Passengers who don't speak English, and ticket checks

[trainophile]

I was on a TPE in 1st a couple of days ago, and two youngish women got on and sat opposite me. They spoke some sort of foreign language through their entire journey, and were dressed in a non-British style.

The Guard came through, asking for tickets from Leeds, and they didn't even react, let alone show their tickets. He wasn't hanging around so they didn't have their tickets checked, and they got off at York. They were, however, offered refreshments by the trolley host, but declined by shaking their heads.

Now, I am quite happy to believe they did have 1st Class tickets, even though no tickets of any sort were in evidence, but it made me think about the potential for people travelling either ticketless or in the wrong part of the train, by virtue of not understanding the system or the request for tickets on inspection.

I must admit a few :roll: looks went around the carriage when the other passengers realised that these ladies had not had their tickets checked. They probably wouldn't even have realised they were in 1st Class, if they had no grasp of English at all.

Very difficult to write a post like this without coming across as racist, and I thought long and hard before doing so. If it is deemed offensive please could a moderator delete it.

 

[Clip]

Youd be surprised how many those who claim to speak no English actually do when a higher authority gets involved.

Look at it from the guards view - do they stand there trying all manner of things with these two or does he get on and check the rest of the tickets and perform their duties just to get on with the job?

 

[matt_world2004]

If the guard was not pressed for time he could have held a ticket as a visual example. Although if I was a passenger in the carriage and they were using a fake language barrier to be rude or obstructive I would have asked Siri in a very loud voice what is the constituent language of England

 

[najaB]

Very difficult to write a post like this without coming across as racist, and I thought long and hard before doing so. If it is deemed offensive please could a moderator delete it.

I read it as a statement of facts, with no racist overtones.

 

[trainophile]

Oh I don't think they were playing at not understanding English, they seemed genuine enough.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I read it as a statement of facts, with no racist overtones.

Thank you, that was my intention.

 

[CommuterPigeon]

I was on a long distance service into London the other day which had two foreign passengers on who did not speak much English. They did present their tickets when asked and it turned out they were travelling on advanced tickets for a different train. The train guard politely and clearly attempted to explain that normally she would have to charge them for new tickets but instead advised that they in future should only travel on the time it said on the ticket.

I am not sure they fully understood but after the guard left they conversed with each other and studied their tickets closely. It did make me consider that for non-English speaking tourists our ticketing system must be pretty complex and very easy to make a mistake with if you try to be independent and book tickets yourself.

 

[sd0733]

The 'no English' card is played regularly. Had one a few weeks ago with his head buried in the news paper reading it and then when asked for a ticket 'no speak English'. Told him I'd write it down as he could clearly read it to be able to read the british paper. He suddenly understood perfectly after a few minutes and the word Police was mentioned.
Another one I found was going on a bit long so I said I'd come back, as I walked back past I said 'excuse me I think some money has dropped out your pocket' he turned straight round and looks on the floor for his money.... you do speak English then , what a surprise! It's an old old trick! Maybe some really don't but they know what you're there for.
To be fair though I am always a little more lenient with tourist looking passengers on advances, 1st class or operator only tickets as it must be hard to understand if you're not at all used to it, especially when Americans are 12 hours out on their advances in the states that they say don't use 24 hour clocks.

 

[sheff1]

The Guard came through, asking for tickets from Leeds, and they didn't even react, let alone show their tickets. He wasn't hanging around so they didn't have their tickets checked, and they got off at York.

I have witnessed many people who do speak English being so engrossed in conversation or work that they have not reacted when a guard has come through asking for tickets. In some cases the guard has continued, in others they have attracted the passengers attention and tickets have been produced.

 

[fowler9]

Never came across as racist mate. I may use it myself though. Ha ha. (I won't really, only kidding).

 

[headshot119]

I was on a TPE in 1st a couple of days ago, and two youngish women got on and sat opposite me. They spoke some sort of foreign language through their entire journey, and were dressed in a non-British style.

The Guard came through, asking for tickets from Leeds, and they didn't even react, let alone show their tickets. He wasn't hanging around so they didn't have their tickets checked, and they got off at York. They were, however, offered refreshments by the trolley host, but declined by shaking their heads.

Now, I am quite happy to believe they did have 1st Class tickets, even though no tickets of any sort were in evidence, but it made me think about the potential for people travelling either ticketless or in the wrong part of the train, by virtue of not understanding the system or the request for tickets on inspection.

I must admit a few :roll: looks went around the carriage when the other passengers realised that these ladies had not had their tickets checked. They probably wouldn't even have realised they were in 1st Class, if they had no grasp of English at all.

Very difficult to write a post like this without coming across as racist, and I thought long and hard before doing so. If it is deemed offensive please could a moderator delete it.

Firstly I don't feel there where any racist tones in your post at all!

I read your post and then considered some of my recent European travels, now when I travel on compartment stock, the door slides open and there's a member of staff in uniform I'm fairly certain they want to see my ticket. (If it's a police officer with one hand on her MP5 I'm fairly sure she wants my passport ).

But when I'm sat in airline seating in an open carriage, and I'm not asked in English for a ticket, I'm completely unsure of what is being asked of me if I don't know the local language. Only once a guard has just skipped past me and not bothered to check my ticket when I looked blankly at them.

 

[dk1]

I have no patience with them whatsoever.

