Eagh, things are this way for a reason. Even the smallest amount of authority can lead to zimbardo-style behaviour, so the rail companies have to protect both the rail operators and the passengers from eachother.
Saying this, the power always tips one way and passengers do have the upper hand due to rail companies wanting...no...needing to avoid liability like the plague. You can't just have rail guards beating your face to custard because you didnt pay your fare but it can happen the other way because of where the money is coming from in the ensueing law suits.
Plus you see all these posters in train stations saying how many operators are being assaulted each week. We note 'assaulted' because its the legal term for "nothing really happened..." under UK law so its hard to say whos victim of who at the moment. Plus you'll never see a poster in a train cabin proudly exclaiming that rail guards managed to punch 30 passengers just last week.
Eagh, my point is not a well expressed one. You cant really go off whats being about this matter because it could have gone either way. The attention should however be focussed on how to prevent either party being put in such positions...
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