the ticket office - and both the entrance
doors were locked. What a masterpiece of station design.

Fortunately, by pure guesswork before my train arrived, I located
another single TVM on the opposite (North) side of the station. (In the
vicinity of the closed ticket office, I could see no information that
another machine existed.)

On Mon, 18 Dec 2023 15:39:26 +0000
Bevan Price <bevanprice666@gmail.com> wrote:
>Went to Newton Le Willows station a few days ago - the station was
>rebuilt about 3-4 years ago.
>
>The ticket office was closed - the staff had not arrived. Should be no
>problems - there are 3 TVMs near the ticket office (on the South side of
>the station.) Unfortunately whoever designed the station put those TVMs
>inside the room containing the ticket office - and both the entrance
>doors were locked. What a masterpiece of station design.
>
>Fortunately, by pure guesswork before my train arrived, I located
>another single TVM on the opposite (North) side of the station. (In the
>vicinity of the closed ticket office, I could see no information that
>another machine existed.)

You have to wonder sometimes if its incompetance or whether the railway
industry both on the management and bolshevik side are actually trying to
scare people away from it.

On 18/12/2023 15:44, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
> On Mon, 18 Dec 2023 15:39:26 +0000
> Bevan Price <bevanprice666@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Went to Newton Le Willows station a few days ago - the station was
>> rebuilt about 3-4 years ago.
>>
>> The ticket office was closed - the staff had not arrived. Should be no
>> problems - there are 3 TVMs near the ticket office (on the South side of
>> the station.) Unfortunately whoever designed the station put those TVMs
>> inside the room containing the ticket office - and both the entrance
>> doors were locked. What a masterpiece of station design.
>>
>> Fortunately, by pure guesswork before my train arrived, I located
>> another single TVM on the opposite (North) side of the station. (In the
>> vicinity of the closed ticket office, I could see no information that
>> another machine existed.)
>
> You have to wonder sometimes if its incompetance or whether the railway
> industry both on the management and bolshevik side are actually trying to
> scare people away from it.
>

Stupidity is far more likely than malevolence. The latter takes thinking.

--
Graeme Wall
This account not read.

On Mon, 18 Dec 2023 15:53:34 +0000
Graeme Wall <rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>On 18/12/2023 15:44, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>> On Mon, 18 Dec 2023 15:39:26 +0000
>> Bevan Price <bevanprice666@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Went to Newton Le Willows station a few days ago - the station was
>>> rebuilt about 3-4 years ago.
>>>
>>> The ticket office was closed - the staff had not arrived. Should be no
>>> problems - there are 3 TVMs near the ticket office (on the South side of
>>> the station.) Unfortunately whoever designed the station put those TVMs
>>> inside the room containing the ticket office - and both the entrance
>>> doors were locked. What a masterpiece of station design.
>>>
>>> Fortunately, by pure guesswork before my train arrived, I located
>>> another single TVM on the opposite (North) side of the station. (In the
>>> vicinity of the closed ticket office, I could see no information that
>>> another machine existed.)
>>
>> You have to wonder sometimes if its incompetance or whether the railway
>> industry both on the management and bolshevik side are actually trying to
>> scare people away from it.
>>
>
>Stupidity is far more likely than malevolence. The latter takes thinking.

Quite possibly , but surely someone at some point when that ticket office
was being designed or built thought "if its locked people can't use the
machines"? Its a rather basic question.

Bevan Price <bevanprice666@gmail.com> wrote:
> Went to Newton Le Willows station a few days ago - the station was
> rebuilt about 3-4 years ago.
>
> The ticket office was closed - the staff had not arrived. Should be no
> problems - there are 3 TVMs near the ticket office (on the South side of
> the station.) Unfortunately whoever designed the station put those TVMs
> inside the room containing the ticket office - and both the entrance
> doors were locked. What a masterpiece of station design.
>
> Fortunately, by pure guesswork before my train arrived, I located
> another single TVM on the opposite (North) side of the station. (In the
> vicinity of the closed ticket office, I could see no information that
> another machine existed.)

Reminds me of my bank about 10 years ago that boasted about its new fully
automated cash machine that would now allow you to pay in cheques at your
convenience… then they installed it inside the branch so it was subject to
usual opening hours.

Lew

On 18/12/2023 15:44, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
> On Mon, 18 Dec 2023 15:39:26 +0000
> Bevan Price <bevanprice666@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Went to Newton Le Willows station a few days ago - the station was
>> rebuilt about 3-4 years ago.
>>
>> The ticket office was closed - the staff had not arrived. Should be no
>> problems - there are 3 TVMs near the ticket office (on the South side of
>> the station.) Unfortunately whoever designed the station put those TVMs
>> inside the room containing the ticket office - and both the entrance
>> doors were locked. What a masterpiece of station design.
>>
>> Fortunately, by pure guesswork before my train arrived, I located
>> another single TVM on the opposite (North) side of the station. (In the
>> vicinity of the closed ticket office, I could see no information that
>> another machine existed.)
>
> You have to wonder sometimes if its incompetance or whether the railway
> industry both on the management and bolshevik side are actually trying to
> scare people away from it.

I do wonder if railway management actually use their train services. We
know some of them seem to prefer flying.

On 18/12/2023 16:43, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
> On Mon, 18 Dec 2023 15:53:34 +0000
> Graeme Wall <rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>> On 18/12/2023 15:44, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>> On Mon, 18 Dec 2023 15:39:26 +0000
>>> Bevan Price <bevanprice666@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Went to Newton Le Willows station a few days ago - the station was
>>>> rebuilt about 3-4 years ago.
>>>>
>>>> The ticket office was closed - the staff had not arrived. Should be no
>>>> problems - there are 3 TVMs near the ticket office (on the South side of
>>>> the station.) Unfortunately whoever designed the station put those TVMs
>>>> inside the room containing the ticket office - and both the entrance
>>>> doors were locked. What a masterpiece of station design.
>>>>
>>>> Fortunately, by pure guesswork before my train arrived, I located
>>>> another single TVM on the opposite (North) side of the station. (In the
>>>> vicinity of the closed ticket office, I could see no information that
>>>> another machine existed.)
>>>
>>> You have to wonder sometimes if its incompetance or whether the railway
>>> industry both on the management and bolshevik side are actually trying to
>>> scare people away from it.
>>>
>>
>> Stupidity is far more likely than malevolence. The latter takes thinking.
>
> Quite possibly , but surely someone at some point when that ticket office
> was being designed or built thought "if its locked people can't use the
> machines"? Its a rather basic question.
>

See above about thinking
--
Graeme Wall
This account not read.

