FGW approach to checking of tickets

[whole diary]

[Jim]

Well, I went on 5 HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s yesterday and got checked once
I went on 2 Local Units yesterday and got checked twice!

[Conner]

Well, I went on 5 HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s yesterday and got checked once
I went on 2 Local Units yesterday and got checked twice!

I went on 6 local units and got checked 5 times.
I went on 7 HST's and got checked 4 times.

[Jim]

Well, I went on 5 HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s yesterday and got checked once
I went on 2 Local Units yesterday and got checked twice!

I went on 6 local units and got checked 5 times.
I went on 7 HST's and got checked 4 times.

Bit of a 'mega bash' so to speak there wasn't it?

[Conner]

Well, I went on 5 HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s yesterday and got checked once
I went on 2 Local Units yesterday and got checked twice!

I went on 6 local units and got checked 5 times.
I went on 7 HST's and got checked 4 times.

Bit of a 'mega bash' so to speak there wasn't it?

Stuck in Cornwall.

[Mookiemoo]

17:09 Newport to Paddington ......... nota single check so far and no sign the TM^‡(resolve) is in any hurry to do one

[devon_metro]

Don't expect miracles at that time of day.

The only time TMs^‡(resolve) do ticket checks is when the train is actually busy - but not wedged in order to 'ching' as many people as possible.

[Shazz]

I've actually had my tickets checked recently, shock horror! (for the first time in a year)

[vacman]

Of course, to explain what the Train Managers's job is to those of you who think that they are a ticket inspector that blows a whistle every so often...

The train guard has got many tasks to perform, and the safe running of the train is their main one. Ticket checking is not the priority - or even 2nd or 3rd in line. It's what gets done after the train is safely dispatched from the station, passenger information is given, issues concerning passengers that boarded are sorted, seeing where the wheelchair-bound are going & arranging assistance at their destination, telling the yanks with 4 huge cases thay can't block the asile with them, sorting out occupied seats for passengers with reservations, answering bone questions about what time we get to Bath, listening to whinges about the train being late two days ago or "why wasn't I told by platform staff this is not the Newbury train", asking control to hold connections if we are late, finding out why we are late, even when we are on time having to tell passengers we are on time, it's their watch that is wrong, and then, if there is time before the next stop, checking a few tickets...

Of course, I COULD do a full ticket check before unlocking the doors ar each station, or just unlock one door and then check everybodys ticket before boarding - all those in favour say "Aye"...

On the run from Bristol to London, I personally try to check tickets as often as possible.  With approx 15 minutes between stops, I can get 2 carriages done between stops if they are full, and I am working hard to do that.  And that is just checking - sorting out selling tickets, or answering bone questions about connections that idiots should have found out before getting on the train in the first place (conditions of carriage, it is up to YOU to ensure you have the journey details before starting the journey - and how the hell should I know the numbers of a bus routes in Oxford, to quote one dumb-ass question I was asked last week), and it slows it down further.

And just to defend the new TM^‡(resolve)'s in Bristol and Padd, they do check tickets, and they have been put out to work as otherwise trains would be getting cancelled due to no train managers at all - better a train with some fare dodgers than no train at all.

What there needs to be is more Revenue Inspectors, but they will only hunt in pairs or trios, meaning even less trains are covered by them.

I don't think anyone is doubting that the TM's have a lot to do, but there are a lot of TM's in the Westcountry who spend their entire turn sat in "F" not doing any of the above! I know, I work on HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s sometimes and see it for myself!

[devon_metro]

It certainly is the case, i've been sat in F whilst the TM^‡(resolve) and his ticket inspector occupied a table from Bodmin - Newquay and return!

He even left his door in coach F open when closing a door in standard at Par and hence delaying a train that miraculously made it from Newquay - Par on time!

[John R]

I boarded a Bristol bound train at Nailsea on Saturday, without having purchased a ticket as I needed a GroupSave. The TM^‡(resolve) closed the doors and went straight into the rear cab for the rest of the journey. Although I would have been OK as the ticket I wanted was not available from the machine, it occurred to me as I queued for 15 minutes at the barrier at TM that when penalty fare collectors start appearing (have they?), FGW^▸ (First Great Western) do make it difficult for you to buy a ticket sometimes.

Interestingly tickets purchased at barriers now state on the back that you would have got a penalty fare if a penalty fare collector had been on the train.

   

[Jim]

I boarded a Bristol bound train at Nailsea on Saturday, without having purchased a ticket as I needed a GroupSave. The TM^‡(resolve) closed the doors and went straight into the rear cab for the rest of the journey. Although I would have been OK as the ticket I wanted was not available from the machine, it occurred to me as I queued for 15 minutes at the barrier at TM that when penalty fare collectors start appearing (have they?), FGW^▸ (First Great Western) do make it difficult for you to buy a ticket sometimes.

Interestingly tickets purchased at barriers now state on the back that you would have got a penalty fare if a penalty fare collector had been on the train.

   

Standard Avantix^▸ (Ticket Issuing System used on board trains) Ticket roll ATM^‡(resolve). RSP 9299/PEN

[Tickets Please]

Of course, to explain what the Train Managers's job is to those of you who think that they are a ticket inspector that blows a whistle every so often...

The train guard has got many tasks to perform, and the safe running of the train is their main one. Ticket checking is not the priority - or even 2nd or 3rd in line. It's what gets done after the train is safely dispatched from the station, passenger information is given, issues concerning passengers that boarded are sorted, seeing where the wheelchair-bound are going & arranging assistance at their destination, telling the yanks with 4 huge cases thay can't block the asile with them, sorting out occupied seats for passengers with reservations, answering bone questions about what time we get to Bath, listening to whinges about the train being late two days ago or "why wasn't I told by platform staff this is not the Newbury train", asking control to hold connections if we are late, finding out why we are late, even when we are on time having to tell passengers we are on time, it's their watch that is wrong, and then, if there is time before the next stop, checking a few tickets...

