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All across the Great Western territory => Media about railways, and other means of transport => Topic started by: a-driver on September 06, 2017, 05:28:34



Title: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: a-driver on September 06, 2017, 05:28:34
New series starting on Channel 5 on Monday. Paddington Station 24/7.

I believe film crews were present when some of the major meltdown occurred so this could be interesting viewing


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: JayMac on September 06, 2017, 14:11:12
The film crews were definitely there for the recent power car derailment.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: TonyK on September 11, 2017, 19:30:20
Recorder set - no spoilers until I have seen it please - probably tomorrow.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: ChrisB on September 12, 2017, 13:38:20
Mods - there is a 'spoiler' button avauilable to these fora that hides anything that could be a spoiler like this - those that are happy to read click the button, those that don't, don't.

Any chance? I want to read reviews to see if its worth watching on catch up!


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: TonyK on September 12, 2017, 13:44:49
I've just watched it. It's worth looking at, especially for the engineering, even if that's a long way from Paddington.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Timmer on September 12, 2017, 13:58:25
Any chance? I want to read reviews to see if its worth watching on catch up!
Watching it tonight. Recorded it so I can skip the tons of adverts that Channel 5 place. Probably watch it in 40 minutes.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: TonyK on September 12, 2017, 14:02:34
Wot I did. There are also (and I don't think this is a spoiler) two plugs for a chance to win a rather excellent prize, at a cost of £1.50. They are worth zapping through.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Red Squirrel on September 12, 2017, 14:08:35
I watched it on 'Demand 5' after my attempt to record it mysteriously failed... no ads were streamed, so I think it took about 48 mins. Most enjoyable.

For me the most jarring note came as a result of the rather jolly stings they use either side of where the commercials would be: immediately after the segment about the London Bridge attack, we had a very jolly tiddly-pom. Inappropriate, I'd say. So it goes.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Timmer on September 12, 2017, 15:27:50
Wot I did. There are also (and I don't think this is a spoiler) two plugs for a chance to win a rather excellent prize, at a cost of £1.50. They are worth zapping through.
Yup, add that to the at least 10 minutes of adverts and you can watch it in just over 40 minutes.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: TonyK on September 12, 2017, 17:46:57
Yup, add that to the at least 10 minutes of adverts and you can watch it in just over 40 minutes.

Better than watching on a subscription or pay per view, I suppose, although that rather describes the BBC these days. I don't begrudge the licence fee, other than spending it on the banal "talent" shows. Having seen American friends amazed and confused by 2 hours of uninterrupted movie, I shouldn't, and won't, complain.

That said, the cricket is best watched from a recording. Goodness knows what will happen to TV when TPTB realise how few watch the commercials.

Back on track, I thought it very interesting in the main, and thought it would be so for any followers of railway media. It may be jaw-dropping for those who are not so involved - those who ask "Why don't they put more trains on?" and look surprised when you tell them there aren't any more, nor space to run them.

There was a matter related to special Cardiff services that I shan't start to discuss until I am sure most people have had the chance to watch it.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Timmer on September 12, 2017, 17:52:24
American TV is dreadful, makes you really appreciate what we've got over here.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: JayMac on September 12, 2017, 20:47:30
American TV is dreadful, makes you really appreciate what we've got over here.

Really?

Breaking Bad
Fargo
Game of Thrones
The Big Bang Theory
Late Late Show with James Corden
The Sopranos
Friends
The Walking Dead
The Simpsons
House of Cards
The Wire
Family Guy
The West Wing
The X-Files
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Twin Peaks
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Frasier


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: ChrisB on September 12, 2017, 20:55:15
Friends is a good example! Canned laughter galore


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: TaplowGreen on September 12, 2017, 21:26:41
Thought it was a good programme overall ......couldn't believe the bit where about 6 GWR staff were unable to stop an apparently well known lone fare dodger plodding along the platform  (armed with a full sized bicycle!), then having called for assistance from the BTP managed to lose him on the train!!! 🙈😂


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: JayMac on September 12, 2017, 21:40:41
Friends is a good example! Canned laughter galore

Friends was filmed in front of a live studio audience throughout its entire run. Any exterior video (in the real outside world) was shown to said audience, in the correct place in the episode, and their natural response recorded. The Friends episodes filmed on location in the UK were shown on video to a live studio audience and their reactions recorded.

All sitcoms that have a live studio audience occasionally have to edit audience response. Be that due to a technical fault during a scene, an actor getting their lines wrong or missing a mark, or an audience guffaw ruining a take. For instance, the first take of a scene usually gets the best laugh, but if that take can't be used for technical reasons then that 'best laugh' is added to the 'best take' in edit.

Just rarely, recorded laughter not from people watching the recording 'live' is used in a normally live studio audience sitcom. An example being season cliffhangers where the producers don't want the plot to leak. The last ever episode of Friends was filmed on a closed set. Again to prevent plot leaks. That episode did used pre-recorded laughs.