In message <ulpuut$3jlbi$1@dont-email.me>, at 17:19:25 on Mon, 18 Dec
2023, Lew1 <email@nowhere.com> remarked:
>Bevan Price <bevanprice666@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Went to Newton Le Willows station a few days ago - the station was
>> rebuilt about 3-4 years ago.
>>
>> The ticket office was closed - the staff had not arrived. Should be no
>> problems - there are 3 TVMs near the ticket office (on the South side of
>> the station.) Unfortunately whoever designed the station put those TVMs
>> inside the room containing the ticket office - and both the entrance
>> doors were locked. What a masterpiece of station design.
>>
>> Fortunately, by pure guesswork before my train arrived, I located
>> another single TVM on the opposite (North) side of the station. (In the
>> vicinity of the closed ticket office, I could see no information that
>> another machine existed.)
>
>Reminds me of my bank about 10 years ago that boasted about its new
>fully automated cash machine that would now allow you to pay in cheques
>at your convenience - then they installed it inside the branch so it
>was subject to usual opening hours.

Sure, banks don't often install loos on the pavement outside.

But I also remember that ATMs were hailed as "and end to queuing" when
nowadays the longest queues at a branch are often at the indoor ATM.

--
Roland Perry

In message <ulpp3f$3if42$1@dont-email.me>, at 15:39:26 on Mon, 18 Dec
2023, Bevan Price <bevanprice666@gmail.com> remarked:
>Went to Newton Le Willows station a few days ago - the station was
>rebuilt about 3-4 years ago.
>
>The ticket office was closed - the staff had not arrived. Should be no
>problems - there are 3 TVMs near the ticket office (on the South side
>of the station.) Unfortunately whoever designed the station put those
>TVMs inside the room containing the ticket office - and both the
>entrance doors were locked. What a masterpiece of station design.

I had exactly that experience once at Melton Mowbray. Probably when
catching the first-train on a Sunday to Stansted, which still arrives
there at a mind boggling 3pm.

>Fortunately, by pure guesswork before my train arrived, I located
>another single TVM on the opposite (North) side of the station. (In the
>vicinity of the closed ticket office, I could see no information that
>another machine existed.)

I can't remember what happened next, but the gripper probably accepted
my "this is not a ticket" order confirmation printout.
--
Roland Perry

On 18/12/2023 17:19, Lew1 wrote:
> Reminds me of my bank about 10 years ago that boasted about its new fully
> automated cash machine that would now allow you to pay in cheques at your
> convenience… then they installed it inside the branch so it was subject to
> usual opening hours.

There is an army base with usual window on the guard room to watch
people approaching but it was built the wrong way around, so they do not
see arrivals until they appear at the door.

On 18/12/2023 19:37, JMB99 wrote:
> On 18/12/2023 17:19, Lew1 wrote:
>> Reminds me of my bank about 10 years ago that boasted about its new fully
>> automated cash machine that would now allow you to pay in cheques at your
>> convenience… then they installed it inside the branch so it was
>> subject to
>> usual opening hours.
>
>
>
> There is an army base with usual window on the guard room to watch
> people approaching but it was built the wrong way around, so they do not
> see arrivals until they appear at the door.

My school was designed to front onto a road that was never built. This
left it at 90 degrees to the actual approach, with the result that
anyone visting arrived at a side door leading to the PE changing rooms
rather than at the reception, which was lots of random corridors away.

--
Arthur Figgis

Coffee <martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> wrote:
> On 18/12/2023 15:44, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>> On Mon, 18 Dec 2023 15:39:26 +0000
>> Bevan Price <bevanprice666@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Went to Newton Le Willows station a few days ago - the station was
>>> rebuilt about 3-4 years ago.
>>>
>>> The ticket office was closed - the staff had not arrived. Should be no
>>> problems - there are 3 TVMs near the ticket office (on the South side of
>>> the station.) Unfortunately whoever designed the station put those TVMs
>>> inside the room containing the ticket office - and both the entrance
>>> doors were locked. What a masterpiece of station design.
>>>
>>> Fortunately, by pure guesswork before my train arrived, I located
>>> another single TVM on the opposite (North) side of the station. (In the
>>> vicinity of the closed ticket office, I could see no information that
>>> another machine existed.)
>>
>> You have to wonder sometimes if its incompetance or whether the railway
>> industry both on the management and bolshevik side are actually trying to
>> scare people away from it.
>
> I do wonder if railway management actually use their train services. We
> know some of them seem to prefer flying.

They probably don't need to buy tickets.

In message <4A3gN.21520$woU1.2467@fx13.ams1>, at 22:19:44 on Mon, 18 Dec
2023, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>Coffee <martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> wrote:
>> On 18/12/2023 15:44, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>> On Mon, 18 Dec 2023 15:39:26 +0000
>>> Bevan Price <bevanprice666@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Went to Newton Le Willows station a few days ago - the station was
>>>> rebuilt about 3-4 years ago.
>>>>
>>>> The ticket office was closed - the staff had not arrived. Should be no
>>>> problems - there are 3 TVMs near the ticket office (on the South side of
>>>> the station.) Unfortunately whoever designed the station put those TVMs
>>>> inside the room containing the ticket office - and both the entrance
>>>> doors were locked. What a masterpiece of station design.
>>>>
>>>> Fortunately, by pure guesswork before my train arrived, I located
>>>> another single TVM on the opposite (North) side of the station. (In the
>>>> vicinity of the closed ticket office, I could see no information that
>>>> another machine existed.)
>>>
>>> You have to wonder sometimes if its incompetance or whether the railway
>>> industry both on the management and bolshevik side are actually trying to
>>> scare people away from it.
>>
>> I do wonder if railway management actually use their train services. We
>> know some of them seem to prefer flying.
>
>They probably don't need to buy tickets.

