Great Western Coffee Shop

I'm guessing the request for help is supposed to be for staff not passengers ...  :D

However, many passengers could assist with the dispatch of any HSTs - simply by shutting the bluddy door behind them, if they're the last passenger to leave / board the train through that one ...  ::)

...and on these cold days, closing the window as they do so.... ;)

And also on warm/hot days if you want the air con to stand a chance of surviving and remain working.

I once shut the door behind me to only have it open again as the TM decided to dispatch from that specific door. Atleast we both saw the lighter side of it.  ::)

But I think it would be interesting just how much time could be saved. It's always one of the doors towards the middle of the train equal distance from the TM and platform staff.

People actually prepared and ready to get off the train at their station. Not waiting for the train to stop before they decide to get up, get their stuff together and make their way to the exit. Most annoying when you think you've waited for everyone to alight only to board and find people still making their way down the aisle.

...and then while you wait for said people to make their way down the aisle someone gets on behind you and pushes past you only to collide with the person you were waiting to pass you!

It's enough to make you grumpy.  ;D

Yes, I think we were both cursing under our breath when the above happened to bobm and I on Friday last.  ::)

I'm caught between the devil and the deep blue sea on this one [deep blue is attempting get off whilst the devil is desperate to get on  ;D ]   Seriously though, this is something that annoys me, but I accompanied my 87 year old mum, who is nearly blind and suffers severe arthritis, on a journey from Castle Cary to Exeter recently. When we got on the train, the only seats available were in the centre of the coach. When it was time to get off, mum didn't want to move until we had come to a stand at Exeter. By the time she had stood up and started walking towards the door, there were already two people pushing down the aisle with big cases that they obviously didn't want to leave in the rack at the end of the coach and who would not give way to mum, so we had to turn around and get out at the other end of the coach as the aisle was thankfully empty in that direction. We did not hold the train up, but having got out and closed the door, the dispatcher was ready to do his job!

That's fair enough PhilWakely and you won't find me cursing under my breath in such a situation. You'd instead find me offering assistance

The folk bobm and I had to wait for we're a group of blokes in their early/mid twenties.

No offence taken bnm :) Interestingly, the two pax described in my example were both female and probably in their early/mid-20s. Must be something about that age group (I can't remember that far back!)

People getting off that don't realise they have to open the door themselves through the window and stand next to it waiting to open itself, or look in vain for a button to press are all too common. Maybe they are only used to modern trains and not the heritage practices of the HST :)

For that reason, you'll always find me offering to open (or just doing so) the door from the outside. Anything to save a few seconds.

I've done the same - see http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=9450.msg97871#msg97871  ;) :D ;D

There isn't usually anyone waiting at Paddington to open the door though. If I am second in line I take an assessment of whether the person is a bit hesitant through confusion and offer to open it for them. I suspect in some cases they really don't want to risk getting a dirty coat from the window.