Buying a ticket from the guard - how?

[1018509]

My wife was trying to buy a privilege day return to Christchurch from New Milton. The New Milton booking office was closed so she boarded the train and sought out the guard.

He didn't exactly refuse to take the fare or issue a ticket he just kept saying ok see you in Christchurch high street later, while dealing with other passengers.

The journey to Christchurch is only a few minutes so my wife left the train ticketless at her station and bought the correct return ticket at Christchurch's booking office.

What a way to run a railway?

 

[First class]

My wife was trying to buy a priviledge day return to Christchurch from New Milton. The New Milton booking office was closed so she boarded the train and sought out the guard.

He didn't exactly refuse to take the fare or issue a ticket he just kept saying ok see you in Christchurch high street later, while dealing with other passengers.

The journey to Christchurch is only a few minutes so my wife left the train ticketless at her station and bought the correct return ticket at Christchurch's booking office.

What a way to run a railway?

Hi, I'm a newbie, but correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you'll find he was giving her a free ride on her PRIV. He's tried to do her a favour.... bit of a wink and a nod

 

[34D]

Hi, I'm a newbie, but correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you'll find he was giving her a free ride on her PRIV. He's tried to do her a favour.... bit of a wink and a nod

Aye, but obviously wasted on the spouse of a staff member!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I know some staff don't like doing so, but he should have sold her a ticket if she requested it.

 

[Wyvern]

She still wanted to come home, so would have had to buy a ticket anyway?

(A single is usually much the same price as a CDR so she wouldn't be saving much? Though I dont know about priv rates)

 

[bb21]

(A single is usually much the same price as a CDR so she wouldn't be saving much? Though I dont know about priv rates)

Priv is only available with Anytime tickets so she will need an SDR and not CDR.

Edit: Full fare is £3.30 SDS, £3.50 CDR and £3.60 SDR so she wouldn't be saving much at all even with an SDR. A matter of 5p/10p on Priv I imagine.

 

[Flamingo]

Hi, I'm a newbie, but correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you'll find he was giving her a free ride on her PRIV. He's tried to do her a favour.... bit of a wink and a nod

Probably correct!

 

[All Line Rover]

Perhaps this is a better way of doing things?...

Staff: "How much is a PRIV return to Christchurch?"
Guard: "Zero pounds."
Staff: "Ah, I see they are doing a special offer. How kind."
Guard: "Yes, a special offer."

 

[tony_mac]

or...

Staff: "How much is a PRIV return to Christchurch?"
Guard: "Zero pounds."
Staff: "Oh no, I don't wish you to dishonestly deprive your employer of revenue, contrary to Section 4 of the Fraud Act 2006"
Guard: "Sorry, I misread the screen, it is ....."

 

[RJ]

or...

Staff: "How much is a PRIV return to Christchurch?"
Guard: "Zero pounds."
Staff: "Oh no, I don't wish you to dishonestly deprive your employer of revenue, contrary to Section 4 of the Fraud Act 2006"
Guard: "Sorry, I misread the screen, it is ....."

No crime would be committed. The passenger would not be in breach of the byelaws and intent to fare evade would be impossible to establish, if they attempted to buy a ticket with the means to pay in this particular circumstance.

 

[tony_mac]

It was meant somewhat tongue-in-cheek! Although if the guard is expected to safeguard revenue and chooses not to for his own personal reasons, without permission, then he is possibly on dangerous ground - theoretically, at least.

 

[1018509]

Priv is only available with Anytime tickets so she will need an SDR and not CDR.

Edit: Full fare is £3.30 SDS, £3.50 CDR and £3.60 SDR so she wouldn't be saving much at all even with an SDR. A matter of 5p/10p on Priv I imagine.

The Privilege Day Return price is 90 pence.

It may seem ok to some on here to accept a free ride but it is potentially putting my Privilege Ticket rights and my wife's at risk. We are not prepared to do this.

This "offer" was also made in front of full fare paying passengers.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

But the blame would lie with the Guard if caught out, not yourself or your wife.

 

[AlterEgo]

Oh please not the "free ride" debacle again...

 

[1018509]

I really don't understand the present posters on this thread.

Most of them seem to think it's ok to travel without a ticket. Why?

 

[AlterEgo]

I really don't understand the present posters on this thread.

Most of them seem to think it's ok to travel without a ticket. Why?

It is okay, if the guard or another authorised person allows permission. There are many circumstances where passengers can travel without a valid ticket, or without having bought a ticket.

However, as a member of staff with Priv, I will always have my fare ready and offer to pay. If the guard doesn't want to take it, then that's fine and not my problem. I will always offer to assist where I practicably can if there is an incident (and have had to do so twice this year).

 

[harz99]

If the guard doesn't want to take it, then that's fine and not my problem.

I can think of at least 3 reasons why it might become your problem;

1. You are exiting at a station with physical barriers or a barrier check by RPIs

2. The train you are travelling on has a subsequent RPI check in the course of your journey.

3. The guard changes over during your journey, and the relieving one does a full ticket check and doesn't take the same attitude towards revenue protection as his/her predeccessor.

 

[1018509]

Otherr than the guard's ticket issuing machine becoming unavailable/unusable I can think of no instance why a ticket can't be issued.

Do RPI's ever travel incognito to check on revenue collecting staff?

 

[wintonian]

Do RPI's ever travel incognito to check on revenue collecting staff?

I'm not sure of they could do there duty's is they were incognito but I suspect they appear unannounced sometimes.

 

[HYPODERMIC]

I'm not sure of they could do there duty's is they were incognito but I suspect they appear unannounced sometimes.

I dunno about National Rail, but you do sometimes get plainclothes RPIs on the Manchester Metrolink. They sit apart from each other and then between stations they stand up and announce their business.

It's quite sneaky really! The first time I ever saw a plainclothes inspection I was a bit taken aback by the deviousness of it, but the inspectors themselves were friendly and wore ID cards. It's an excellent idea and I hope they do it more often.

 

[wintonian]

I dunno about National Rail, but you do sometimes get plainclothes RPIs on the Manchester Metrolink. They sit apart from each other and then between stations they stand up and announce their business.

It's quite sneaky really! The first time I ever saw a plainclothes inspection I was a bit taken aback by the deviousness of it, but the inspectors themselves were friendly and wore ID cards. It's an excellent idea and I hope they do it more often.

I don't see how they could observe much without following the guard around and looking like really odd nosey people.

 

[Flamingo]

I don't see how they could observe much without following the guard around and looking like really odd nosey people.

And then we'd be wondering which rail magazine they worked for...