Train tickets, you mean? The NR lady in the news this week ran up a £10k
bill for airline tickets in a year.

Not that I subscribe to the theory that "the senior management of
Raleigh should be compelled to cycle to work", nor indeed should the
chief accountant at Sinclair be compelled to use a ZX81.

I know that SNP politicians at Westminster support the ECML, but they
simply don't have the spare time to do a weekly commute other than by
plane, especially when people won't delay a meeting just because their
train is 2hrs late.

On the other hand as someone commented on my Facebook feed, did NR
really have no choice but to hire someone to oversee the GWML from home
in Aberdeen. Was no-one who lived in Ealing available.
--
Roland Perry

In message <4JWcnYLwfLSFIh34nZ2dnZfqnPidnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
21:52:21 on Mon, 18 Dec 2023, Arthur Figgis <afiggis@example.invalid>
remarked:
>On 18/12/2023 19:37, JMB99 wrote:
>> On 18/12/2023 17:19, Lew1 wrote:

>>> Reminds me of my bank about 10 years ago that boasted about its new
>>>fully automated cash machine that would now allow you to pay in
>>>cheques at your convenience… then they installed it inside the
>>>branch so it was subject to usual opening hours.

>> There is an army base with usual window on the guard room to watch
>>people approaching but it was built the wrong way around, so they do
>>not see arrivals until they appear at the door.
>
>My school was designed to front onto a road that was never built. This
>left it at 90 degrees to the actual approach, with the result that
>anyone visting arrived at a side door leading to the PE changing rooms
>rather than at the reception, which was lots of random corridors away.

The school I was a governor at in Nottingham the ex-Grammar School was
built to a "grand design" like a stately home with the majestic entrance
in the middle of a long facade overlooking the playing fields, and down
200yd drive from the main road.

When I started that assignment, the entrance everyone used was round the
back, near the staff room and head's office, and perhaps more
importantly for visitors, overlooking the carpark.

Soon after I left, they built a posh new entrance and landside room for
staff/parent meetings, on the narrow side-face which overlooked the
drive.
--
Roland Perry

Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
> In message <4A3gN.21520$woU1.2467@fx13.ams1>, at 22:19:44 on Mon, 18 Dec
> 2023, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>> Coffee <martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> wrote:
>>> On 18/12/2023 15:44, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>> On Mon, 18 Dec 2023 15:39:26 +0000
>>>> Bevan Price <bevanprice666@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> Went to Newton Le Willows station a few days ago - the station was
>>>>> rebuilt about 3-4 years ago.
>>>>>
>>>>> The ticket office was closed - the staff had not arrived. Should be no
>>>>> problems - there are 3 TVMs near the ticket office (on the South side of
>>>>> the station.) Unfortunately whoever designed the station put those TVMs
>>>>> inside the room containing the ticket office - and both the entrance
>>>>> doors were locked. What a masterpiece of station design.
>>>>>
>>>>> Fortunately, by pure guesswork before my train arrived, I located
>>>>> another single TVM on the opposite (North) side of the station. (In the
>>>>> vicinity of the closed ticket office, I could see no information that
>>>>> another machine existed.)
>>>>
>>>> You have to wonder sometimes if its incompetance or whether the railway
>>>> industry both on the management and bolshevik side are actually trying to
>>>> scare people away from it.
>>>
>>> I do wonder if railway management actually use their train services. We
>>> know some of them seem to prefer flying.
>>
>> They probably don't need to buy tickets.
>
> Train tickets, you mean? The NR lady in the news this week ran up a £10k
> bill for airline tickets in a year.

They were probably bought for her by her NR admin staff.

>
> Not that I subscribe to the theory that "the senior management of
> Raleigh should be compelled to cycle to work", nor indeed should the
> chief accountant at Sinclair be compelled to use a ZX81.
>
> I know that SNP politicians at Westminster support the ECML, but they
> simply don't have the spare time to do a weekly commute other than by
> plane, especially when people won't delay a meeting just because their
> train is 2hrs late.
>
> On the other hand as someone commented on my Facebook feed, did NR
> really have no choice but to hire someone to oversee the GWML from home
> in Aberdeen. Was no-one who lived in Ealing available.

Perhaps she was the best NR person for the job, but why didn't she move
south in the three years she was doing it? It's not as if it's a pure desk
job that could be done from anywhere. The line has been performing badly,
yet she stayed living 500 miles away, with her long-distance commute paid
for by her public sector employer. I don't think many private sector
employers would ave been so indulgent.

Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
> Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>> In message <4A3gN.21520$woU1.2467@fx13.ams1>, at 22:19:44 on Mon, 18 Dec
>> 2023, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>> Coffee <martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> wrote:
>>>> On 18/12/2023 15:44, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>>> On Mon, 18 Dec 2023 15:39:26 +0000
>>>>> Bevan Price <bevanprice666@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>> Went to Newton Le Willows station a few days ago - the station was
>>>>>> rebuilt about 3-4 years ago.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The ticket office was closed - the staff had not arrived. Should be no
>>>>>> problems - there are 3 TVMs near the ticket office (on the South side of
>>>>>> the station.) Unfortunately whoever designed the station put those TVMs
>>>>>> inside the room containing the ticket office - and both the entrance
>>>>>> doors were locked. What a masterpiece of station design.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Fortunately, by pure guesswork before my train arrived, I located
>>>>>> another single TVM on the opposite (North) side of the station. (In the
>>>>>> vicinity of the closed ticket office, I could see no information that
>>>>>> another machine existed.)
>>>>>
>>>>> You have to wonder sometimes if its incompetance or whether the railway
>>>>> industry both on the management and bolshevik side are actually trying to
>>>>> scare people away from it.
>>>>
>>>> I do wonder if railway management actually use their train services. We
>>>> know some of them seem to prefer flying.
>>>
>>> They probably don't need to buy tickets.
>>
>> Train tickets, you mean? The NR lady in the news this week ran up a £10k
>> bill for airline tickets in a year.
>
> They were probably bought for her by her NR admin staff.
>
>>
>> Not that I subscribe to the theory that "the senior management of
>> Raleigh should be compelled to cycle to work", nor indeed should the
>> chief accountant at Sinclair be compelled to use a ZX81.
>>
>> I know that SNP politicians at Westminster support the ECML, but they
>> simply don't have the spare time to do a weekly commute other than by
>> plane, especially when people won't delay a meeting just because their
>> train is 2hrs late.
>>
>> On the other hand as someone commented on my Facebook feed, did NR
>> really have no choice but to hire someone to oversee the GWML from home
>> in Aberdeen. Was no-one who lived in Ealing available.
>
> Perhaps she was the best NR person for the job, but why didn't she move
> south in the three years she was doing it? It's not as if it's a pure desk
> job that could be done from anywhere. The line has been performing badly,
> yet she stayed living 500 miles away, with her long-distance commute paid
> for by her public sector employer. I don't think many private sector
> employers would ave been so indulgent.
>
>

