Thanks for the welcome to the forum guys!

It's interesting to hear your views on Revenue Protection; I'm wondering if any of you can tell me how the system actually works?

I'm interested to hear about where these depots actually are, and how the team operates.

Many moons ago I used to be an RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context)) in North London and in those days for all the services out of Kings Cross we had 3 depots, about 40 inspectors and a small but very effective fraud team. Only two ticket barriers (at Cambridge and Hitchin) in those days though!

Hi Dave, even on the journeys that I have made over the last few months what you have said here rings true!

I would imagine that the reason for getting your ticket checked always on the Reigate leg of your journey will be because there is a guard on those trains - good to hear that they are not just doing the doors!

I know HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) are busy and often TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) will not ask their guys to check on busier trains especially if like at Padd and Reading both stations are gated - but this doesn't stop people from getting on the train at Padd with an oyster card for zones 1-4 and getting out at Reading with a Twyford - Reading season ticket, therefore not paying for the majority of their journey!

I feel you really should have had your ticket checked more often on the other services you travel on; especially if the perception is that they are 'free trains'. Surely FGW^▸ (First Great Western) know what's going on out there?

I've recently started travelling on the network and have also worked in the rail industry for a number of years.
The Great Western franchise really does have the potential to be a great railway again and i think it's quite exciting all the plans that lie ahead.
In someways though I think the basics that are quite evidently not being 'got right' need to be addressed - such as poor communication with passengers, a real lack of revenue protection, messy trains - especially away from London, inconsistent attitudes of staff - some are great but some are awful and lazy!!!

Out of the above the one thing that does dismay me is the poor revenue protection - almost entirely focussed on ticket gates. I haven't had a ticket checked properly in months!!!

Does anyone know why this is? Dont they have RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context)) depots anymore?