Vintage Trains Stewards

updated 16/03/07

Steward Badge
 
We have a Train Manager on every train supported by a team of Stewards. Their aim is to ensure that our customers have an enjoyable trip and to ensure their safety throughout the journey. These volunteers receive on-going training and selection to ensure a high standard of service on all our trains.

We aim to have a Steward assigned to each coach. He/she will guide customers to their seats if necessary, answer any questions or queries customers may have, and assist customers who may need some extra help.

From time to time the Train Manager will make customer announcements over the public address system and/or Stewards may make customer requests. We would ask that all customers please listen carefully and that they comply with the reasonable instructions.

On the Shakespeare Express, tickets will be checked by specially nominated Stewards who are Ticket Inspectors. On other trains, the allocated coach Steward will check tickets.

One of the most frequent questions asked of our Stewards is for details of the platform for a return train. Unfortunately, due to operating conditions on Network Rail (the national railway network), the platform may not be known until shortly before the train's departure. So our Stewards may not always have this information to give to our customers for their return. Customers should get this information from station staff, public announcements or departure boards prior to catching our return train.

In the Dining Cars, the Stewards tend to take a lower profile, so they do not distrurb the dining car staff as they serve customers' meals. If a Steward's assistance is needed then customers should mention this to their waiter and he/she will locate the Steward. Public address announcements may not be made in the Dining Cars. Information will be relayed by the Steward.

Customer Announcements

Due to operational reasons on the day, trains may sometimes make unscheduled stops at station platforms. If this should happen, customers should NOT open any external doors or attempt to alight from the train.

For safety reasons, customers should NOT lean out of coach windows as this could cause injury. On some railway routes there may be places where the lineside undergrowth may scrape along the coach sides and this could be very dangerous to the unwary who lean out of a coach window. There is also the danger of trains passing on adjacent railway lines.

We would draw customers' attention to the fact that our trains are run on Network Rail and at certain station stops we are only allowed a short time in the platform, so that we do not delay regular service trains. We would kindly request that customers listen for the station stop announcements and are prepared to alight at their stop.

We also remind customers that there is a complete ban on smoking on all Vintage Trains in all places. This also includes standing in coach vestibules, toilets and leaning out of windows to smoke!

Thank you!
 
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