conductor question

[387star]

Hi how do they segregate coins and do they have a set amount of money plus what happens if they run out?

 

[seagull]

I'd imagine each company is slightly different, but the norm is that a conductor would start the day with a 'float' amount of change, usually not segregated as such as it would make for a very unwieldy piece of equipment to carry round, so all just lumped together in a bag.
If the conductor runs out of change during the day, most ticket/cash offices at stations can help out.

Interestingly, when strictly applied, the only 'legal tender' for a transaction is the exact amount needed: I quote "In order to comply with the very strict rules governing an actual legal tender it is necessary, for example, actually to offer the exact amount due because no change can be demanded."
So if a ticket is sold for, say, £3.75, and the money proferred is a £5 note, and the guard has no change, it is legal for the guard to refuse to give change. The passenger can either a) pay the correct amount or b) pay over the amount in the knowledge of having no change back, as some vending machines do or c) refuse to enter the contract, i.e leave the train and not purchase the service.

So taking a £20 note onto a train knowing you are about to buy a £2 ticket is not a good way of getting a free ride - if the conductor knows the law, anyway
Of course that's also not a good excuse for a conductor to neglect carrying an appropriate amount of change around with them - the company would be very soon jumping on them if the 'tender rule' was applied very often.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

at our depot we have a £40 float, normally 4 x £5 13 x £1 the rest 50p/20p/10p/5p pretty similar across the network I would think if we run out we tell our retail and ask for card payments or exact money it doesn't happen very often though

 

[Anon Mouse]

I have a float which I got at the start of my service and signed for and if I leave company service I will need to give it back.

I keep my float with me, but some depots hand their float in at the end of the day. As for segregating cash, durning my shift I have silver in my left pocket and £1/£2 in my right and notes in my breast pocket however we are issied with bum bags, but I hate using them.

I have twice had people offering £50 for very short journies. The first time it happened the passenger 'found' the right money when I told her the change would all be in silver, the second time the guy insisted it was all he had and I had no choice but to give him all his change in shrapnel

 

[strange6]

I have a float which I got at the start of my service and signed for and if I leave company service I will need to give it back.

I keep my float with me, but some depots hand their float in at the end of the day. As for segregating cash, durning my shift I have silver in my left pocket and £1/£2 in my right and notes in my breast pocket however we are issied with bum bags, but I hate using them.

I have twice had people offering £50 for very short journies. The first time it happened the passenger 'found' the right money when I told her the change would all be in silver, the second time the guy insisted it was all he had and I had no choice but to give him all his change in shrapnel

hahaha that'll teach him. If I ever get on at an unmanned station, I always make sure I have the correct fare in my hand. I'm sure some guards appreciate this with the instant thanks that I'm given when they see the cash

 

[Fincra5]

We get a float, we also have the option to issue short change vouchers (always good for £50s on short journeys).

 

[DaveNewcastle]

It surely helps to be working a service with a catering crew (even if its just one person). Then there's two 'tills' of change to call on when change is running low.

A guard came up to me a few days ago asking if I would change a note, so I guess if there's no change in catering then passengers may be able to oblige.

 

[Bellwater]

So taking a £20 note onto a train knowing you are about to buy a £2 ticket is not a good way of getting a free ride - if the conductor knows the law, anyway

The Kiddies usually try that one. they then get £18 in pound coins or smaller

 

[Scotrail84]

The Kiddies usually try that one.



Pain in the arse when everyones got 10s and 20 notes

 

[Ferret]

It surely helps to be working a service with a catering crew (even if its just one person). Then there's two 'tills' of change to call on when change is running low.

A guard came up to me a few days ago asking if I would change a note, so I guess if there's no change in catering then passengers may be able to oblige.

Haha, you'd be surprised how often pax can come to the rescue when change runs low. Handy people to have on board the train....

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

Haha, you'd be surprised how often pax can come to the rescue when change runs low. Handy people to have on board the train....

Indeed, I remember a few years ago a Northern guard had ran out of change and had £10s and £20s left, and so came over the tannoy. He told people with change for these to put their hands up, pretty much the whole train had their hand up - talk about returning to school!

 

[Ferret]

Indeed, I remember a few years ago a Northern guard had ran out of change and had £10s and £20s left, and so came over the tannoy. He told people with change for these to put their hands up, pretty much the whole train had their hand up - talk about returning to school!