Of course, I COULD do a full ticket check before unlocking the doors ar each station, or just unlock one door and then check everybodys ticket before boarding - all those in favour say "Aye"...

On the run from Bristol to London, I personally try to check tickets as often as possible.  With approx 15 minutes between stops, I can get 2 carriages done between stops if they are full, and I am working hard to do that.  And that is just checking - sorting out selling tickets, or answering bone questions about connections that idiots should have found out before getting on the train in the first place (conditions of carriage, it is up to YOU to ensure you have the journey details before starting the journey - and how the hell should I know the numbers of a bus routes in Oxford, to quote one dumb-ass question I was asked last week), and it slows it down further.

And just to defend the new TM^‡(resolve)'s in Bristol and Padd, they do check tickets, and they have been put out to work as otherwise trains would be getting cancelled due to no train managers at all - better a train with some fare dodgers than no train at all.

What there needs to be is more Revenue Inspectors, but they will only hunt in pairs or trios, meaning even less trains are covered by them.

I don't think anyone is doubting that the TM's have a lot to do, but there are a lot of TM's in the Westcountry who spend their entire turn sat in "F" not doing any of the above! I know, I work on HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s sometimes and see it for myself!

you 'work' on HST's - what do you do then?

[vacman]

Of course, to explain what the Train Managers's job is to those of you who think that they are a ticket inspector that blows a whistle every so often...

The train guard has got many tasks to perform, and the safe running of the train is their main one. Ticket checking is not the priority - or even 2nd or 3rd in line. It's what gets done after the train is safely dispatched from the station, passenger information is given, issues concerning passengers that boarded are sorted, seeing where the wheelchair-bound are going & arranging assistance at their destination, telling the yanks with 4 huge cases thay can't block the asile with them, sorting out occupied seats for passengers with reservations, answering bone questions about what time we get to Bath, listening to whinges about the train being late two days ago or "why wasn't I told by platform staff this is not the Newbury train", asking control to hold connections if we are late, finding out why we are late, even when we are on time having to tell passengers we are on time, it's their watch that is wrong, and then, if there is time before the next stop, checking a few tickets...

Of course, I COULD do a full ticket check before unlocking the doors ar each station, or just unlock one door and then check everybodys ticket before boarding - all those in favour say "Aye"...

On the run from Bristol to London, I personally try to check tickets as often as possible.  With approx 15 minutes between stops, I can get 2 carriages done between stops if they are full, and I am working hard to do that.  And that is just checking - sorting out selling tickets, or answering bone questions about connections that idiots should have found out before getting on the train in the first place (conditions of carriage, it is up to YOU to ensure you have the journey details before starting the journey - and how the hell should I know the numbers of a bus routes in Oxford, to quote one dumb-ass question I was asked last week), and it slows it down further.

And just to defend the new TM^‡(resolve)'s in Bristol and Padd, they do check tickets, and they have been put out to work as otherwise trains would be getting cancelled due to no train managers at all - better a train with some fare dodgers than no train at all.

What there needs to be is more Revenue Inspectors, but they will only hunt in pairs or trios, meaning even less trains are covered by them.

I don't think anyone is doubting that the TM's have a lot to do, but there are a lot of TM's in the Westcountry who spend their entire turn sat in "F" not doing any of the above! I know, I work on HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s sometimes and see it for myself!

you 'work' on HST's - what do you do then?

Without giving too much away, part of my job involves checking tickets, I can't say too much because I can be in trouble if my managers find out that i'm on this forum and I don't wan't them to find out who I am! If you travel by train a lot anywhere between Bristol/Reading/Exeter/Plymouth then you've probably met me. I've said too much!!

[BandHcommuter]

On the run from Bristol to London, I personally try to check tickets as often as possible.  With approx 15 minutes between stops, I can get 2 carriages done between stops if they are full, and I am working hard to do that.  And that is just checking - sorting out selling tickets, or answering bone questions about connections that idiots should have found out before getting on the train in the first place (conditions of carriage, it is up to YOU to ensure you have the journey details before starting the journey - and how the hell should I know the numbers of a bus routes in Oxford, to quote one dumb-ass question I was asked last week), and it slows it down further.

And just to defend the new TM^‡(resolve)'s in Bristol and Padd, they do check tickets, and they have been put out to work as otherwise trains would be getting cancelled due to no train managers at all - better a train with some fare dodgers than no train at all.

What there needs to be is more Revenue Inspectors, but they will only hunt in pairs or trios, meaning even less trains are covered by them.

On the train I most frequently travel home on (1806 from Paddington, which leaves from an ungated platform) I am only guaranteed a ticket check if one particular conductor happens to be on duty. Interestingly, it is the same conductor who is visibly available to passengers on the platform before departure, who makes helpful announcements about ticket validity before the train leaves, and who will walk through a fairly crowded train on departure to check everyone is OK. It may even be you, flamingo! The point is that some train crew seem to embrace their full range of duties with the customer at front of mind, whereas others limit themselves to the operational and safety-related elements of their role. I wonder if FGW^▸ (First Great Western) undertake mystery shopper surveys to measure consistency of service quality on train?

[smokey]

It's not just FGW^▸ (First Great Western), back in the old days of Virgin Cross Country (well last Month) I remember well traveling from Edinburgh to Bodmin Parkway, journey time LONG total ticket checks NIL get the picture?