So Friends was not 'canned laughter galore'. The exception rather than the rule.

A bit sad, but I know Friends inside out. Could well be a Mastermind subject for me.  :D


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Timmer on September 13, 2017, 08:16:16
American TV is dreadful, makes you really appreciate what we've got over here.

Really?

Breaking Bad
Fargo
Game of Thrones
The Big Bang Theory
Late Late Show with James Corden
The Sopranos
Friends
The Walking Dead
The Simpsons
House of Cards
The Wire
Family Guy
The West Wing
The X-Files
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Twin Peaks
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Frasier
Quick qualification on what I said. Watching TV programs and Sport on TV in America is dreadful because of all the commercials. Apologies for not being clear. I must be honest I don't watch any of what BNM has listed but my wife does. My genre of TV isn't very big mainly being sport/news related.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Adelante_CCT on September 13, 2017, 10:13:42
A bit sad, but I know Friends inside out. Could well be a Mastermind subject for me.  :D

Perhaps we should all be singing "Bignosemac, Bignosemac, what are they feeding you"  :D


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: TonyK on September 13, 2017, 22:24:54
A bit sad, but I know Friends inside out. Could well be a Mastermind subject for me.  :D

I would be much better at The Simpsons. I borrowed Breaking Bad as a box set. 63 hour long episodes, unusually watched by Mrs FT, N! and I together, at a rate of three per day. The video equivalent of a real page turner.

So no, American TV isn't all bad. I have yet to watch Game of Thrones apart from half of episode 1, which I thought good. I did see it being filmed in Croatia, though - Diocletian's Palace in Split to be exact.

And what, pray tell, is so good about Bargain Hunt or any of the other auction programmes? Mrs FT, N! does however enjoy Escape to the Country, usually in our rural Devon cottage. Oh, the irony!


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Chris from Nailsea on September 13, 2017, 22:57:00
I claim 'House of Cards' for Britain - it was written by a Brit, and was first broadcast as a mini-series on the BBC.  :-X



Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: JayMac on September 13, 2017, 23:50:31
I claim 'House of Cards' for Britain - it was written by a Brit, and was first broadcast as a mini-series on the BBC.  :-X



The US version is a match for the original. Frank Underwood is, if anything, more Machiavellian and sociopathic than Francis Urquhart.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: ChrisB on September 14, 2017, 09:36:14
Back on topic....watched it last night, and found most of it interesting.

However, the false news about Vauxhall station being attacked - surely a quick check with a BTP officer could have elucidated the news that it was false - they'd have known via their radios.

And a voice-over that could pronounce his 'r's might have been a better choice, no? waiways & wail were quite common....


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: TaplowGreen on September 14, 2017, 13:33:11
Have you met Biggus Dickus? He wanks amongst the highest in Wome!


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Western Pathfinder on September 14, 2017, 13:54:02
Welease Wodger  ;D.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: TonyK on September 14, 2017, 17:49:42
Welease Woderick!


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Western Pathfinder on September 14, 2017, 20:37:50
Welease Woderick!

Yes him as well ;D.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: JayMac on September 14, 2017, 21:32:55
Let me come with you Pontiuth. I may be of thome athithenthe if there ith a thudden crithith.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: TonyK on September 16, 2017, 19:13:24
Have you met Biggus Dickus? He wanks amongst the highest in Wome!

He has a wife, you know...


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: TaplowGreen on September 16, 2017, 19:41:21
Have you met Biggus Dickus? He wanks amongst the highest in Wome!

He has a wife, you know...

Incontinentia Buttocks?


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: TonyK on September 19, 2017, 09:21:51
*** SPOILER ALERT! ***
If you haven't seen the episode broadcast 18 September, look away now!

It was nice to see Bristol Temple Meads featured last night, if not during its finest hour. This episode should be compulsory viewing for anyone contemplating a complaint about rail services before they put pen to paper. I have been involved in managing developing crises during my working life, but can't begin to think how I would have started to put the pieces back together in the situation that unfolded on the screen in this episode. Respect to those that did!

The young army cadet was a fool, but lucky. I have fired a few thousand rounds in anger (at wooden targets) back in the day. Bullets and bullet cases are shiny, and attractive to young trainees as trophies. After every exercise, and before we left the range, we cleared weapons under the supervision of NCOs, then fell in with weapon breech open to show it was unloaded, ammo pouches open, and  magazines* in hand. An officer would look at the magazines and weapon and stick his hands in the empty pouches whilst we in turn chanted "I have no live rounds or empty cases in my possession Sir!". On day one of weapons training, it was emphasised to us, in typical army fashion**, what would befall any one of us were we to make a false declaration to the officer - a court martial offence in extremis.

(* Not THAT sort of magazine!
**By typical army fashion, I mean loudly, repetitively, with lots of choice Anglo-Saxon words, and diagrams depicting blunt-knife castration and/or evisceration. It was generally quite effective, and certainly worked for me.)


