Late night ticket checks

[robrymond]

I was travelling on the last train (23.22) from New St to Crewe on Friday night. For the first time doing any late night trains, the guard was coming round and checking tickets. He did as soon as we left New St and then after Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Stafford which I thought was highly unusual.

However what I did notice was how many people purchased singles to Wolverhampton around me, and then proceeded to stay on until Crewe. Considering he was passing round so often, i am guessing the guard; rather than get into arguements with people was satisfied with them at least having some sort of ticket. Of course there is a significant price difference between going to Wolverhampton and Crewe.

One bloke pretended to be asleep and got woken which was highly amusing too. Certainly the first time I've witnessed ticket checks on late services though!

 

[185]

Some guards wait until after Wolverhampton - so if the gateline gets them at Birmingham with a short ticket, they get caught again.

Good to see, but this blatant, regular fare evasion highlights
- the urgent need for RPIs to support the staff in the evening & nights, not just during the morning commute.
- Wolverhampton's £Xm useless barriers properly staffed and turned on full time, not on & off for an hour or two each day.
- the need for human ticket checks (eg 3 staff from Carlisle Revenue) larger stations including Stafford, not open.

Further, BTP could help by at least showing a presence once every so often, not just at New St concourse.

 

[robrymond]

It didn't help that New St barriers were wide open. I presume Wolverhampton's were and certainly Crewes were when arrived back, but I've never know them closed after 10ish.

 

[Trackman]

About 20 years ago I did the 01:20 Piccadilly - Preston dubbed the 'Party train' on a Saturday/Sunday morning.
Basically the thing was a complete riot, people asleep, people asleep on the floor, smoking / drinking etc..
Once the guard came out to do a ticket check.. I thought 'His he mad??'
Anyway he was waking people up asking them politely to put their cigs out etc.. and no-one was hostile with him, I presume because most of the people on the train were wasted.

 

[JonathanH]

useless barriers

Unfortunately the current design of barriers is essentially useless for fare evasion purposes now as everyone prepared to skip their fare knows they can simply be barged through.

 

[Ediswan]

Unfortunately the current design of barriers is essentially useless for fare evasion purposes now as everyone prepared to skip their fare knows they can simply be barged through.

I seem to recall that ths is a result of a safety requirement for all barriers.

 

[Kite159]

It didn't help that New St barriers were wide open. I presume Wolverhampton's were and certainly Crewes were when arrived back, but I've never know them closed after 10ish.

I believe 10pm is when the staff finish for the night at Crewe, so all those pay when challenged know if they arrive after 10 it's less likely they have to pay.

As for the guard, good that they are doing revenue, even if passengers were buying short tickets.