U.K. drivers resort to disguise

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33425, 5 January 1974, Page 12

U.K. drivers resort to disguise

(.V.Z. J'res.s .tssociatipn— Copyright) LONDON, January I. British train travellers, tired of the disruptions caused by the train drivers’ “goslow,” are starting to lose their tempers.

Railway police have been put on extended duties, and told to watch for scuffles on platforms. At Southend yesterday, angry travellers queuing for trains were reported to have intimidated train drivers. They shouted to officials to “turn the drivers over to us, and we’ll settle them.” Extra police were on duty at Liverpool Street station in London last night to shepherd frustrated and weary commuters past the barriers after several outbreaks of fighting on the platforms. Chief Inspector Arthur Hammond, of the Anglia divi-j sion of the British Transport Police, said, “the pressures and the uncertainty created by the dispute are causing a very tense and delicate situa-l tion. “Generally, people are remarkably patient and goodhumoured. But tempers are quick to snap, and any little incident like attempted queue jumping can lead to a punchup. “We have had to move in once or twice to stop trouble: and, as sometimes happens in such circumstances, there have been complaints against: the policemen involved too. : “It is a rather brittle situation but most of the trouble is between passengers them-

selves, and does not involve railwaymen. - ’

But at many stations the drivers were taking no chances, and were hiding their uniforms under civilian clothes. After the Southend incident yesterday, Mr John Abel. British Railways’ deputy area manager, said: “The drivers are hard to find. “They put overcoats over their uniforms so that nobody will recognise them, and use side doors to get into stations. Many of them are quite upset about what is happening but they are being intimidated.”