You might think there is little for the captain of a driverless train to do. But the way i prefer to do my job, there isn't a spare minute. I am a driver, guard and revenue inspector rolled into one. We do occasionally have to switch off the automatic mode and take the controls, such as when there's a report of an object on the tracks.
Most of the time, my involvement in the physical operation of the train is in the opening and closing of the doors. my main role is to communicate with our passengers, offer advice and make sure people have paid their fares. It is possible to run this system without anyone on board, as they do in Copenhagen, but the public say they feel reassured knowing someone is there.
It's easy to spot tourists unfamiliar with the area and I will offer advice. I also sometimes share my knowledge of local history over the PA. Lots of people come just to ride the train and enjoy the views, especially at weekends. I tell people that Sir Walter Raleigh lived at Blackwall, though his house is now under one of the ventilation shafts of the Blackwall tunnel.
Mounting pressure
The profile of our passengers has changed in recent years as more and more companies have been attracted to Docklands. You can sense that people are under more time pressure, and small delays can really raise stress levels. that leads to more pressure on us. The popularity of the DLR (annual passenger numbers have almost quadrupled from 17 million to 67 million since Serco Docklands was appointed operator in 1997) sometimes causes crowding.
I find that the tension eases the more you communicate with people and tell them what is going on. the last thing you do when there is a line failure is go around issuing penalty fares. But in normal operations, it's part of my job to check tickets in the two-minute gaps between stations. People come up with some absurd excuses: 'I'm only going to the next stop'; 'I thought it was free'; 'It's a monday and I usually top up my card on a Friday'.
You know from the body language if a person has genuinely made a mistake. You can look at the history of their oyster card to see if their story rings true. If they claim they have just run out of credit that day, you can point out that the card was last used three weeks ago. Depending on the reason the passenger gives for not paying, we can invite them to buy a ticket or issue them with a penalty fare, which is rising to £50 (£25 if paid within 21 days).
Disputes over fares are the part of my job that causes the most problems. It's usually just verbal abuse, but I have been hit twice in my 12 years. If someone is being threatening, I can hold the talk button open on my radio without them knowing and the control room can hear what's going on and send help to the next station.
Safety first
One of the most rewarding parts of my job is giving safety talks in schools as part of the 'Stay Safe' campaign. I visit around 20 local primary schools each year in a bid to reduce accidents on the line. This is supported by hard-hitting leaflets and posters that spell out the dangers of playing games at train stations. It's important for the children to feel they can approach us and ask us questions. Kids come and talk to me in Asda.
The school visits were partly in response to a number of incidents of 'surfing' in which children cling to the outside of a train as it leaves the platform, jumping off at the last minute. one girl was disfigured doing this. if we see surfers in time, we push the stop button, but if the train has picked up speed the braking might cause them to fall off.
I visited a school after three of its pupils had been seen on the tracks. With the head's permission, I walked onto the stage with a lantern and three bunches of flowers to represent the tragic ending this story could have had. By the end of my talk, some of the girls had tears in their eyes. We have not had another trespass since then from that school.