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Boppy on September 19, 2017, 15:37:01
(Minor spoiler warning)

I think one of the moments I've enjoyed most so far was in the first episode in the context of the busy Friday night and someone asking for a first class ticket to Plymouth or Penzance (sorry can't quite remember). Usually this incurs a reaction of disbelief when the person is told the price but not this time - I laughed loudly at the quip by the staff member on receiving payment.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Timmer on September 19, 2017, 16:34:37
(Minor spoiler warning)

I think one of the moments I've enjoyed most so far was in the first episode in the context of the busy Friday night and someone asking for a first class ticket to Plymouth or Penzance (sorry can't quite remember). Usually this incurs a reaction of disbelief when the person is told the price but not this time - I laughed loudly at the quip by the staff member on receiving payment.
It was for either 4 or 5 passengers travelling to Cardiff. I laughed loudly too at the quip made by the staff member...priceless.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Fourbee on September 19, 2017, 16:42:21
Think the gent wanted First Class Singles, so 4 x £189 = £756. I remember £800 was handed over.

They don't need a thick glass screen at Paddington, even with that wedge. Some banks have gone open plan over the years, yet still many stations still cling on to their glass screens despite falling cash transactions generally. How much easier from a customer viewpoint not to have to talk through glass.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: TonyK on September 19, 2017, 22:07:10
It's not as though someone is going to poke a gun at the cashier and say "Hand over the money", is it? I mean, not only is there a long queue of witnesses waiting behind him, there may be angry shouts of "Wait your turn!". Then the place is practically glazed with CCTV, and if you want to see a copper with a gun, you could do worse than try Paddington.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Red Squirrel on September 21, 2017, 11:30:27
[Do I still need to add a spoiler alert at this late stage? If so, here it is]

Given the amount of rebuilding and re-engineering that has gone into the GWML electrification, is anyone able to explain to me how the bloody hell a pigeon was able to strike an arc into the rebar of an overbridge and thereby bring the netwrok to its knees for the worst part of a day?


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: stuving on September 21, 2017, 11:50:36
[Do I still need to add a spoiler alert at this late stage? If so, here it is]

Given the amount of rebuilding and re-engineering that has gone into the GWML electrification, is anyone able to explain to me how the bloody hell a pigeon was able to strike an arc into the rebar of an overbridge and thereby bring the netwrok to its knees for the worst part of a day?

We did have an explanation here (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=14689.msg215540#msg215540). But basically birds rarely cause a big enough current to damage masonry, and only recently was installation practice changed to make it even less likely. So it's like a lot of other things that occasionally cause big trouble, and could have at least been made less common  by small design changes. The OLE in question was the old stuff, without earthed straps (lightning conductors, as it were). And of course the pigeons are still the old Mk I kind, as conductive as ever.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Sixty3Closure on September 22, 2017, 20:02:26
I watched it as a passenger and someone who works in the industry - broadcasting rather than rail.

I'll try talk in general terms in case we're still avoiding spoilers.

As a passenger it felt a bit too much of a PR puff. The way the incident at Paddington was presented didn't really reflect my experience. I felt it downplayed the impact and implied people were travelling if a bit delayed. Colleagues at work commented that it didn't seem that bad. The editing felt fairly generous to GWR and NR even though I don't think they came out of it very well. There didn't seem to be anyone in command or tracking resources/staff which confirmed my view of GWR in a major incident.

As someone who's made TV the summary after each break really winds me up even the audience research people tell us its essential. Some of the voice over script such as "unprecendented disruption" felt a bit over the top as disruption in July seemed a fairly regular occurance. It certainly wasn't unprecendented. Again though I've done it myself and written headlines for stories that in a normal day you wouldn;t even mention as you need to draw the audience in.

It also felt a bit soft on GWR/NR but I accept that you have to be reasonable to get access and also most people don't want to do a hatchett job. Perhaps a few more passenger comments might have balanced things? Personally I couldn't find any GWR staff to ask questions of although the filming implied they were out and about. I think what I did want was a bit analysis of how the companies involved could have responded. Do they have an incident plan for delays (rather than safely type incidents)? Might not have made thrilling TV though and a limited audience.

On the whole I enjoyed the programme more than I expected.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Gordon the Blue Engine on September 23, 2017, 09:53:50
... The editing felt fairly generous to GWR and NR even though I don't think they came out of it very well. There didn't seem to be anyone in command or tracking resources/staff which confirmed my view of GWR in a major incident.

I agree with these comments.  While the people on the ground were portrayed as doing their best, their precise roles were unclear and appeared to overlap.  This could have been the editing of course.

It seemed that GWR have no adequate management system in place to deal with incidents like this.  Or as has been noted here before, the cull of posts in short term train crew management and lack of adequate staff numbers in Control at Swindon means that they are overwhelmed when major incidents occur, even if there is an Incident Plan that is supposed to be followed. 


