Daily Telegraph report about First Great Western and cheapest tickdys

[Starmill]

Sometimes ticket offices don't offer the cheapest ticket for immediate travel on the journey being made. I myself have been unwittingly sold an Anytime Day Return in the past when an Off-Peak Day Return would have been valid. That's a breach ultimately of a Franchise Agreement, and if the train company doesn't want to resolve it can be dealt with accordingly.

What The Telegraph are accusing First Great Western of doing seems to be very different, as they are clear their actions are thought not to break 'the law'. But they do mention that sometimes people get Anytime tickets when Off-Peak ones are valid. Occasionally, this will be because an Anytime is cheaper. On others they might havw become confused because no Off-Peak exists. I can't really tell from reading what's actactually going on and what agenda the paper really wants to push. The only thing I am sure of is that I am as glad as ever I don't buy The Telegraph.

 

[455driver]

In future if you ask for a ticket, FGW will automatically sell you an open return. If you want a day return you have to specifically ask for a tickdy.

Really?
Can you link to an official document stating that please.

 

[Greenback]

Mistakes can always be made, we are all only human, even me!

It's a bit of a stretch to say that FGW are deliberately charging passengers more. In my experience, the mistakes that I and my fellow clerks made were down to human error, borne from confusion or a simple misunderstanding rather than anything sinister.

 

[bnm]

Mistakes can always be made, we are all only human, even me!

It's a bit of a stretch to say that FGW are deliberately charging passengers more. In my experience, the mistakes that I and my fellow clerks made were down to human error, borne from confusion or a simple misunderstanding rather than anything sinister.

You forgot to mention poor training and ingrained incorrect practice. Both largely evident in my experience with FGW booking offices.

One recent example. I asked at one of FGWs larger stations for an Off Peak Day Return from a suburban Bristol station to London Waterloo. First I was offered a Off Peak Return to London Paddington and asked whether I had Oyster. Then when I specified the route I wished to take I was told no such ticket exists. "There are no day returns from Bristol to London unless you buy a Travelcard", I was told. A supervisor was called who reiterated what I'd been told. But added I could buy an Off Peak Return to Zone 1 via Paddington.

Some further to and fro and eventually I was sold the ticket I asked for. But not before I was told it was not valid for departure until 1000. Actually valid outward for arrival after 1000. Both the clerk and the supervisor seemed determined to sell Any Permitted fares, denying all knowledge of the cheaper route that met my original request.

 

[Greenback]

You forgot to mention poor training and ingrained incorrect practice. Both largely evident in my experience with FGW booking offices.

I thought I had mentioned poor training before in this thread, and I didn't want to repeat the same thing. Sorry if I was mistaken, and I put it somewhere else.

Ingrained incorrect practice is also a problem, and it;s one that is linked to poor training and the traditional culture of the railways, where too much reliance is based on what colleagues say rather than any original reference source. Such ill informed 'knowledge' was the bane of my life in Reading. Even otherwise excellent and pretty senior staff were infected by it in at least one area of their knowledge.

 

[bb21]

There is something very fishy about this article.

As for Clare Perry claiming that actions will be taken, I will believe it when I see it. Track record of the department does not fill me with confidence.

 

[martinsh]

In my experience (at Crewe) ...
If somebody asks for a ticket to Birmingham I would hardly expect them to ask: "Shall I sell you a ticket to Stafford plus a ticket from there to Birmingham, which will save you some money, but will require you to use a train which calls at Stafford which rules out two of the three hourly services in each direction?"

Actually rules out ONE of the three hourly services.

And even cheaper would be a ticket to Stafford requiring you to change at Stafford (a VTWC only ticket).

 

[Clip]

I thought I had mentioned poor training before in this thread, and I didn't want to repeat the same thing. Sorry if I was mistaken, and I put it somewhere else.

Ingrained incorrect practice is also a problem, and it;s one that is linked to poor training and the traditional culture of the railways, where too much reliance is based on what colleagues say rather than any original reference source. Such ill informed 'knowledge' was the bane of my life in Reading. Even otherwise excellent and pretty senior staff were infected by it in at least one area of their knowledge.

Yup, Ive had a few staff in my time on the railway who come out with 'Ive been here longer than you I know what im doing' to me when putting them through retraining. We cant sit over them all day long so we just have to try and manage them out the business and anyone with half a brain will know that that's very hard to do at times as people are wily and use all sorts of tricks.

 

[dgl]

When I went to Dawlish (from crewkerne) last year I was given split tickets by the clerk without even asking (return to Axminster then return from Axminster to Dawlish) Wondered why the price I was given was less than the online price. Saved about £7 and thought it was excellent service.

Also noticed it happening at Gillingham (Dorset) where off-peak restrictions mean splitting at Salisbury (where the time restriction has expired) makes sense.