Great Western Coffee Shop

Ok, this morning I had to go from ludlow to Reading as I didnt have fuel to make worcester

I bought a standard return from ludlow to didcot (where my season kicked in) with the intention of upgrading to first on newport leg.

Somehow, and I know not how, between buying the ticket and getting on the train I lost the outward leg.  When the TM did the ticket check and I handed over my ticket wallet, he was confused by my journey - the only ticket was the homeward leg.  He suggested I try to find it and came back after the next stop.  By this time I had realised I'd lost it, so showed him my return and the credit card receipt that proved I'd only bought it this morning so therefore could not have already used it.  He was fine about it and did not make me buy another ticket.

I get on at Newport.

Went to find the TM to explain what had happened  - complete with return leg and CC receipt - and pay for my upgrade.  I did say, look I know I may have to buy a full newport to didcot ticket but this is what happened.  Got treated like a criminal with the attitude - which made me more stubborn that I was not going to.  If he'd have just said, look, I'm sorry, you'll have to pay for a full ticket, I'd have been fine.  In the end I did only have to pay the ^55 for the upgrade but (1) given I sought him out rather than hid and tried to get away with it (2) I had proof of the time of the purchase etc etc etc

Why do FGW assume people are trying to evade fares and not give the benefit of the doubt.


I thought - I didnt think anything.  I have no idea how it got there.

You thought what?

Modified

When im on a FGW train half the time they dont even have anyone come around to check tickets especially on the 125 trains.  Even when I used the PMH-CDF service between Newport and Cardiff at the weekend the ticket inspector didnt bother checking on my return journey.

On ATW though they almost always check tickets.

For your information the PMH-CDF Service is crewed by Arriva Wales staff, so prehaps they operate double standards??

I was under the impression that was coming to an end in the may TT change?  As ATW wanted out.

I thought it eneded when our units topped being serviced at Cardiff Canton.

About 2 a day, between Westbury or BTM and Cardiff!

Nope - we didn't have enough crew to do that.


To be quite frank Mookiemoo, you were very lucky that you were let off any of it. You DID NOT have a valid ticket, so shouldn't of traveled. Yes you had proof of purchese and everything else, but you still didn't actaully have a valid ticket.

Ah, now that's where discretion comes in Jim.

She did purchase a valid ticket, had a proof of purchase of a valid ticket, and had the RTN portion of that valid ticket. If it was early in the morning there is hardly an opportunity to do Ludlow to Didcot... and back, and back again - so it was certainly up to the TM as to whether discretion was used.

Agree. What would they think in a court of law? Had Mookiemoo acted reasonably given the circumstances she found herself in? Yes. Did she have evidence to support her story. Yes? Was there any intent to avoid paying? No. Was she asking for a "free " ride. No, she was offering to pay again.

The answer's obvious isn't it.

The point is - I got railed at. told  should not have got on the train as newport was manned (despite having less than three minutes to connect) and that by rights I should be fined and paying penalties.

If he'd just said, look, sorry, but the rules are this you're going to have to buy another ticket, I'd have done so.

Its not like I hid at the end of the train in the hope he wouldnt find me!

In all other walks of life, people are innocent until proven guilty.  Not in the FGW world.

I must admit that ATW staff appear to be, how shall I put it, a bit more 'enthusiastic' with their checks than FGW are.  ;D

And not only that - when you buy a ticket at ludlow, its a full receipt not a little train ticket.

It was clearly time stamped 10:12 and I got on the 10:20 and had my credit card number on it - proving I had personally bought it 8 minutes before.  Since I was travelling alone, there was no one I could possibly have given my outward to so they could use it whilst I try to scam.

Unless FGW now run tardis services, 8 minutes is not enough to have made multple journeys.  And since I also had my season in there - it was fairly obvious this is not my normal route so is probably a one off!

Yes, but as we have all found out - not all 'grippers' have it.

Sorry for being thick but what's a 'gripper'?

My ticket wasnt checked on todays journey from Cosham-Trowbridge. In general, I would say that it was a hit-or-miss thing whether they are on Portsmouth-Cardiff services.

On the upside, I did see an FGW 3-coach 158 conversion going in the other direction while I was waiting at Cosham. The train I caught was a 2-coach refreshed 158.

"Ticket Man"

Well the train I was on the staff member was in FGW uniform.  The people who come on to tidy the train after it terminates at Cardiff are ATW staff as Cardiff Central is obviously an ATW station.

I fail to see why there would be ATW crew on a FGW service? I know the journey starts off in Wales but surely the company running the service should staff the train?

Not when we contract them to do it no!

Everytime ive used the CDF-PMH service its been a FGW staff member im sure.

Quite likely, as Jim said they only about two a day.

How did thesituation come about anyway that ATw crew a lot of FGW services??  Surely when the franchises were created, they should have had a fair split of staff anyway?? 

Operational convenience and route knowledge have a lot to do with these type of arrangements between firms. On the Cotswold Line, for almost all of the time that Thames Trains ran the route, many of the Turbo services were driven by Central Trains drivers from Worcester, who had route and traction knowledge from BR days, while the guards were Thames staff. I believe the arrangement only came to an end because Central was beefing up Worcester-Birmingham services and could no longer provide enough drivers.

In the case of services between South Wales and England, a lot of ATW staff have route knowledge dating from BR and Wales & West, so why not use it if they're available? Let's face it, FGW doesn't exactly have staff coming out of its ears. Remember Christmas and New Year! I assume some of the new FGW recruits will be replacing bought-in ATW staff eventually.

Entirely off topic and a bump, but with the nature of the countries ticketing system I find it necessary to say (put it to the Action Man jingle) Ticket Man - the greatest super hero of them all!  :D ;D