The Golden Hind on a Friday evening....

[whole diary]

[vacmanfan]

Once again, if the Gateline is set appropriately, none of the above is required.

I gave a random example earlier - lets try a specific one... Lets be specific. 

Between 1745 and 1815 on platforms 1-6 at Paddington ^ all of which are either unbarriered or controlled by the same gates^you have the following scheduled departures.

Platform 5 1745 Swansea
Platform 1 1748 Cheltenham
Platform 2 1800 Bristol
Platform 4 1803 Golden Hind
Platform 3 1815 Swansea

Only one of them does not set down at Reading.  How can you properly control the barriers / gateline to stop reading passengers accessing the platform for the 1803? 

Setting the specific rule and applying it to the gate array takes less than a minute.  Even less if you are well rehearsed!

[Southern Stag]

The footbridge at Paddington has one set of barriers for Platforms 2-5. Setting the barriers to reject Reading tickets wouldn't work as many of those services would be boarding at the same time. Even at the concourse end where only Platforms 3 and 4 share barriers both platforms will be boarding at the same time for the 1803 and 1815 departures.

[swrural]

I presume the point of the apparently unenforceable restriction is purely in the interest of pax travelling beyond Reading who otherwise have to put up with Reading commuters crowding them out?

If so, why not just erect a sign at the platform entrance (and announce it both on train and station) before departure that pax to Reading will be charged ^10 extra as supplement.  Agreed such pax would have to believe that a TTI would be walking through, which would be done occasionally.  Actually it's only FO anyway isn't it? .

That procedure should clear the decks, I suggest.   

[inspector_blakey]

I presume the point of the apparently unenforceable restriction is purely in the interest of pax travelling beyond Reading who otherwise have to put up with Reading commuters crowding them out?

Exactly: it's imposed with very good intent: since services to the west country are considerably less frequent than to Reading, the idea is that, in a worst case scenario, long-distance passengers for Devon and Cornwall wouldn't find it impossible to board the train because it was rammed with Reading commuters who could have taken countless other trains.

[Southern Stag]

But strict enforcement is perhaps not necessary. The train is not advertised as calling at Reading and that should be enough to deter most passengers for Reading from boarding the service. That should prevent so much overcrowding. The restriction is Fridays only yes and also on Saturdays during the Summer timetable.

[plymothian]

But strict enforcement is perhaps not necessary. The train is not advertised as calling at Reading and that should be enough to deter most passengers for Reading from boarding the service. That should prevent so much overcrowding. The restriction is Fridays only yes and also on Saturdays during the Summer timetable.

Oh come one, you expect a commuter who knows that the train not advertised at stopping at Reading, yet knows it will stop to pick up, would willingly not take that service?

[Southern Stag]

No, but it will deter the irregular and unsure passengers so it will keep the numbers down. If it's just the regulars it isn't so much of a problem.