There’s still no substitute for an element of management by walking about.
You catch the things that the reporting structures fail to communicate.

Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
> Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>>> In message <4A3gN.21520$woU1.2467@fx13.ams1>, at 22:19:44 on Mon, 18 Dec
>>> 2023, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>>> Coffee <martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> wrote:
>>>>> On 18/12/2023 15:44, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>>>> On Mon, 18 Dec 2023 15:39:26 +0000
>>>>>> Bevan Price <bevanprice666@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> Went to Newton Le Willows station a few days ago - the station was
>>>>>>> rebuilt about 3-4 years ago.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The ticket office was closed - the staff had not arrived. Should be no
>>>>>>> problems - there are 3 TVMs near the ticket office (on the South side of
>>>>>>> the station.) Unfortunately whoever designed the station put those TVMs
>>>>>>> inside the room containing the ticket office - and both the entrance
>>>>>>> doors were locked. What a masterpiece of station design.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Fortunately, by pure guesswork before my train arrived, I located
>>>>>>> another single TVM on the opposite (North) side of the station. (In the
>>>>>>> vicinity of the closed ticket office, I could see no information that
>>>>>>> another machine existed.)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> You have to wonder sometimes if its incompetance or whether the railway
>>>>>> industry both on the management and bolshevik side are actually trying to
>>>>>> scare people away from it.
>>>>>
>>>>> I do wonder if railway management actually use their train services. We
>>>>> know some of them seem to prefer flying.
>>>>
>>>> They probably don't need to buy tickets.
>>>
>>> Train tickets, you mean? The NR lady in the news this week ran up a £10k
>>> bill for airline tickets in a year.
>>
>> They were probably bought for her by her NR admin staff.
>>
>>>
>>> Not that I subscribe to the theory that "the senior management of
>>> Raleigh should be compelled to cycle to work", nor indeed should the
>>> chief accountant at Sinclair be compelled to use a ZX81.
>>>
>>> I know that SNP politicians at Westminster support the ECML, but they
>>> simply don't have the spare time to do a weekly commute other than by
>>> plane, especially when people won't delay a meeting just because their
>>> train is 2hrs late.
>>>
>>> On the other hand as someone commented on my Facebook feed, did NR
>>> really have no choice but to hire someone to oversee the GWML from home
>>> in Aberdeen. Was no-one who lived in Ealing available.
>>
>> Perhaps she was the best NR person for the job, but why didn't she move
>> south in the three years she was doing it? It's not as if it's a pure desk
>> job that could be done from anywhere. The line has been performing badly,
>> yet she stayed living 500 miles away, with her long-distance commute paid
>> for by her public sector employer. I don't think many private sector
>> employers would ave been so indulgent.
>>
>>
>
> There’s still no substitute for an element of management by walking about.
> You catch the things that the reporting structures fail to communicate.

Definitely, but her job went beyond that. It's a civil engineering job
where the activity takes place on site, not on the computer. She should
have been regularly visiting the work sites and talking to the teams,
trying to figure out why her route was performing so badly, not flying home
to Aberdeen. Why did NR management permit her this freedom not to respond
to problems?

I wonder if it's entirely coincidental that her resignation followed a few
days after NR CEO Andrew Haines and his son were themselves stuck on a
stalled train (which did have auxiliary power) for hours?

https://www.railtech.com/all/2023/12/18/senior-network-rail-executive-resigns-over-the-great-paddington-dewiring/

It's all a bit odd — she was apparently regarded as a great catch by NR,
despite her lack of railway or civil engineering experience, or willingness
to move to somewhere near her work:

"Having spent the whole of the twenty-first century in maritime, aviation,
transport and financial services sectors. Prior to joining Network Rail in
July 2021, she was chief executive of Aberdeen Harbour Board, the UK’s
oldest business. … She describes herself as a passionate,
globally-experienced and sector-versatile business leader, with a track
record of success."

Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
> Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>>>> In message <4A3gN.21520$woU1.2467@fx13.ams1>, at 22:19:44 on Mon, 18 Dec
>>>> 2023, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>>>> Coffee <martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> wrote:
>>>>>> On 18/12/2023 15:44, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>>>>> On Mon, 18 Dec 2023 15:39:26 +0000
>>>>>>> Bevan Price <bevanprice666@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>> Went to Newton Le Willows station a few days ago - the station was
>>>>>>>> rebuilt about 3-4 years ago.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The ticket office was closed - the staff had not arrived. Should be no
>>>>>>>> problems - there are 3 TVMs near the ticket office (on the South side of
>>>>>>>> the station.) Unfortunately whoever designed the station put those TVMs
>>>>>>>> inside the room containing the ticket office - and both the entrance
>>>>>>>> doors were locked. What a masterpiece of station design.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Fortunately, by pure guesswork before my train arrived, I located
>>>>>>>> another single TVM on the opposite (North) side of the station. (In the
>>>>>>>> vicinity of the closed ticket office, I could see no information that
>>>>>>>> another machine existed.)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> You have to wonder sometimes if its incompetance or whether the railway
>>>>>>> industry both on the management and bolshevik side are actually trying to
>>>>>>> scare people away from it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I do wonder if railway management actually use their train services. We
>>>>>> know some of them seem to prefer flying.
>>>>>
>>>>> They probably don't need to buy tickets.
>>>>
>>>> Train tickets, you mean? The NR lady in the news this week ran up a £10k
>>>> bill for airline tickets in a year.
>>>
>>> They were probably bought for her by her NR admin staff.
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Not that I subscribe to the theory that "the senior management of
>>>> Raleigh should be compelled to cycle to work", nor indeed should the
>>>> chief accountant at Sinclair be compelled to use a ZX81.
>>>>
>>>> I know that SNP politicians at Westminster support the ECML, but they
>>>> simply don't have the spare time to do a weekly commute other than by
>>>> plane, especially when people won't delay a meeting just because their
>>>> train is 2hrs late.
>>>>
>>>> On the other hand as someone commented on my Facebook feed, did NR
>>>> really have no choice but to hire someone to oversee the GWML from home
>>>> in Aberdeen. Was no-one who lived in Ealing available.
>>>
>>> Perhaps she was the best NR person for the job, but why didn't she move
>>> south in the three years she was doing it? It's not as if it's a pure desk
>>> job that could be done from anywhere. The line has been performing badly,
>>> yet she stayed living 500 miles away, with her long-distance commute paid
>>> for by her public sector employer. I don't think many private sector
>>> employers would ave been so indulgent.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> There’s still no substitute for an element of management by walking about.
>> You catch the things that the reporting structures fail to communicate.
>
> Definitely, but her job went beyond that. It's a civil engineering job
> where the activity takes place on site, not on the computer. She should
> have been regularly visiting the work sites and talking to the teams,
> trying to figure out why her route was performing so badly, not flying home
> to Aberdeen. Why did NR management permit her this freedom not to respond
> to problems?
>
> I wonder if it's entirely coincidental that her resignation followed a few
> days after NR CEO Andrew Haines and his son were themselves stuck on a
> stalled train (which did have auxiliary power) for hours?
>
> https://www.railtech.com/all/2023/12/18/senior-network-rail-executive-resigns-over-the-great-paddington-dewiring/
>
> It's all a bit odd — she was apparently regarded as a great catch by NR,
> despite her lack of railway or civil engineering experience, or willingness
> to move to somewhere near her work:
>
> "Having spent the whole of the twenty-first century in maritime, aviation,
> transport and financial services sectors. Prior to joining Network Rail in
> July 2021, she was chief executive of Aberdeen Harbour Board, the UK’s
> oldest business. … She describes herself as a passionate,
> globally-experienced and sector-versatile business leader, with a track
> record of success."
>

Now suffering a broken rail in that track record?

Never believe how alleged high flyers describe themselves. Be highly
suspicious of someone who moves every three years or so.

Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
> Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>>>>> In message <4A3gN.21520$woU1.2467@fx13.ams1>, at 22:19:44 on Mon, 18 Dec
>>>>> 2023, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>>>>> Coffee <martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> wrote:
>>>>>>> On 18/12/2023 15:44, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>>>>>> On Mon, 18 Dec 2023 15:39:26 +0000
>>>>>>>> Bevan Price <bevanprice666@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> Went to Newton Le Willows station a few days ago - the station was
>>>>>>>>> rebuilt about 3-4 years ago.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> The ticket office was closed - the staff had not arrived. Should be no
>>>>>>>>> problems - there are 3 TVMs near the ticket office (on the South side of
>>>>>>>>> the station.) Unfortunately whoever designed the station put those TVMs
>>>>>>>>> inside the room containing the ticket office - and both the entrance
>>>>>>>>> doors were locked. What a masterpiece of station design.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Fortunately, by pure guesswork before my train arrived, I located
>>>>>>>>> another single TVM on the opposite (North) side of the station. (In the
>>>>>>>>> vicinity of the closed ticket office, I could see no information that
>>>>>>>>> another machine existed.)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> You have to wonder sometimes if its incompetance or whether the railway
>>>>>>>> industry both on the management and bolshevik side are actually trying to
>>>>>>>> scare people away from it.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I do wonder if railway management actually use their train services. We
>>>>>>> know some of them seem to prefer flying.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> They probably don't need to buy tickets.
>>>>>
>>>>> Train tickets, you mean? The NR lady in the news this week ran up a £10k
>>>>> bill for airline tickets in a year.
>>>>
>>>> They were probably bought for her by her NR admin staff.
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Not that I subscribe to the theory that "the senior management of
>>>>> Raleigh should be compelled to cycle to work", nor indeed should the
>>>>> chief accountant at Sinclair be compelled to use a ZX81.
>>>>>
>>>>> I know that SNP politicians at Westminster support the ECML, but they
>>>>> simply don't have the spare time to do a weekly commute other than by
>>>>> plane, especially when people won't delay a meeting just because their
>>>>> train is 2hrs late.
>>>>>
>>>>> On the other hand as someone commented on my Facebook feed, did NR
>>>>> really have no choice but to hire someone to oversee the GWML from home
>>>>> in Aberdeen. Was no-one who lived in Ealing available.
>>>>
>>>> Perhaps she was the best NR person for the job, but why didn't she move
>>>> south in the three years she was doing it? It's not as if it's a pure desk
>>>> job that could be done from anywhere. The line has been performing badly,
>>>> yet she stayed living 500 miles away, with her long-distance commute paid
>>>> for by her public sector employer. I don't think many private sector
>>>> employers would ave been so indulgent.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> There’s still no substitute for an element of management by walking about.
>>> You catch the things that the reporting structures fail to communicate.
>>
>> Definitely, but her job went beyond that. It's a civil engineering job
>> where the activity takes place on site, not on the computer. She should
>> have been regularly visiting the work sites and talking to the teams,
>> trying to figure out why her route was performing so badly, not flying home
>> to Aberdeen. Why did NR management permit her this freedom not to respond
>> to problems?
>>
>> I wonder if it's entirely coincidental that her resignation followed a few
>> days after NR CEO Andrew Haines and his son were themselves stuck on a
>> stalled train (which did have auxiliary power) for hours?
>>
>> https://www.railtech.com/all/2023/12/18/senior-network-rail-executive-resigns-over-the-great-paddington-dewiring/
>>
>> It's all a bit odd — she was apparently regarded as a great catch by NR,
>> despite her lack of railway or civil engineering experience, or willingness
>> to move to somewhere near her work:
>>
>> "Having spent the whole of the twenty-first century in maritime, aviation,
>> transport and financial services sectors. Prior to joining Network Rail in
>> July 2021, she was chief executive of Aberdeen Harbour Board, the UK’s
>> oldest business. … She describes herself as a passionate,
>> globally-experienced and sector-versatile business leader, with a track
>> record of success."
>>
>
> Now suffering a broken rail in that track record?

