Great Western Coffee Shop

I've just returned from a weekend break to the SW with Mrs NickB.  We coughed for the 1st class upgrade as we predicted it would be a busy service (which it was) and I had some work to do (which I didn't).

The crazy thing is that we travelled Maidenhead to Par, and back again, and no-one asked to see our tickets.  Not on board, and not at the stations.  We just wandered in, ate and drank all of the free stuff, and wandered out again.  Then did the same again.

Is this a common phenomena in your experience?

I was rather peeved to be honest because why did I bother getting the upgrade?  The whole of 1st class was full, and there were audible conversations from other groups outlining the fact that they hadn't bought a first class ticket.

I realise that this is a bit of a snobby problem, but the ball has clearly been dropped on enforcement of ticketing in my view.

I assume your weekend break involved travelling down on a Friday and back on a Monday as you bought your "upgrade" before joining the train - ie opted to buy a first class ticket rather than a standard.

I had one notable Sunday recently where I travelled on seven trains, a mixture of units and HSTs, and was only checked once.  However that has proved to be the exception.  I usually travel to the West Country on a Saturday morning and back on Sunday afternoon and buy a Weekend First on board.  In most cases I have been sold the upgrade by a passing Train Manager before the next station.

However I agree with you - nothing peeves me more than fellow passengers "boasting" they don't have the correct ticket (or any ticket at all).   Just occasionally they get caught out which I readily admit I find very satisfying!   ;)

Yes indeed.

About two years ago I had a similar experience between Yatton and Oxford.  I travelled both ways first class, clutching my ^15 weekend upgrade fare with ticket on the table in front of me and in neither direction was I asked for it.  As I was going to a wedding I wonder if my appearance in a suit had anything to do with assumptions about who might have a first class ticket, as a glance was made down the coach.  If it wasn't for the barriers at Oxford, I could have travelled ticketless as no checks were carried out and the TM only appeared to rush to the back of the train to close an open door.  That day was an exception, I admit, and I don't advise anyone to take the risk.

However, on occasions when I have travelled 1st and required refreshment from the buffet at weekends, a ticket has been required before the freebies have been handed over, similarly on CrossCountry from the trolley.  However, FGW trolley staff in 1st don't appear to be worried and hand out to all sitting in the leather seats.

I don't think that tickets need checking on every journey - a system which checks (say) 1 in 10 in an unpredictable pattern, and imposes strong measures against transgressors, is likely to be far cheaper to run than a system that manually checks every ticket on every leg.   I made five journeys on trams in Dublin last week.  Bought a ticket in advance on each occasion, wasn't checked once.   Would I have minded being checked? No.  Do I regret not being check?  Not really; if I was checked every time, guess who would be paying for the cost of providing the extra inspectors ...

My comments fall down where there's no opportunity to buy tickets at the station before boarding (Bedwyn, Melksham, Dilton Marsh, Trowbridge outside ticket office hours, Avoncliff, etc) or where the fare system is so complex that assistance / later upgrade capabilities are routinely needed.

I think 1st class *should* be checked every trip, and probably between every stop too - just to stop those who sit there with a STD ticket getting away with paying for their 1st class seat....

I have gone Didcot->London (and reverse) more than once first class at the weekend and not been asked to pay for the Weekend First  upgrade - and there could be no doubt as I have my ticket and railcard on the table with a fiver sticking out.

oh, so have I.....ditto from/to Oxford.

I'm sure First Class passengers wouldn't mind having their tickets checked between every stop - in fact I'm fairly confident they wouldn't mind being patted down for contaband at the same time, with perhaps the occasional strip search just to make sure...

I'm sure they wouldn't mind paying the extra cost of a staff member to make the checks either.

Now if "weekend first" was purchased before joining the train ... from staff or TVMs, or on the train if joining at stations without facilities - just like any other ticket - might that sort out a few issues?

Not many....how do you know whether there'd be a seat available on the day?....now that really *would* piss off a 1st Class ticket holder....

Those with the correct ticket can also benefit from the lack of checks. I'm reluctant to discuss the details an open forum, but suffice it to say he regularly gets peak return trips from Bristol to Paddington for ^10.

I can see no way that someone holding a 'correct' ticket can legitimately travel for ^10 in the peak.

Not without either breaking the byelaws, exploiting a loophole (and it'd be a massive one, soon closed), abusing staff travel facilities, or getting the nod from staff.

If there is a legitimate way to travel Bristol to Paddington ^10 return in the peak, then such a way has escaped the army of fares experts that are out there.

I can guess, but not going to explain in a public forum.

Hmmm.. it is the fact the post mentions "benefit from the lack of checks" which worries me.....

I agree with that analysis, and I should point out that we can't condone illegitimate travel in any way on this forum, nor accept posts that will significantly aid illegitimate travel.

The general lack of ticket checks in First at weekends has actually put me off weekend travel.

I try now to only use weekday services, First on a Saturday now resembles steerage, but with larger seats.

Whilst I doubt that First class passengers would enjoy having their ticket examined after EVERY stop, I doubt that this would be required.
A reasonably alert ticket inspector should remember most of those whose tickets he has already checked, and only ask for tickets from those who just boarded.

I was travelling to Bracknell by train yesterday from Maidenhead.. My meeting got cancelled before I got to Reading.. So at Reading I had to go through the barriers, buy a ticket for as far as Maidenhead (my season ticket covered me the rest of the way) go back through the barriers and get a train into Paddington..

I could have missed out the buying the extra ticket bit as it wasn't checked... However fortunately I am honest so would never travel without one..

I can see a way to travel for ^10, however wouldn't describe it as legitimate... Call it an admin fee. Am I right?

I suspect I know what you are alluding too d_m, but let's just leave it at that.

It would be fraud.

If they are taking advantage of a roundabout permitted route for some ticket, then being generous we might assume that this benefit is just lack of hassle, and the ticket getting noticed less, so a longer time before the routing guide is modified. We might also assume that, wisely, the figure has been rounded, and isn't in fact exactly ^10.

I'm not aware of any loopholes myself, but I do know people have managed to get comparable mileage on other lines for similar prices, so it seems entirely possible.

Returning to the original thrust of this thread.  I have just returned from the West Country after a weekend cooled by the sea breeze.  On my way down my ticket was checked and upgrade sold within 10 minutes of boarding.  On my return my ticket was again upgraded within 20 minutes of getting on.  I could also have had it checked a second time following a crew change.

The fact one of the trains involved was staffed by a member of this forum had nothing to do with it!   ;)

As to the continuing speculation as to how to obtain a Bristol to Paddington ticket for ^10; as no-one has yet posted a legal way of doing so I think the subject is best left.