Great Western Coffee Shop

The scenario I came across tonight did not reflect too well on FGW in my opinion.

Got on at Slough  - into "first" on a 165 - challenged fir first ticket by two burly rpi. Were rather surprised when I produced one!

From there until reAding - with the exception of challenging two others they proceeded to read the paper and play games on their phone. The train was busy but not do busy they could not have gotten through to do a standard check.

This is the second time I've seen this - it doesn't look good but then 99% of passengers would not have known they were there

TTI's do have a fairly tough job as there are some members of the public about who do not see the need to pay and will stop at almost anything not to pay including assault, however some of the TTI's don't do themselves any favours I had a run in with a burley FGW TTI at a station with out barriers last year, he had no formal marking other than wearing the same coat as a colleague he was with who had an ID badge, I asked to see his ID before showing my ticket he got very grumpy said he did not have one, I walked past he tried to stop me to which I said do that again and I'll call the police, he let me past.  I did check with FGW who said all TI staff should wear ID at all times I informed them of the place and time must admit I've not seen the guy since.

Our fraud and security guys at ScotRail have been known to carry out spot checks in first where there's a history of cattle class invaders, either reported by crew or by first passengers fed up of paying more only to have to share with the great unwashed.
It may be that they were on that train to specifically check first rather than the whole train.

Yeah - one of these were similarly unidentified but I recognised the other one from an earlier inspection.

However, even if their remit was first class checking - and I will admit the rdg to pad locals are abused but not as much as I would expect to be honest - there are often seats available when people are standing - openly playing computer games whilst on duty? Reading the paper is borderline - but maybe I am old fashioned.

May I suggest that you complete and send in one of these, FallenAngel - http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Documents/Custom/FGWYourViews.pdf 

As FGW say, at http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=443

By law revenue protection inspectors (RPIs - those staff with the authority to issue penalty fares) must carry proper identification and show it on demand. I'm not sure what the policy is with ticket examiners (who are not trained/authorized to issue penalty fares but can raise the full fare applicable to the journey being made where appropriate), but I'm sure they are issued with some company ID that customers can legitimately ask to examine on request.

RPIs on NX East Coast now wear a hi-viz bomber jacket with a back reflective panel in blue bearing words National Express Revenue Protection Team. Makes them look like police!! Still you can see who they are, though I have never been checked by them.  As Lord Adonis found ticket inspection on NX EC is sporadic to say the least, with an apparent reliance on ticket barriers at stations like Leeds, and Doncaster (though only part time here - mostly peaks). Doncaster - York 22 minutes, can almost guarantee check on XC but very rare on NXEC.

FGW don't have any RPIs, last I checked, they were "Customer Services"  :D hehe

Were they in any kind of uniform? Maybe they were just blending in ready to pounce when someone comes into First?

they were in matching pants, shirts and fleeces with fgw badge holders around their necks- so not UNIFORM but clearly not blending

There is a possibility no one has mentioned. Sometimes a couple of RPIs might be travelling 'PASS' to a location where they are going to catch the train they are due to work, or might be planning to do a station blockade. So they aren't actually formally covering the train they are on, cos it isn't part of their booked hours.

But like any other off duty staff travelling on the cushions there's nothing to prevent them checking that someone sat next to them in first isn't travelling on a standard ticket...

Paul

Nope - they were definitely on a schedule as they had a piece of paper and were discussing which was their next train - I think they were going to Newbury once they got to Reading.

They were definintely working