Great Western Coffee Shop

I have been looking at fares and note than only day returns appear to be available from Newton Abbot to Exeter so if you return on a different day do you have to buy 2 singles?

Yes, that's right. For shorter distance journeys (NTA to EXD is only 20 miles) only day returns are generally available and have been for quite a while. I would think that this is to stop tickets being reused the next day as there is a good chance it wouldn't be clipped on a short journey.

TLM

Only on a HST!
Would certainly be clipped on a unit(unless full and standing)

Not quite on topic - but I get a annual season ticket for this run Newton - Exeter and it dropped dramatically when I renewed it in Nov last year - from ^1050 down to ^880.

My previous annual ticket lasted the whole year through the barriers at Exeter - although you could barely read it!

I agree that there are some lazy TM's but lately I've also seen a fair share of lazy conductors!

Present company excepted, obviously, eh, vacman?  ;) :D ;D

must be in cornwall!

I always get checked on units, unless as gaf71 states, it is full. Been on a 143 in that situation. Still managed to sell tickets from Torre though.

Can't remember the last time I was checked on an HST/Voyager in all honesty!

From my recent experience it's relatively unusual to get checked on a unit between Bath Spa and Bristol TM, even on services which call at Keynsham and Oldfield Park (both unstaffed for most of the time). Even when the train is on time and not unduly crowded a few conductors never seem to emerge from the rear cab.

From my frequent journeys to and from west Wales it seems that ticket checks on HSTs between Reading/Didcot and Swansea are the exception rather than the rule, even occasionally when there's more than one TM on board!

Of course, it goes without saying that although there are some lazy conductors and TMs (as I guess you would find in any job) there are plenty of extremely hardworking, helpful, conscientious and enthusiastic staff as well!