Great Western Coffee Shop

This is certainly not a complaint but it is the first time in two years. Needless to say some of my fellow pax didn't share my enthusiasm for this event.

Nice one Fgw !

They seem to have increased the on train inspectors recently - I had mine checked on the way home from Maidenhead at 5pm-ish the other week, and yesterday morning there was an inspector walking down the carriage as we pulled into Maidenhead just after 8am. First time I have seen that in almost 4 years!

I also noticed last week several G4 security guys coming out of First Class when we arrived at Reading, and I recall reading on here somewhere that they were checking tickets on behalf of FGW.

WHen this happened this morning on my service I was amused when one of the passengers had no idea at all of how much a train ticket approximately cost for their journey. Given that they travel that route everyday and I'm sure not having a ticket today was a one off I find that a little suprising </endofsarcasm>

Yes, I posted about this a few days ago.  Although I wouldn't want to undermine FGW's attempts to protect revenue and keep first class for first class ticket holders, my understanding is that G4S staff should only operate in support of/supervised by a suitably-qualified FGW person, ie they should not be operating independently.

I think the G4 people have been used to exclude people from FC (ie ask them to leave if they don't have FC tickets).  Any ticket sales, PFs, prosecution stuff or validity issues are dealt with by trained staff.

Good  ;D

Although maybe they should have been checking tickets more than once in a blue moon in the first place??  ::)

Totally agree. Let's hope these checks become more frequent. If FGW get a good return by making these checks they are more likely to continue them.

Strangely enough I encountered an RPI on a NXEA Service from Southend Victoria - Stratford for the first time ever yesterday! I was sat in the First Class Compartment facing the direction of travel and had my headphones in, so my back was to the entrance to FC... He came in asking for a ticket and there thetrout was in his own little world suddenly came back to reality like a falling lead balloon! Scared the living $hit out of me!

Moan when they don't get checked, moan about frequency when they do get checked.... ???

Do you think with so many services running at any point during the morning/evening peak that trains can be regularly always checked without taking on more staff?

If the return on the number of tickets sold by an RPI, outways the cost of employing them, then surely FGW would just do it?  No TOC wants revenue walking out the station, but like it or not there's always a business case to be put forward as to how to get that revenue - i'm not saying it's right, but it's the World we live in of private companies running businesses on our railway.

I'd like to have the tickets checked just once ever though.. That was my "moan"... Apologies if that is a moan though..I just think it makes sense... With Thames trains they used to get checked a lot more than the never that FGW do..

I can't remember the last time I saw an RPI.. I think the local trains have been totally forgotten.. They're just not bothered anymore.. And the passengers have started working that out (see my seperate thread on the 8am Maidenhead to Paddington first class carriages)..

Mine was checked again on the way home from Maidenhead around 5pm on Thursday - that's 3 checks in a couple of weeks! Even the gates at Shoppenhangers Road have been manned almost every evening (usually unheard of) and the mornings have been more thorough.

Definitely an improvement, and long may it continue!

I understand Jo, and I am sure all passengers want to know that those who are travelling with them have valid tickets also.

I would love to spend a day in the Commercial department to see the logic and plans behind certain decisions.

I also know more revenue staff have been taken on in certain areas.

As far as RPI's go, I think it should be unpredictable as to when they are seen - I don't see the point of doing a block at Torre for 2 weeks, as fare evaders pay up for the 2 week period then when it's clear RPI's have moved on, it reverts to old - it doesn't need to be always frequent, but just often enough that people won't see the point in chancing it.

As the original poster, I am pleased to say that this morning my ticket was checked again on the Thatcham to Reading leg of my journey to Reigate. I think there were a few people travelling in First Class who objected to paying for a first class ticket!

Nice one FGW - keep it up!

Agreed. I'm glad they're being charged 1st class fares, rather than just being chucked out.