 

[sheff1]

I read your post and then considered some of my recent European travels, now when I travel on compartment stock, the door slides open and there's a member of staff in uniform I'm fairly certain they want to see my ticket.

But then when you stand up to get your ticket from your coat it turns out that what they were actually asking is whether you would like to make a reservation for dinner !

Happened to me in Sweden (although not recently)

 

[Llanigraham]

I have no patience with them whatsoever.

Are you totally fluent in that country's language when you go abroad, enough to deal with idiosyncratic rail ticketing queries?

 

[RichmondCommu]

I was on a TPE in 1st a couple of days ago, and two youngish women got on and sat opposite me. They spoke some sort of foreign language through their entire journey, and were dressed in a non-British style.

Just out of interest can you describe their "non-British style"?

 

[route:oxford]

I was on a TPE in 1st a couple of days ago, and two youngish women got on and sat opposite me. They spoke some sort of foreign language through their entire journey, and were dressed in a non-British style.

non-British style...

Northern Ireland style speaking Irish Gaelic?
Isle of Man style speaking Manx?

I have a cousin who is based in Perth who speaks fluent Gaelic. His view is that every station that has Gaelic signage should allow him to board a train with a comprehensive service in Gaelic.

This doesn't seem unreasonable...

So he boards the train and will converse only in Gaelic - now sometimes, the ontrain crew can speak the language...

But more often than not, the ontrain crew give up with the dead-language jibber-jabber and he gets a free ride.

 

[trainophile]

Just out of interest can you describe their "non-British style"?

Full Indian ensemble, layered and all very floaty and floor length. Silk scarves over their heads. Facial decorations, (not tattoos!).

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Just out of interest can you describe their "non-British style"?

 

[trainophile]

Oh very good. But those are men, these were women.

I feel I am being drawn into writing something that could be misconstrued here!

 

[route:oxford]

Oh very good. But those are men, these were women.

I feel I am being drawn into writing something that could be misconstrued here!

http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/uncate...omen-fighting-to-preserve-their-culture-53682

 

[Robertj21a]

Full Indian ensemble, layered and all very floaty and floor length. Silk scarves over their heads. Facial decorations, (not tattoos!).

So, just Indians - most of whom can speak English.

 

[J-2739]

So, just Indians - most of whom can speak English.

Some of which wear 'normal clothes'!

(I'm not calling you racist, OP)

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Oh very good. But those are men, these were women.

I feel I am being drawn into writing something that could be misconstrued here!

Are you assuming their gender...? #21stCenturyproblems

 

[306024]

As someone who speaks only English (plus very basic French and a small understanding of German) I rely heavily on the Google translate app on my phone for many foreign travels. These days the technology is there to help communicate in any language if you are persistent enough.

The only language that is impossible to fully understand is indeed that of 'idiosyncratic rail ticketing'.

 

[Kendalian]

As someone who speaks only English (plus very basic French and a small understanding of German) I rely heavily on the Google translate app on my phone for many foreign travels. These days the technology is there to help communicate in any language if you are persistent enough.

The only language that is impossible to fully understand is indeed that of 'idiosyncratic rail ticketing'.

Yes. Good luck explaining to a non-English speaker why it costs vastly more to travel on the same train from Preston to London than from Lancaster.

Something about a private monopoly; making the rules up as you go along and paying for a Caribbean island :roll:

 

[dk1]

Are you totally fluent in that country's language when you go abroad, enough to deal with idiosyncratic rail ticketing queries?

I've heard it so so many times. They constantly try it on & it's so so obvious. No I do not end up in that situation abroad. I do my homework & I am extremely honest. It's what sets me apart.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I have no patience with them whatsoever.

Put yourself on a train in Hungary or somewhere else with an impenetrable language, with train crew who don't speak English, and unsure what the ticket etiquette is, and see what it feels like.
The Brits (and Americans) have this attitude that everyone must speak the language.
We are very lucky that most tourists speak at least some English as a second language.

 

[dk1]

Put yourself on a train in Hungary or somewhere else with an impenetrable language, with train crew who don't speak English, and unsure what the ticket etiquette is, and see what it feels like.
The Brits (and Americans) have this attitude that everyone must speak the language.
We are very lucky that most tourists speak at least some English as a second language.

Agreed but as I've said, most here that I have encountered over years & years are just fare evaders trying it on unlike Brits & Americans who book, plan & pay in advance.

 

[route:oxford]

I've heard it so so many times. They constantly try it on & it's so so obvious. No I do not end up in that situation abroad. I do my homework & I am extremely honest. It's what sets me apart.

Even if you do your homework, things can go a bit wrong.

A key one in the USA is the use of the ZIP code as a form of PIN for credit card transactions at ticket vending machines.

It's not helpful when sometimes it's "00000" for international cards, or sometimes the numeric digits from your postcode with leadings zeros or sometimes neither works.

And definitely unhelpful when there are vigorous warning signs about boarding trains without a ticket.

 

[najaB]

Very difficult to write a post like this without coming across as racist, and I thought long and hard before doing so. If it is deemed offensive please could a moderator delete it.

You don't need to worry about sounding racist - this sounds racist:

Agreed but as I've said, most here that I have encountered over years & years are just fare evaders trying it on unlike Brits & Americans who book, plan & pay in advance.

 

[dk1]

You don't need to worry about sounding racist - this sounds racist:

What absolute tosh. Referring to the question posted :roll: