Where should I start here? I guess the beginning is as good as anywhere....
....At no point when I buy a ticket from a TVM does it remind me I'm going to be subject to all sorts of ticketing and routing rules....
All TVMs at stations must have a sign on which states something along the lines of:
RAIL TRAVEL
Travel on the Train Company(s) trains is subject to the
National Conditions of Carriage. Unless otherwise stated, tickets may be used on any Train Company's services by any Permitted Route.
The names of the Train Companies, copies of the National Conditions of Carriage and details of the Permitted routes are available from a manned ticket office.
....nor have I EVER had a staff member at a ticket office remind me of such...
There must be a sign at every sales point that states:
RAIL TRAVEL
Travel on the Train Company(s) trains is subject to the
National Conditions of Carriage. Unless otherwise stated, tickets may be used on any Train Company's services by any Permitted Route.
The names of the Train Companies, copies of the National Conditions of Carriage and details of the Permitted routes are available from this ticket office.
....The only place it is done anywhere near properly is with online sales. There are also no signs as I walk from the car park to platform at my local station....
If you have a ticket you will have already had the opportunity to read the notice.
....Putting "Issued subject to..." on the back of a printed ticket is a bit late as very few would be passengers will have the time, ability or inclination to access all that stuff after they've bought a ticket and seen the back of a ticket as they rush towards a train....
The passenger's "time, ability or inclination to access all that stuff" is not strictly the railway's concern, however in the case of a passenger that cannot read the notices (i.e. a blind traveller), a train company should make them aware of what the notice says.
A passenger should arrive in good time for the train, they should not be running for a train under any circumstances.
....Ther's a very good likelihood that a passenger who is not rail wise will sooner or later end up making assumptions that could end up being expensive for them - or worse - especially when things are not quite normal or whatnthey expect.....
As my first employer was fond of saying to it's staff:
"To ASSUME makes an ASS out of U and ME"
and:
"The only stupid question is one that isn't asked"
Although personally I believe there is no such thing as a stupid question, just stupid people.
....However, clearly there is a matter of practicality - its not going to be possible to allow each passenger to read all the rules and regulations as they're standing at a ticket office or TVM - but none the less the method of selling and the lack of visibility and reminders that there are Ts&Cs is woefully inadequate.....
In your opinion.
....And it's not really helpful to suggest that customers should do research before they travel - like it or not rail is largely percived by the general public as a "just buy a ticket and get on" type of service much like buses (as opposed to flying where it's clear that some pre-planning and forethought is necessary especially when this change)....
Why should the railway not suggest people do some, frankly basic, research before they travel? People plan all sorts of journeys well before the time they travel, why are railways different? Also note that many of these people who "just buy a ticket and get on" frequently find out the train times before they set off.
....I doubt whether the industry has much incentive to sort things out though - by and large, the NRCoC and bye laws and routing guides (etc.) are designed to protect the TOCs interests and maximise their revenue at the expense of the ill informed or naive customer, and I believe it suits the industry (TOCs in particular) to have it that way as it creates an environment in which it is much more likely that they can generate extra revenue through penalties and excess fares.
The "ill informed or naive customer" should really look at what they are getting into. The railway cannot be held responsible for the actions of their passengers in this regard.