Indeed so.

>
> Never believe how alleged high flyers describe themselves. Be highly
> suspicious of someone who moves every three years or so.

Yes, that's a quote from her LinkedIn entry, which is worth a read. She was
originally a barrister, but not for very long (law degree 81-84, called to
the bar 1986; eight non-legal jobs from 2001 to this month, so an average
of less than three years in each job, which have been in many different
industries).

None of her many jobs appears to involve managing civil engineering
projects until the latest NR one, and she seems to change employers and
industry rather than being promoted in any job. One suspects that she
interviews very well, but then consistently fails to deliver.

Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
> Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>>>>>> In message <4A3gN.21520$woU1.2467@fx13.ams1>, at 22:19:44 on Mon, 18 Dec
>>>>>> 2023, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>>>>>> Coffee <martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> wrote:
>>>>>>>> On 18/12/2023 15:44, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>>>>>>> On Mon, 18 Dec 2023 15:39:26 +0000
>>>>>>>>> Bevan Price <bevanprice666@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> Went to Newton Le Willows station a few days ago - the station was
>>>>>>>>>> rebuilt about 3-4 years ago.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> The ticket office was closed - the staff had not arrived. Should be no
>>>>>>>>>> problems - there are 3 TVMs near the ticket office (on the South side of
>>>>>>>>>> the station.) Unfortunately whoever designed the station put those TVMs
>>>>>>>>>> inside the room containing the ticket office - and both the entrance
>>>>>>>>>> doors were locked. What a masterpiece of station design.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Fortunately, by pure guesswork before my train arrived, I located
>>>>>>>>>> another single TVM on the opposite (North) side of the station. (In the
>>>>>>>>>> vicinity of the closed ticket office, I could see no information that
>>>>>>>>>> another machine existed.)
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> You have to wonder sometimes if its incompetance or whether the railway
>>>>>>>>> industry both on the management and bolshevik side are actually trying to
>>>>>>>>> scare people away from it.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I do wonder if railway management actually use their train services. We
>>>>>>>> know some of them seem to prefer flying.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> They probably don't need to buy tickets.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Train tickets, you mean? The NR lady in the news this week ran up a £10k
>>>>>> bill for airline tickets in a year.
>>>>>
>>>>> They were probably bought for her by her NR admin staff.
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Not that I subscribe to the theory that "the senior management of
>>>>>> Raleigh should be compelled to cycle to work", nor indeed should the
>>>>>> chief accountant at Sinclair be compelled to use a ZX81.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I know that SNP politicians at Westminster support the ECML, but they
>>>>>> simply don't have the spare time to do a weekly commute other than by
>>>>>> plane, especially when people won't delay a meeting just because their
>>>>>> train is 2hrs late.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On the other hand as someone commented on my Facebook feed, did NR
>>>>>> really have no choice but to hire someone to oversee the GWML from home
>>>>>> in Aberdeen. Was no-one who lived in Ealing available.
>>>>>
>>>>> Perhaps she was the best NR person for the job, but why didn't she move
>>>>> south in the three years she was doing it? It's not as if it's a pure desk
>>>>> job that could be done from anywhere. The line has been performing badly,
>>>>> yet she stayed living 500 miles away, with her long-distance commute paid
>>>>> for by her public sector employer. I don't think many private sector
>>>>> employers would ave been so indulgent.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> There’s still no substitute for an element of management by walking about.
>>>> You catch the things that the reporting structures fail to communicate.
>>>
>>> Definitely, but her job went beyond that. It's a civil engineering job
>>> where the activity takes place on site, not on the computer. She should
>>> have been regularly visiting the work sites and talking to the teams,
>>> trying to figure out why her route was performing so badly, not flying home
>>> to Aberdeen. Why did NR management permit her this freedom not to respond
>>> to problems?
>>>
>>> I wonder if it's entirely coincidental that her resignation followed a few
>>> days after NR CEO Andrew Haines and his son were themselves stuck on a
>>> stalled train (which did have auxiliary power) for hours?
>>>
>>> https://www.railtech.com/all/2023/12/18/senior-network-rail-executive-resigns-over-the-great-paddington-dewiring/
>>>
>>> It's all a bit odd — she was apparently regarded as a great catch by NR,
>>> despite her lack of railway or civil engineering experience, or willingness
>>> to move to somewhere near her work:
>>>
>>> "Having spent the whole of the twenty-first century in maritime, aviation,
>>> transport and financial services sectors. Prior to joining Network Rail in
>>> July 2021, she was chief executive of Aberdeen Harbour Board, the UK’s
>>> oldest business. … She describes herself as a passionate,
>>> globally-experienced and sector-versatile business leader, with a track
>>> record of success."
>>>
>>
>> Now suffering a broken rail in that track record?
>
> Indeed so.
>
>>
>> Never believe how alleged high flyers describe themselves. Be highly
>> suspicious of someone who moves every three years or so.
>
> Yes, that's a quote from her LinkedIn entry, which is worth a read. She was
> originally a barrister, but not for very long (law degree 81-84, called to
> the bar 1986; eight non-legal jobs from 2001 to this month, so an average
> of less than three years in each job, which have been in many different
> industries).
>
> None of her many jobs appears to involve managing civil engineering
> projects until the latest NR one, and she seems to change employers and
> industry rather than being promoted in any job. One suspects that she
> interviews very well, but then consistently fails to deliver.
>
>
>

In my experience many three year job hoppers (this excludes those who
change jobs within the same organisation) leave a trail of damage behind
them. Three years is about the time it takes the organisation to realise
they have a lemon on their hands and are starting to take steps to remove
them. The organisation is therefore glad to see them go elsewhere and will
provide a glowing reference to aid moving the problem onto some other
outfit. Headhunters are more than happy to assist with this game as they
get fees. Obviously a generality and timescales are a bit flexible.