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Sixty3Closure on October 19, 2017, 23:04:53
Having watched  a couple more of these they really don't fill me with confidence in the current structure of the railways or GWR. Every episode seems to be an 'unprecedented' incident followed by lots of confusion and a slight suggestion/hint of the problems faced by passengers. I know that to a certain extent the demands of TV influence this but could the film makers really have been expecting a complete melt down for every programme.

As I said in an earlier post the playing down of the disruption did really annoy me as someone who was there for most of them and this was the same for this weeks programme.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: chrisr_75 on October 19, 2017, 23:44:45
Having watched  a couple more of these they really don't fill me with confidence in the current structure of the railways or GWR. Every episode seems to be an 'unprecedented' incident followed by lots of confusion and a slight suggestion/hint of the problems faced by passengers. I know that to a certain extent the demands of TV influence this but could the film makers really have been expecting a complete melt down for every programme.

As I said in an earlier post the playing down of the disruption did really annoy me as someone who was there for most of them and this was the same for this weeks programme.

I had a similar feeling as I sat at Ealing Broadway late last night waiting for a train and watching the orange people working. Except most of the activity appeared to involve standing around talking and bitching/gossiping about managers or supervisors or sitting on the station forecourt smoking. What little work I did see going on on the platforms appeared to be being done in the most inefficient, labour intensive manner possible and I felt a little better informed about why many major rail projects overrun budgets or projected completion dates.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Red Squirrel on October 20, 2017, 11:20:48
Every episode seems to be an 'unprecedented' incident followed by lots of confusion and a slight suggestion/hint of the problems faced by passengers. I know that to a certain extent the demands of TV influence this but could the film makers really have been expecting a complete melt down for every programme.

It's the format, innit?

Compare and contrast:

1. Salvage Hunters: Drew Pritchard has offered the 7th Duke of Tharg £200 for something that looks like a rat's nest on legs. But His Lordship want £400! Will they do a deal? Cue adverts. Blimey, yes they will, Drew meets him half way and gets it for £300, leaving him with scope for a reasonable profit.

2. Paddington Station 24/7: Some blokes in a shed near Reading are taking a gearbox out of a Class 166. The job should take 4 hours. But the train is needed in just over 4 hours' time! Will they manage it? Cue adverts. Blimey, yes they will. Turns out they are professionals and they know what they're doing.

Perhaps we should be grateful that there were some real crises to report, otherwise we would have had:

Martin is a cleaner. Without him, the station would soon start to look scruffy. But there's a problem: an empty crisp packet is blowing towards the edge of the platform. The 12.29 from Swansea is approaching! Will he be able to pick up the packet before it blows on to the track? Cue adverts. Blimey, yes he will etc etc.



Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: NickB on October 20, 2017, 17:24:24
Watching this series it has crossed my mind that perhaps some or all of this summers utterly awful cock-ups were actually arranged by Channel5 in some extreme dystopian manipulation. Maybe...  ;)

I stopped watching after the episode with Henley Regatta and the cows on the line, where I was supposed to believe that these were overlapping events that GWR had to 'struggle' against - when everyone knows that Henley is the last week of June and the cctv of the cows revealed it was 18th August.

Well... it is GWR and Channel5 so I don't think 'reliability' should be the expectation...


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: bradshaw on October 23, 2017, 16:29:16
Tonight's episode covers the derailment of the PAD-PNZ HST


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: sanfrandragon on October 24, 2017, 08:36:19
Spoiler for disgusting content - apologies!

I watched this episode last night and was surprised/disgusted that apparently the trains dont have a holding tank for human waste (is it just HSTs?) so if you use the facilities in the station it just empties on to the track.  Is this correct?  But why is there no smell?  The waste is cleaned up only every 3 months in the station, but what happens on the tracks outside - it must be left to decompose naturally?

Apologies again, but hard to belive my understanding is correct!


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: johnneyw on October 24, 2017, 13:07:02
I had a similar feeling as I sat at Ealing Broadway late last night waiting for a train and watching the orange people working. Except most of the activity appeared to involve standing around talking and bitching/gossiping about managers or supervisors or sitting on the station forecourt smoking. What little work I did see going on on the platforms appeared to be being done in the most inefficient, labour intensive manner possible and I felt a little better informed about why many major rail projects overrun budgets or projected completion dates.

I have to admit to having been playing a game on my journeys down Filton Bank since 4 tracking began. It started with spot the 2/3 person shovels but has evolved into 'how many staff does it take to dig a hole'?  The old 3-4 figures I regularly spotted peaked recently at 7 staff leaning on a temporary fence chatting/ texting while watching one person digging a hole.

It wouldn't have really made much impression on me had I not noticed it every journey I was on that holes were being dug along the bank. Perhaps I'm missing something?




Edit note: Quote marks fixed, for clarity. CfN.  :)


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: ellendune on October 24, 2017, 14:05:42
It wouldn't have really made much impression on me had I not noticed it every journey I was on that holes were being dug along the bank. Perhaps I'm missing something?

