Has GWR given up with revenue protection on a Sunday?

[Mark J]

Yesterday I took the following trains.

8:44am Reading to Bath, arriving 9:36am.
9:13pm Bath to Reading, arriving 10:09pm.

On the outward journey, the ticket barriers were open at Reading, no ticket checks on the train, with the ticket barriers also being open at Bath Spa.

On the return journey, the same was also true.

8:44am isn't early, nor is 9:36am the other end.

Surely when this happens, is just encourages people to fare evade, costing the railways money.

Whilst I have known the ticket barriers to be open at Reading at ridiculous times before, what I did not know this is also true at other major stations too.

It does irritate somewhat, doing the right thing and purchasing a ticket, when you know full well there are people on board who haven't. Who have freely walked through open barriers, traveling long distances for nothing, and aren't being challenged for it.

 

[Horizon22]

Pretty sure gateline staff aren't rostered to start until fairly late on GWR at Reading, maybe until 1100. The same is true at Paddington, which is madness for such a busy station with very busy arrivals.

 

[Mark J]

Pretty sure gateline staff aren't rostered to start until fairly late on GWR at Reading, maybe until 1100. The same is true at Paddington, which is madness for such a busy station with very busy arrivals.

I agree.

It also encourages fare evaders to travel at certain times, with confidence that they won't be caught.

I've been through Paddington post noon on a Sunday before, with the upper level ticket barriers being open.

 

[Horizon22]

I agree.

It also encourages fare evaders to travel at certain times, with confidence that they won't be caught.

I've been through Paddington post noon on a Sunday before, with the upper level ticket barriers being open.

Last time I checked on a weekday they also had gateline until gone midnight so seems the rostering priorities are somewhat outdated. Obviously it's not always easy to change rosters, especially when extending shifts.

 

[Ken X]

We noted four bods checking tickets and railcards when boarding the 09:31 GWR Euston service to Cardiff and beyond on Sunday 29th December. Tickets were checked again between Newport and Cardiff and exit gateline was closed.

Nothing on the return trip but gateline at Cardiff was closed at 19:00. Just wandered out at Euston.

 

[JonathanH]

Isn't this just the same reliance on Sunday being overtime as seen across other aspects of the railway?

 

[Kite159]

I agree.

It also encourages fare evaders to travel at certain times, with confidence that they won't be caught.

I've been through Paddington post noon on a Sunday before, with the upper level ticket barriers being open.

Until the one day there is a surprise revenue block and those chancers get caught

 

[Doctor Fegg]

Didcot was unmanned at lunchtime yesterday but the coffee shop was open. By 5pm the barriers were manned but the coffee shop wasn't (nor even the little Spar). I'd have preferred it the other way round...