Arriva trains wales v FGW - approach to tickets

[whole diary]

[Andy W]

Ah, now that's where discretion comes in Jim.

Yes, but as we have all found out - not all 'grippers' have it.

Sorry for being thick but what's a 'gripper'?

[Lee]

Even when I used the PMH-CDF^» (Cardiff - next trains) service between Newport and Cardiff at the weekend the ticket inspector didnt bother checking on my return journey. 

My ticket wasnt checked on todays journey from Cosham-Trowbridge. In general, I would say that it was a hit-or-miss thing whether they are on Portsmouth-Cardiff services.

On the upside, I did see an FGW^▸ (First Great Western) 3-coach 158 conversion going in the other direction while I was waiting at Cosham. The train I caught was a 2-coach refreshed 158.

[Jim]

Ah, now that's where discretion comes in Jim.

Yes, but as we have all found out - not all 'grippers' have it.

Sorry for being thick but what's a 'gripper'?

"Ticket Man"

[Jez]

When im on a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) train half the time they dont even have anyone come around to check tickets especially on the 125 trains.  Even when I used the PMH-CDF^» (Cardiff - next trains) service between Newport and Cardiff at the weekend the ticket inspector didnt bother checking on my return journey.

On ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) though they almost always check tickets.

For your information the PMH-CDF Service is crewed by Arriva Wales staff, so prehaps they operate double standards??

Well the train I was on the staff member was in FGW uniform.  The people who come on to tidy the train after it terminates at Cardiff are ATW staff as Cardiff Central is obviously an ATW station.

I fail to see why there would be ATW crew on a FGW service? I know the journey starts off in Wales but surely the company running the service should staff the train?

[Jim]

When im on a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) train half the time they dont even have anyone come around to check tickets especially on the 125 trains.  Even when I used the PMH-CDF^» (Cardiff - next trains) service between Newport and Cardiff at the weekend the ticket inspector didnt bother checking on my return journey.

On ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) though they almost always check tickets.

For your information the PMH-CDF Service is crewed by Arriva Wales staff, so prehaps they operate double standards??

Well the train I was on the staff member was in FGW uniform.  The people who come on to tidy the train after it terminates at Cardiff are ATW staff as Cardiff Central is obviously an ATW station.

I fail to see why there would be ATW crew on a FGW service? I know the journey starts off in Wales but surely the company running the service should staff the train?

Not when we contract them to do it no!

[Jez]

When im on a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) train half the time they dont even have anyone come around to check tickets especially on the 125 trains.  Even when I used the PMH-CDF^» (Cardiff - next trains) service between Newport and Cardiff at the weekend the ticket inspector didnt bother checking on my return journey.

On ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) though they almost always check tickets.

For your information the PMH-CDF Service is crewed by Arriva Wales staff, so prehaps they operate double standards??

Well the train I was on the staff member was in FGW uniform.  The people who come on to tidy the train after it terminates at Cardiff are ATW staff as Cardiff Central is obviously an ATW station.

I fail to see why there would be ATW crew on a FGW service? I know the journey starts off in Wales but surely the company running the service should staff the train?

Not when we contract them to do it no!

Everytime ive used the CDF-PMH service its been a FGW staff member im sure.

[Conner]

When im on a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) train half the time they dont even have anyone come around to check tickets especially on the 125 trains.  Even when I used the PMH-CDF^» (Cardiff - next trains) service between Newport and Cardiff at the weekend the ticket inspector didnt bother checking on my return journey.

On ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) though they almost always check tickets.

For your information the PMH-CDF Service is crewed by Arriva Wales staff, so prehaps they operate double standards??

Well the train I was on the staff member was in FGW uniform.  The people who come on to tidy the train after it terminates at Cardiff are ATW staff as Cardiff Central is obviously an ATW station.

I fail to see why there would be ATW crew on a FGW service? I know the journey starts off in Wales but surely the company running the service should staff the train?

Not when we contract them to do it no!

Everytime ive used the CDF-PMH service its been a FGW staff member im sure.

Quite likely, as Jim said they only about two a day.

[r james]

How did thesituation come about anyway that ATw crew a lot of FGW^▸ (First Great Western) services??  Surely when the franchises were created, they should have had a fair split of staff anyway?? 

[willc]

Surely when the franchises were created, they should have had a fair split of staff anyway??

Operational convenience and route knowledge have a lot to do with these type of arrangements between firms. On the Cotswold Line, for almost all of the time that Thames Trains ran the route, many of the Turbo services were driven by Central Trains drivers from Worcester, who had route and traction knowledge from BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) days, while the guards were Thames staff. I believe the arrangement only came to an end because Central was beefing up Worcester-Birmingham services and could no longer provide enough drivers.

In the case of services between South Wales and England, a lot of ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) staff have route knowledge dating from BR and Wales & West, so why not use it if they're available? Let's face it, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) doesn't exactly have staff coming out of its ears. Remember Christmas and New Year! I assume some of the new FGW recruits will be replacing bought-in ATW staff eventually.

[swlines]

Ah, now that's where discretion comes in Jim.

Yes, but as we have all found out - not all 'grippers' have it.

Sorry for being thick but what's a 'gripper'?

"Ticket Man"

Entirely off topic and a bump, but with the nature of the countries ticketing system I find it necessary to say (put it to the Action Man jingle) Ticket Man - the greatest super hero of them all!