Great Western Coffee Shop

I know "we" have concerns / TransWilts and wider about ensuring everyone has the practical opportunity to buy the right ticket in a way that doesn't hold up their final arrival, and that only a few fares are lost by people not having the opportunity.   Noting from comments about the Ebbw Vale line that there are severe concerns there too.


http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/11780178.Ebbw_Vale_Newport_rail_link_should_be_priority___AM/

Surely there was a conductor/guard/train manager on board? If so, was it too busy to get through the train to sell tickets?

And if they were travelling to Cardiff Central, there are 'unpaid tickets' desks in the pedestrian underpass prior to the ticket barriers specifically for the purpose of paying ones fare if previously unable to do so...I have used these on a couple of occasions when the Vale of Glamorgan line trains have been sufficiently busy to prevent the guard selling tickets to all on board.

Down here in Cornwall in the last three months, had I not been using Ride Cornwall tickets I would say 75% of my journeys between unmanned stations would have been free journeys as no sight of on board staff.

Hi Chris - I haven't used Cardiff central for many years but out of curiosity are these manned desks or TVM type machines ? If the latter do they accept cash ?

Yes, manned desks, not sure about cash, however they do accept cash for on train purchases so I would imagine the same policy exists at the 'unpaid tickets' desks. They're usually staffed by 3 or 4 people using the same type of machines the guards use on the train. The desks are at the platform 7 end of the underpass, I suspect catering for Valley Lines trains where it is commonplace to buy on board, assuming the guard or train are not too busy, rather than anything longer distance. I've never alighted at Queen Street, so I don't know if they also exist there.

They exist at Queen St also



Moderator note: Edited to fix quote.

Hi All,

Couple of photo,s of Queen St Cardiff revamped entrance with new ticket office and collection desks and New paltform 5

(http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j345/basset44/20141215_100303_zps7fcab0bd.jpg) (http://s1081.photobucket.com/user/basset44/media/20141215_100303_zps7fcab0bd.jpg.html)
(http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j345/basset44/20150211_063432_zps22a2b788.jpg) (http://s1081.photobucket.com/user/basset44/media/20150211_063432_zps22a2b788.jpg.html)
(http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j345/basset44/20150211_063451_zps13a2cfb3.jpg) (http://s1081.photobucket.com/user/basset44/media/20150211_063451_zps13a2cfb3.jpg.html)
(http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j345/basset44/20150211_063534_zps25a19d95.jpg) (http://s1081.photobucket.com/user/basset44/media/20150211_063534_zps25a19d95.jpg.html)
(http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j345/basset44/20150211_063515_zps3123b23b.jpg) (http://s1081.photobucket.com/user/basset44/media/20150211_063515_zps3123b23b.jpg.html)

Basset

I have wondered if FGW have revenue protection issues when non-gangway units are attached to another, i.e. 150/1s or 143s coupled to another unit.    150/2s, 153s or 158s attached to each other would be no problem.