I think you may be missing the link between all these events.  The link is perhaps that at the time you are observing them... ...there was a train passing - the one you were in.  From my short time working on a live railway - many years ago - the rules were that when a train approached on an adjacent track you stopped working and looked towards the driver and acknowledged to them that you had seen their approach.  Only when the train had passed did you resume work.  After the cab has passed it would be very reasonable to try and have a short conversation before you were able to resume work. Though I have to say in my experience (deltics passing at 100mph) conversation was not possible in that time due to the noise.   


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Chris from Nailsea on October 24, 2017, 16:44:49
Spoiler for disgusting content - apologies!

I watched this episode last night and was surprised/disgusted that apparently the trains dont have a holding tank for human waste (is it just HSTs?) so if you use the facilities in the station it just empties on to the track.  Is this correct?  But why is there no smell?  The waste is cleaned up only every 3 months in the station, but what happens on the tracks outside - it must be left to decompose naturally?

Apologies again, but hard to belive my understanding is correct!

Several subsequent posts, in response to this very valid concern, have been split off and merged with an existing discussion topic on the Coffee Shop forum's 'Across the West' board, as they have wider implications than within Paddington Station itself.

See http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=4537.msg223131#msg223131 onwards.



Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: TaplowGreen on October 24, 2017, 19:11:44
Loved the quote from last night's programme after the derailment looking for a spare driver ".....we're always stuffed for drivers on Sundays "........from the horse's mouth! (Although it could equally apply to weekdays now it seems!)


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: tomL on October 24, 2017, 19:18:49
Loved the quote from last night's programme after the derailment looking for a spare driver ".....we're always stuffed for drivers on Sundays "........from the horse's mouth! (Although it could equally apply to weekdays now it seems!)

You were the first person to come to mind as soon as they showed that.  ::) ;D

Was very interesting to see the level of coverage on the derailment though. Interesting episode.

"They built things properly 40 years ago" an echo of most HST boards right now with the Class 800 rolling out...But that's probably another thread!  ::)


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: JayMac on October 24, 2017, 19:47:43
I'm pretty sure the Class 800s have been built properly too.

One thing that irks the pedant in me about this series is the title. Paddington 24/7. Yet they don't even spend the whole 43 minutes of the episodes in Paddington, or on features about Paddington. Last night we had a diversion to Bristol TM to see BTP deal with a drunk.

I did wonder, watching that interlude, whether the guy had just been a drunk obnoxious twonk who'd upset staff. With the 'seen carrying a knife', an embellishment to guarantee police attandence.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: TaplowGreen on October 24, 2017, 21:10:24
Loved the quote from last night's programme after the derailment looking for a spare driver ".....we're always stuffed for drivers on Sundays "........from the horse's mouth! (Although it could equally apply to weekdays now it seems!)

You were the first person to come to mind as soon as they showed that.  ::) ;D



How sweet of you! I'm almost blushing! 😁

Minor claim to fame, I used to play rugby with one of the engineers who was sorting out the derailment......needless to say he's getting plenty of stick as a star of stage & screen etc! (We've already ordered him a pair of binoculars, thermos flask & notebook as a Christmas present!)


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Chris from Nailsea on October 24, 2017, 21:31:46
No stereotyping there, then.  ::) :o ;D



Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Electric train on October 25, 2017, 07:25:46
I'm pretty sure the Class 800s have been built properly too.

One thing that irks the pedant in me about this series is the title. Paddington 24/7. Yet they don't even spend the whole 43 minutes of the episodes in Paddington, or on features about Paddington. Last night we had a diversion to Bristol TM to see BTP deal with a drunk.

I did wonder, watching that interlude, whether the guy had just been a drunk obnoxious twonk who'd upset staff. With the 'seen carrying a knife', an embellishment to guarantee police attandence.

I think the intent of the programme is show how Paddington's 24/7 operation is impacted on events many miles away and that the station does not operate in isolation but is part of a bigger picture.

I have not been able to see all of the programmes but what I have seen does give an insight into the complexities of the railway


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: TonyK on October 25, 2017, 19:33:36
It wouldn't have really made much impression on me had I not noticed it every journey I was on that holes were being dug along the bank. Perhaps I'm missing something?

I think you may be missing the link between all these events.  The link is perhaps that at the time you are observing them... ...there was a train passing - the one you were in.  From my short time working on a live railway - many years ago - the rules were that when a train approached on an adjacent track you stopped working and looked towards the driver and acknowledged to them that you had seen their approach.  Only when the train had passed did you resume work. 

That very point about not working when a train is passing was made by an engineer in an earlier series. He went so far as to say that the one thing you will never see from a train is people working on tge adjacent track.