Some time ago, I recall a group of football fans were travelling off to Nottingham each with 20 pound notes. I was stuffed for change but even I hadn't banked on Mrs Kindoldlady who had a 'bankfull' of the stuff in her purse. After they got off, she stopped me to say that before I'd gone in the carriage, they had been bragging about all having 20 pound notes ready and they'd get away with paying their fare because the guard won't have the change. She signed off with (and I quote!) 'No way were the so and sos going to bloody well get away with that'. After I'd finished laughing my backside off, I thanked her very much and awarded her a free cuppa from the buffet!

 

[Welshman]

Some time ago, I recall a group of football fans were travelling off to Nottingham each with 20 pound notes. I was stuffed for change but even I hadn't banked on Mrs Kindoldlady who had a 'bankfull' of the stuff in her purse. After they got off, she stopped me to say that before I'd gone in the carriage, they had been bragging about all having 20 pound notes ready and they'd get away with paying their fare because the guard won't have the change. She signed off with (and I quote!) 'No way were the so and sos going to bloody well get away with that'. After I'd finished laughing my backside off, I thanked her very much and awarded her a free cuppa from the buffet!

Good for you!
Pensioner Power to the rescue!!

 

[185]

£30 float a day and jolly big pockets.

Time to read a book in the back when you run out.

Besides. I'm not having a bumbag cramping my style

 

[Nym]

You don't have a beard and tend to like working the 110:59 or 00:01 off the airport do you? Is the only conductor I've seen on that network that doesn't use a bumbag...

 

[Scotrail84]

£30 float a day and jolly big pockets.

Time to read a book in the back when you run out.
Besides. I'm not having a bumbag cramping my style

Tut Tut

I dont use them either . Pockets all the way for me. I also refuse to use the trolley kit bags. I use the old brown leather one with a old BR bardic and a padlock on the strap. Olsd School

 

[185]

Nah for ten years was on the Eastern side. Liv-Manc-Yrk. Seldom worked Blackpools (and if I did, usually stayed in the back, valuing my life).

 

[scotsman]

Tut Tut

I dont use them either . Pockets all the way for me. I also refuse to use the trolley kit bags. I use the old brown leather one with a old BR bardic and a padlock on the strap. Olsd School

I've seen you about Waverley then!

 

[Scotrail84]

I've seen you about Waverley then!

How do you know mate? Im not the only one with a brown leather kit bag. Every chance you may have. Where do you travel to mostly?

 

[Nym]

Nah for ten years was on the Eastern side. Liv-Manc-Yrk. Seldom worked Blackpools (and if I did, usually stayed in the back, valuing my life).

Oi, I used to have to sit in the carrage on them (granted usually in 1st class) but still, this guy still always did full ticket checks though, yes, he's brave

 

[185]

I did full checks on all the eastern night services, but I think the last one up to Bolton required a different class of lunatic guard. I know who your on about btw... nice guy but he is somewhat bonkers, based at Blackpool.

 

[Nym]

He likes working them diagrams, he must be a nutter...

 

[scotsman]

How do you know mate? Im not the only one with a brown leather kit bag. Every chance you may have. Where do you travel to mostly?

Fife, but I can honestly say I've only ever seen one guy with a brown leather kit bag with a BR bardic strapped on the side!

 

[Nym]

Should we rename this thread Passengers & Conductors re-united?

 

[CarterUSM]

60 quid float nowadays, and change isn't generally a problem where I am, folk are usually eager to pay one way or another!

 

[Anvil1984]

50 quid at our depot, and change can be a problem especially when other depots are reluctant to give you any (the "we've just cashed up" excuse). I tend to use one of the blue coin dispensers which clips on to my belt, with 5ps in my back pocket, and notes in a shirt pocket

 

[strange6]

The manual dexterity of most guards, particularly on busy services, never fails to amaze me. Juggling between the avantix, accepting money and dishing out change from different pockets on a fast moving train, whilst keeping your balance (especially on c14X trains) and possibly dealing with passenger enquiries takes some doing. Full respect

 

[ANorthernGuard]

The manual dexterity of most guards, particularly on busy services, never fails to amaze me. Juggling between the avantix, accepting money and dishing out change from different pockets on a fast moving train, whilst keeping your balance (especially on c14X trains) and possibly dealing with passenger enquiries takes some doing. Full respect

just keep your knees bent lol

 

[mumrar]

just keep your knees bent lol

Yep, it's all in the knees and the hips. I chuckle when I'm dealing with customers who slosh around in their seat whilst I'm standing upright and steady. It truly is an art checking tickets whilst going across Syston Jcn though.

 

[strange6]

They say women are better at multi-tasking so why don't we see more female guards????