In message <LFdgN.93941$c68d.29238@fx15.ams1>, at 09:48:27 on Tue, 19
Dec 2023, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>> In message <4A3gN.21520$woU1.2467@fx13.ams1>, at 22:19:44 on Mon, 18 Dec
>> 2023, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>> Coffee <martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> wrote:
>>>> On 18/12/2023 15:44, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>>> On Mon, 18 Dec 2023 15:39:26 +0000
>>>>> Bevan Price <bevanprice666@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>> Went to Newton Le Willows station a few days ago - the station was
>>>>>> rebuilt about 3-4 years ago.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The ticket office was closed - the staff had not arrived. Should be no
>>>>>> problems - there are 3 TVMs near the ticket office (on the South side of
>>>>>> the station.) Unfortunately whoever designed the station put those TVMs
>>>>>> inside the room containing the ticket office - and both the entrance
>>>>>> doors were locked. What a masterpiece of station design.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Fortunately, by pure guesswork before my train arrived, I located
>>>>>> another single TVM on the opposite (North) side of the station. (In the
>>>>>> vicinity of the closed ticket office, I could see no information that
>>>>>> another machine existed.)
>>>>>
>>>>> You have to wonder sometimes if its incompetance or whether the railway
>>>>> industry both on the management and bolshevik side are actually trying to
>>>>> scare people away from it.
>>>>
>>>> I do wonder if railway management actually use their train services. We
>>>> know some of them seem to prefer flying.
>>>
>>> They probably don't need to buy tickets.
>>
>> Train tickets, you mean? The NR lady in the news this week ran up a £10k
>> bill for airline tickets in a year.
>
>They were probably bought for her by her NR admin staff.
>
>>
>> Not that I subscribe to the theory that "the senior management of
>> Raleigh should be compelled to cycle to work", nor indeed should the
>> chief accountant at Sinclair be compelled to use a ZX81.
>>
>> I know that SNP politicians at Westminster support the ECML, but they
>> simply don't have the spare time to do a weekly commute other than by
>> plane, especially when people won't delay a meeting just because their
>> train is 2hrs late.
>>
>> On the other hand as someone commented on my Facebook feed, did NR
>> really have no choice but to hire someone to oversee the GWML from home
>> in Aberdeen. Was no-one who lived in Ealing available.
>
>Perhaps she was the best NR person for the job,

No, her previous job was in a different industry.

>but why didn't she move south in the three years she was doing it? It's
>not as if it's a pure desk job that could be done from anywhere.

Exactly.

>The line has been performing badly, yet she stayed living 500 miles
>away, with her long-distance commute

That's part of the issue, a "commute" which appears to involve flying to
a little over one meeting a week in London, is an abuse of the
terminology.

>paid for by her public sector employer. I don't think many private
>sector employers would ave been so indulgent.

She seems to have a very poor transport buyer, with mentions of return
air trips to London costing in the region of £500 each.

I used to have a not-for-profit employer which was happy for me to fly
once a month to have a face-to-face at their HQ. But typically that cost
them £100 each [BMIbaby]. The company accountant once asked me "why are
your expenses so low, everyone else seem to spend at least twice as much
attending events around Europe".

My only answer was "I'm a better buyer than your fulltime staffed-by-two
travel department". But you haven't hired me to be a transport
consultant and I have my hands full making sure forty governments in the
region regard you as good guys, rather than "anarchists".

[You'll have read my memoirs why I was so spectacularly successful at
that. But the short version is they noticed that anything I said turned
out to be true, even if in the short term inconvenient for a client. But
I always had a scheme up my sleeve to put that right.

So they ended up turning up at my door asking things like "we are
thinking about this new policy initiative, is it workable or acceptable
(to the industry or public), and if not why". Which reduced my workload
trying to later debunk wonky policy initiatives, issued without my
rubber stamp, while simultaneously fending off the tinfoil-hat brigade]

There's all sorts of hilarious anecdotes, but one of the best was a Home
Office consultation document on [pirate] file-sharing, where v0.1
expanded the stakeholder acronym BPI to "British Pornographic Industry".

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Phonographic_Industry>
--
Roland Perry

On 19/12/2023 10:27, Tweed wrote:
> There’s still no substitute for an element of management by walking about.
> You catch the things that the reporting structures fail to communicate.

Wasn't there a BBC TV series many years ago where a very senior manager
would spend a day or days on the shop floor. They all learnt a lot!

Years ago we had a visit from a senior manager who was taken around the
area by our local boss but he was taken ill and the senior manager
dropped him off at his home and came to our base. We spent the
afternoon just chatting in the workshop and I think I was able to bypass
the BS and get a few things over to him!

On Tue, 19 Dec 2023 12:12:53 +0000, Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:

>In message <LFdgN.93941$c68d.29238@fx15.ams1>, at 09:48:27 on Tue, 19
>Dec 2023, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>>> In message <4A3gN.21520$woU1.2467@fx13.ams1>, at 22:19:44 on Mon, 18 Dec
>>> 2023, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>>> Coffee <martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> wrote:
>>>>> On 18/12/2023 15:44, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>>>> On Mon, 18 Dec 2023 15:39:26 +0000
>>>>>> Bevan Price <bevanprice666@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> Went to Newton Le Willows station a few days ago - the station was
>>>>>>> rebuilt about 3-4 years ago.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The ticket office was closed - the staff had not arrived. Should be no
>>>>>>> problems - there are 3 TVMs near the ticket office (on the South side of
>>>>>>> the station.) Unfortunately whoever designed the station put those TVMs
>>>>>>> inside the room containing the ticket office - and both the entrance
>>>>>>> doors were locked. What a masterpiece of station design.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Fortunately, by pure guesswork before my train arrived, I located
>>>>>>> another single TVM on the opposite (North) side of the station. (In the
>>>>>>> vicinity of the closed ticket office, I could see no information that
>>>>>>> another machine existed.)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> You have to wonder sometimes if its incompetance or whether the railway
>>>>>> industry both on the management and bolshevik side are actually trying to
>>>>>> scare people away from it.
>>>>>
>>>>> I do wonder if railway management actually use their train services. We
>>>>> know some of them seem to prefer flying.
>>>>
>>>> They probably don't need to buy tickets.
>>>
>>> Train tickets, you mean? The NR lady in the news this week ran up a £10k
>>> bill for airline tickets in a year.
>>
>>They were probably bought for her by her NR admin staff.
>>
>>>
>>> Not that I subscribe to the theory that "the senior management of
>>> Raleigh should be compelled to cycle to work", nor indeed should the
>>> chief accountant at Sinclair be compelled to use a ZX81.
>>>
>>> I know that SNP politicians at Westminster support the ECML, but they
>>> simply don't have the spare time to do a weekly commute other than by
>>> plane, especially when people won't delay a meeting just because their
>>> train is 2hrs late.
>>>
>>> On the other hand as someone commented on my Facebook feed, did NR
>>> really have no choice but to hire someone to oversee the GWML from home
>>> in Aberdeen. Was no-one who lived in Ealing available.
>>
>>Perhaps she was the best NR person for the job,
>
>No, her previous job was in a different industry.

True, which makes it all the more bizarre that NR apparently head-hunted her for this role. None of her many, varied
previous jobs seem to include particularly relevant experience.

It appears, that NR agreed up-front that she would not be required to relocate from Aberdeen, and it would cover her
travel costs. That presumably means that her place of work was technically in Aberdeen, so her trips down south were
business travel, not commuting.

Am 19.12.2023 um 10:48 schrieb Recliner:
> Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>> In message <4A3gN.21520$woU1.2467@fx13.ams1>, at 22:19:44 on Mon, 18 Dec
>> 2023, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
>>> Coffee <martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> wrote:
>>>> On 18/12/2023 15:44, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>>> On Mon, 18 Dec 2023 15:39:26 +0000
>>>>> Bevan Price <bevanprice666@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>> Went to Newton Le Willows station a few days ago - the station was
>>>>>> rebuilt about 3-4 years ago.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The ticket office was closed - the staff had not arrived. Should be no
>>>>>> problems - there are 3 TVMs near the ticket office (on the South side of
>>>>>> the station.) Unfortunately whoever designed the station put those TVMs
>>>>>> inside the room containing the ticket office - and both the entrance
>>>>>> doors were locked. What a masterpiece of station design.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Fortunately, by pure guesswork before my train arrived, I located
>>>>>> another single TVM on the opposite (North) side of the station. (In the
>>>>>> vicinity of the closed ticket office, I could see no information that
>>>>>> another machine existed.)
>>>>>
>>>>> You have to wonder sometimes if its incompetance or whether the railway
>>>>> industry both on the management and bolshevik side are actually trying to
>>>>> scare people away from it.
>>>>
>>>> I do wonder if railway management actually use their train services. We
>>>> know some of them seem to prefer flying.
>>>
>>> They probably don't need to buy tickets.
>>
>> Train tickets, you mean? The NR lady in the news this week ran up a £10k
>> bill for airline tickets in a year.
>
> They were probably bought for her by her NR admin staff.
>
>>
>> Not that I subscribe to the theory that "the senior management of
>> Raleigh should be compelled to cycle to work", nor indeed should the
>> chief accountant at Sinclair be compelled to use a ZX81.
>>
>> I know that SNP politicians at Westminster support the ECML, but they
>> simply don't have the spare time to do a weekly commute other than by
>> plane, especially when people won't delay a meeting just because their
>> train is 2hrs late.
>>
>> On the other hand as someone commented on my Facebook feed, did NR
>> really have no choice but to hire someone to oversee the GWML from home
>> in Aberdeen. Was no-one who lived in Ealing available.
>
> Perhaps she was the best NR person for the job, but why didn't she move
> south in the three years she was doing it? It's not as if it's a pure desk
> job that could be done from anywhere. The line has been performing badly,
> yet she stayed living 500 miles away, with her long-distance commute paid
> for by her public sector employer. I don't think many private sector
> employers would ave been so indulgent.

SAP once allowed a 'Vorstand' (board member) to travel every weekend
with the company plane from Hamburg to Mannheim for 2 years. When this
perk stopped after 2 years, she chose not to renew the contract because
she did not want to force the daughter to move to southern Germany.

JMB99 <mb@nospam.net> wrote:
> On 19/12/2023 10:27, Tweed wrote:
>> There’s still no substitute for an element of management by walking about.
>> You catch the things that the reporting structures fail to communicate.
>
>
>
> Wasn't there a BBC TV series many years ago where a very senior manager
> would spend a day or days on the shop floor. They all learnt a lot!
>
> Years ago we had a visit from a senior manager who was taken around the
> area by our local boss but he was taken ill and the senior manager
> dropped him off at his home and came to our base. We spent the
> afternoon just chatting in the workshop and I think I was able to bypass
> the BS and get a few things over to him!

I have a friend who used to work designing test instruments for
Hewlett-Packard. One lunchtime he was sitting in his lab in Scotland
eating a sandwich and reading the paper when a big American walks in and
says, “Hi, I’m Dave Packard, who are you?”

Sam

--
The entity formerly known as Sam.Wilson@ed.ac.uk
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