I missed a couple while on holiday, although they are being repeated soon on other channels. My view is that the programmes will help serve to give people more of an understanding of what really happens on a railway, and could even make one or two of the a little more tolerant.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Western Pathfinder on September 11, 2018, 09:05:41
Series Three of Paddington 24/7 starts shortly On Monday 17th September On Channel Five at Nine in the evening .


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: CMRail on September 11, 2018, 17:13:02
Series Three of Paddington 24/7 starts shortly On Monday 17th September On Channel Five at Nine in the evening .

Looking forward. Sunday’s, 5 vice 10, the lot!


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: JayMac on September 11, 2018, 17:19:05
Series Three of Paddington 24/7 starts shortly On Monday 17th September On Channel Five at Nine in the evening .

Will Channel Five cut the running time in half, but attempt to cram in the same content per episode?

Will episodes be cancelled due to a lack of broadcast staff?

Will broadcast signal problems cause a delay to the scheduled start time?

Will episodes be cancelled because staff want to watch a major sporting event?


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: TonyK on September 11, 2018, 18:38:31
Series Three of Paddington 24/7 starts shortly On Monday 17th September On Channel Five at Nine in the evening .

Will Channel Five cut the running time in half, but attempt to cram in the same content per episode?

Will episodes be cancelled due to a lack of broadcast staff?

Will broadcast signal problems cause a delay to the scheduled start time?

Will episodes be cancelled because staff want to watch a major sporting event?

Will they have two episodes back to back, one of them a blank screen?


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: TaplowGreen on September 11, 2018, 19:31:24
Series Three of Paddington 24/7 starts shortly On Monday 17th September On Channel Five at Nine in the evening .

Will Channel Five cut the running time in half, but attempt to cram in the same content per episode?

Will episodes be cancelled due to a lack of broadcast staff?

Will broadcast signal problems cause a delay to the scheduled start time?

Will episodes be cancelled because staff want to watch a major sporting event?

At least I'll be guaranteed a seat (on the sofa) & catering will be available in my house......bit too chilly for a BBQ though.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Lee on September 11, 2018, 19:35:43
Will there be a buffet, or at-seat catering only?


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: CMRail on September 11, 2018, 20:59:38
Will there be a buffet, or at-seat catering only?

Trolley downstairs only.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: TonyK on September 11, 2018, 21:19:28
Trolleyed in my case.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: TaplowGreen on September 11, 2018, 22:03:37
Will there be a buffet, or at-seat catering only?

Best ask Broadgage........on second thoughts, best not......he'll only just be getting into his stride on the subject when the programme finishes! ☺


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Phantom on September 18, 2018, 10:48:33
Two things from last nights events
Am intrigued why the series is even using the name Paddington as more and more of it is filmed elsewhere on the network

The chap that dived under the barrier to run onto the track, nobody seemed to be interested in the fact he left a large back pack on the ground as he ran away - to me that would / should have been an equal priority?


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Thatcham Crossing on September 18, 2018, 13:19:46
Quote
more of it is filmed elsewhere on the network

It is, and maybe the title is therefore a bit misleading, but there is a lot going on elsewhere on the network.

For example, good to see some coverage of the OHLE going up on the B&H in last night's episode.

Quote
nobody seemed to be interested in the fact he left a large back pack on the ground as he ran away

You'd like to think they were, the shot cut away after a few seconds. For someone to pick it up/start looking in it immediately might also not be the best course of action.

Had to chuckle a bit at the IET driver commenting about how he always arrives early.



Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: bradshaw on September 18, 2018, 16:56:54
The trailer for next week suggests the “lack of train crew” and consequent cancellations will feature


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Timmer on September 18, 2018, 17:04:05
The trailer for next week suggests the “lack of train crew” and consequent cancellations will feature
Does GWR not get a say as to what’s shown and what is not? Next week’s program might not look to good for them. Or maybe it gives them chance to explain why there’s been a shortage of crew.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: TaplowGreen on September 18, 2018, 18:32:28
The trailer for next week suggests the “lack of train crew” and consequent cancellations will feature
Does GWR not get a say as to what’s shown and what is not? Next week’s program might not look to good for them. Or maybe it gives them chance to explain why there’s been a shortage of crew.

Let's hope the true picture shines through. If GWR were allowed to censor it can you imagine what a dull , sycophantic programme it would be?


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Thatcham Crossing on September 18, 2018, 21:32:01
Quote
If GWR were allowed to censor it

Based on last nights episode and the ranting, almost hysterical, middle-aged lady at PAD bemoaning their lack of Customer service, one would imagine not.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Oxman on September 18, 2018, 23:34:01
She was complaining about the lack of customer service, despite having just been helped through a ticketing problem and the gates by a GWR customer services assistant!

I suspect that Channel 5 deliberately set out to portray this. First she gets great customer service. Then she complains about customer service. There are some people who will complain, whatever happens, because that is in their mind set.

Well done Channel Five, for showing the reality of life in the front line.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: JayMac on September 19, 2018, 00:35:47
The ranters and ravers make for good telly.

