gray1404
Established Member
I've just had my ticket checked by the guard on Merseyrail. Why? It seems pointless given they are not revenue trained so anyone without a ticket could not be sold one or issued with a penalty fare.
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Ticket Check on Merseyrail by Guard
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RailUK Forums
Intermodal
Established Member
Probably bored. I bet they thought, I wonder if anyone will post on RailUK if I go and check tickets when we don't usually do it.
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Y Ddraig Coch
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They do check them every now and then. Maybe if the RPI's are out and about on that line somewhere else and the guard can get them to his location if needed via a phone call maybe?
Out of interest, does anyone know when they stopped selling tickets? I seem to remember being able to buy a ticket on merseyrail as a child, it was just hand written on a pad.
gray1404
Established Member
A passenger without a ticket was asked why they didn't have one. Guard told them to get off at the next station. Passenger refused on basis they're happy to buy one either there or when they get off. Guard insisted, the passenger told him where to go (swearing in the process).
Conflict avoidance is best. I had read that Merseyrail has some plain clothed revenue protection/enforcement officers now. The whole culture on Merseyrail has become very militant.
Conflict avoidance is best. I had read that Merseyrail has some plain clothed revenue protection/enforcement officers now. The whole culture on Merseyrail has become very militant.
NoMorePacers
Established Member
I had one on Saturday coming back from West Kirby. The guard on both journey legs also went to the front of the train to operate the doors between there and Bidston.
JBuchananGB
Member
Me too. Maybe same one. On 2S30 the 1321 Hunts Cross to Southport. So what?
If the passenger has a legitimate reason (e.g. the required ticket is not available from the machine, or the desired payment method is not accepted) this must of course be accepted and the passenger not inconvenienced; if so then there is no real issue.
However if the passenger has no valid reason, and refuses to alight, the best thing to do is not to get into an argument with them but to contact Control and arrange for revenue staff or police to meet the train if possible.
However if the passenger has no valid reason, and refuses to alight, the best thing to do is not to get into an argument with them but to contact Control and arrange for revenue staff or police to meet the train if possible.
156420
Member
We’ve literally just had this thread earlier today (albeit now locked)
http://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/guards-always-a-supporter-but-losing-respect.194749/
So it begs the question what do you actually want?
Guard present within the train doing door duties and ticket checks, but even this manages to outrage some.
Just shows how fickle this forum is.
http://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/guards-always-a-supporter-but-losing-respect.194749/
So it begs the question what do you actually want?
Guard present within the train doing door duties and ticket checks, but even this manages to outrage some.
Just shows how fickle this forum is.
I think most passengers wants a staff who is visible within the passenger area of the train, who is friendly, approachable, helpful, and where the issuing/checking of tickets does not cause a delay for the doors to open when the train calls at a station. Most passengers do not mind if the person who they see on the train is a TTI, OBM, OBS or a Guard as long as they are visible, approachable and helpful.
I do not see any evidence that anyone is "outraged" by anything?
The "forum" does not have a "view" as it is a collection of contributions made by a wide range of contributors.
There will be people who are regular commuters, occasional passengers, enthusiasts, and people who work within or for the industry. Obviously such a wide group of people is going to have a wide range of views, and of course anyone who does any job they enjoy is going to be reluctant for that job description to change; that's only human nature and I do feel for people in that situation.
Being exposed to a wide range of views does not equate to anyone being "fickle".
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
I think that probably sums it up. Indeed, given that a Southern OBS operates the key at every station, laypeople may well be forgiven for thinking that that key actually operates the doors. Or that LNR is already "fully" DOO, given how rarely you actually see a guard south of Northampton.
bb21
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Asking for tickets is not just about revenue, it's about presence, reinforcing a message, and often just being there and making that announcement will be sufficient to deter some opportunist fare evaders, for example.
I don't need a ticket machine to ask to check tickets in First Class, for example. Often all I wanted to achieve is to see those people who hastily depart from First Class travel in the class of accommodation they paid for. In the unlikely event that someone offers to pay the upgrade (which I have not yet encountered) and I didn't have a ticket machine, fair play they can have a free ride.
Exactly. And if all staff did this, there would be far fewer chancers, thus making it easier on those that do these checks.
Again completely agree. If someone gives some invalid reason why they think they should be there, then send them back to Standard. If someone asks to pay the upgrade then that's just their good luck that it can't be issued. I've had that happen to me occasionally.
Kite159
Veteran Member
Or on a LNER service recently, after checking tickets and finding a group of three wanting to upgrade, the guard returned 15 minutes later with the machine to take the payment from said group.
(Nonstop York - London service)
JBuchananGB
Member
On same train when guard checked tickets a couple of uniformed individuals wearing stab vests and body-worn cameras came through with labels describing themselves as "Byelaw Enforcement Officers". I was expecting them to ask for tickets but they didn't. I don't know what they are enforcing.
Kite159
Veteran Member
Maybe on the watch out for Feet on seat?
Er, breaches of the byelaws presumably.
Of which not having a valid ticket to travel is one.
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