The hundreds of passengers let down by GWR on a daily basis, who are quietly resigned to their fate, don't make for good telly.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: CMRail on September 19, 2018, 07:11:27
They should film in the control room at Swindon, where GWR announce 5 vice 10 services. It would be a great laugh in the offices.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Phantom on September 19, 2018, 10:13:16
She was complaining about the lack of customer service, despite having just been helped through a ticketing problem and the gates by a GWR customer services assistant!

Or there was more to her problems than what were shown?
There was clearly the start of the conversation missing, as the lady said she has been told one thing and then told another


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: ellendune on September 19, 2018, 18:09:17
They should film in the control room at Swindon, where GWR announce 5 vice 10 services. It would be a great laugh in the offices.

I have seen previous film of the control room at Swindon during difficult periods and it produced sympathy for the staff working in very difficult circumstances not of their own making. I was not in the least tempted to laugh.

It is easy to believe that all the staff are conspiring to make our lives as difficult as possible, but the truth is far from that.  Even the examples of bad attitudes by some staff may sometimes be the result of people pushed beyond their tether.

Please also remember that some staff go to unexpected levels (in one example recently discussed on this forum heroic levels) to provide good customer service in difficult circumstances. 


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: CMRail on September 19, 2018, 20:03:56
They should film in the control room at Swindon, where GWR announce 5 vice 10 services. It would be a great laugh in the offices.

I have seen previous film of the control room at Swindon during difficult periods and it produced sympathy for the staff working in very difficult circumstances not of their own making. I was not in the least tempted to laugh.

It is easy to believe that all the staff are conspiring to make our lives as difficult as possible, but the truth is far from that.  Even the examples of bad attitudes by some staff may sometimes be the result of people pushed beyond their tether.

Please also remember that some staff go to unexpected levels (in one example recently discussed on this forum heroic levels) to provide good customer service in difficult circumstances. 

I was making a mere joke about how frequent 5 vice 10 happens and as in reality shows they watch people through cameras. I was comparing such circumstance to a fictional TV show storyline, not hard working environments.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: eightonedee on September 19, 2018, 22:33:04
Quote
   
   
Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
« Reply #72 on: Today at 06:09:17 pm »
Reply with quoteQuote
Quote from: CharlieGCR on Today at 07:11:27 am
They should film in the control room at Swindon, where GWR announce 5 vice 10 services. It would be a great laugh in the offices.

I have seen previous film of the control room at Swindon during difficult periods and it produced sympathy for the staff working in very difficult circumstances not of their own making. I was not in the least tempted to laugh.

It is easy to believe that all the staff are conspiring to make our lives as difficult as possible, but the truth is far from that.  Even the examples of bad attitudes by some staff may sometimes be the result of people pushed beyond their tether.

Please also remember that some staff go to unexpected levels (in one example recently discussed on this forum heroic levels) to provide good customer service in difficult circumstances.

To be fair, one of the major sources of annoyance during meltdown incidents is the lack of communication between "Control" (which always strikes me as a name invented by John Le Carre) and the travelling public. When you are stuck on a train which is going nowhere, whose train crew tell you that Control, l cannot  tell them what is happening, Journey Check has a list of red "Delayeds" but no further explanation, and if you get through to the helpline 03457 000125 to be told you cannot be told what is happening because they cannot speak to Control, then sympathy for them wears thin.

I appreciate that the individuals have to work in the system set up by their employer. But GWR seem to forget that they are delivering a service to their passengers, and they really should prioritorise getting information out to them.

I do not tune into the Channel 5 series regularly. If I have just got home after a long day at work and an unsatisfactory journey home (especially if it has included an unwanted 25 minutes stranded in Reading because a connection has been missed), I do not have much appetite to watch this on television. However when I have caught it, a running theme seems to be various people in  the system not knowing what is going on when problems occur.  There does seem to be a communications problem, with Control at the heart of it. There is a challenge for GWR (or, I expect, the railway industry as a whole) to address.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: TonyK on September 20, 2018, 19:12:27
Or there was more to her problems than what were shown?
There was clearly the start of the conversation missing, as the lady said she has been told one thing and then told another

In my experience in public service over four decades, some people listen to half of what is said, then complain about the other half.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: ellendune on September 20, 2018, 21:32:29
GWR do what DfT put in the contract.  It was a negotiated contract so like as not DfT complied with modern procurement practice and got a price then told them they had to cut it.  That is because procurement practice demands that each re-let of a contract is less than the last (that is why some many outsourcing companies are in financial trouble). Control in Swindon is therefore likely to be understaffed on any day when something is actually going wrong. They will therefore find it impossible to communicate effectively. 

The practice states that the person letting the contract does not have to find a way for the contractor to make the saving that is for the contractor to find 'efficiency savings'. Once a contract has been let a few times then, barring some major new technological advance, there are no such efficiency savings to be had. They can't cut safety so staff in other roles are forced to work harder. What is worse when working under such pressures there is no time to come up with any genuine efficiency savings.

The result of this is that staff morale plummets, people leave and those left behind have a heavier burden.  When staff are working under such pressures being nice to customers takes much more effort, particularly when customers are angry because the service is so bad.

So if we want better customer service then just like anything else it must be paid for. This mirrors what is going on all over the country in both public and private sectors.

So why should we expect GWR care about customer service when their client (DfT or Treasury) does not? The treasury after all is only interested in money and seeks to rule all of government.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: TaplowGreen on September 21, 2018, 07:13:34


So why should we expect GWR care about customer service when their client (DfT or Treasury) does not?

Two words. Organisational culture.



Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: ChrisB on September 21, 2018, 14:34:01
I hope the above features in the report Grayling has just ordered from this John Lewis guy frankly....


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: TonyK on September 22, 2018, 20:04:28
I hope the above features in the report Grayling has just ordered from this John Lewis guy frankly....

I wonder. I just signed up with them as part of my BTexit strategy, and I got a £40 voucher. Does Grayling have to declare it if he gets one with the inquiry?


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Phantom on September 25, 2018, 20:19:11
Just watched last night's episode back and noticed something a bit odd, at Paddington everytime there is a station clock on screen it's pixilated out, any idea why this is?
But the other odd thing for some situations they put a clock graphic on the screen showing the time...


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: broadgage on September 26, 2018, 12:38:19
Just watched last night's episode back and noticed something a bit odd, at Paddington everytime there is a station clock on screen it's pixilated out, any idea why this is?
But the other odd thing for some situations they put a clock graphic on the screen showing the time...

I suspect that it might be automatic, by the same software that pixelates out car number plates.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: didcotdean on September 26, 2018, 15:33:59
If it is automatic, it doesn't work on clocks with hands, as there is one visible often in scenes in Control.

Maybe some things are shown a bit out of sequence.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: broadgage on September 26, 2018, 19:43:28
An automatic feature intended to pixelate car number plates would probably react to digital clock displays, but not to traditional clocks.

A similar effect may be observed in Google street view where the letters and numbers in road signs or advertisements are sometimes obscured.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Phantom on October 17, 2018, 08:05:43
I would bet money that if they were not there already the TV crew would have dashed down there this morning (if not last night), they will have plenty of footage of chaos to show


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Timmer on October 17, 2018, 08:13:00
I would bet money that if they were not there already the TV crew would have dashed down there this morning (if not last night), they will have plenty of footage of chaos to show
They can easily make a story out of it using archive footage which is what they mainly do. Just show a packed then empty Paddington, control in Swindon, workers on the line etc and some angry passengers and there's your story from what happened last night/today. Easy. Makes you wonder if it was a good idea to let Channel 5 make a series of the woes of the GWML even though at times it has been educational to help people understand what happens when things go wrong.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Sixty3Closure on October 19, 2018, 10:38:15
Just watched last night's episode back and noticed something a bit odd, at Paddington everytime there is a station clock on screen it's pixilated out, any idea why this is?
But the other odd thing for some situations they put a clock graphic on the screen showing the time...

It depends which editing software they used. Some like FCP you have to manually track what you're blurring as they move across the shot but other like Adobe After Effects tracks it for you. You'd normally have to identify what you want to track though as having the software go through and pixelate any numbers could have unintended consequences. Might be a genuine reason such as they used library footage and the time would show it was edited out of sequence or someone was just a bit keen with the software options.


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: patch38 on October 19, 2018, 11:02:39
It's simply the way the programme (like every TV programme) is edited. The primary footage tells the story but to make it flow and to help explain the story to the viewer various other content is edited in. Establishing shots (that locate and establish the nature of the story) may be filmed at a different time, often on a different day - a sunnier one maybe. If the main story is filmed on a single camera, cut-away shots are inserted to avoid awkward cuts and edits. In current affairs programmes these are known as 'noddies' because they often feaure the interviewer nodding in agreement to camera while the edit point passes. B-roll footage is also added to pad out the story. It too may be shot at a different time or day sometimes on smaller cameras (and nowadays drones) and often without an audio track. Or it may come from library footage or archives: compare episodes of Paddington 24/7 and count how often the same shot of an HST departing crops up in different stories.

Anyway... the point of the above is to illustrate what a pain in the a*se live clocks are for the video editor: the main story takes place at 14:05 to 15:00 but all the B-roll footage we have has clocks showing 10:30 and 17:50! Hence the pixellation or the insertion of an on-screen clock to re-establish the 'real' time line.

It's always interesting to lift the curtain to see how it all works - sorry if I have spoilt it for you  :D


Title: Re: Channel 5 series - Paddington Station 24/7, starting 11 September 2017
Post by: Rob on the hill on December 27, 2018, 18:14:17
There's a Christmas edition tonight at 8pm, 27th December 2018. Guessing it will feature goings-on from Christmas 2017.



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