PRIV card question

[Joef88]

Last week I was travelling with a rival train operator (not going to name them) and I boarded at an unstaffed station. I had my wallet ready to pay for my ticket but when I showed my PRIV card the conductor just nodded and walked past without charging anything. I am new to the railway, only been working on it for 3 months. I have always bought a ticket before I board at staffed stations, my question is is it worth buying a ticket before hand if the conductor is not going to charge me anything on the train?

 

[Urban Gateline]

Last week I was travelling with a rival train operator (not going to name them) and I boarded at an unstaffed station. I had my wallet ready to pay for my ticket but when I showed my PRIV card the conductor just nodded and walked past without charging anything. I am new to the railway, only been working on it for 3 months. I have always bought a ticket before I board at staffed stations, my question is is it worth buying a ticket before hand if the conductor is not going to charge me anything on the train?

It's really for you to decide isn't it? Depending on where you are going it may be wise to insist on being sold a ticket as the staff at barriers or potential revenue blocks may think you are trying to avoid paying!

However when I worked for the Railway we would always turn a blind eye to charging other TOC staff, as you never know when you might need their help!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Varies literally by staff member. Some will never charge you in a million years and actually get quite upset / offended when you insist on paying, others sell you a ticket or request to inspect it every time; however the former are a lot more common. Always best to buy beforehand if you can, or if not ask the guard / RPI before boarding whether or not you're OK to buy on board (ask beforehand and I guess they're a lot more likely to just let you travel for free).

 

[CyrusWuff]

If possible, you should buy a ticket before boarding just like "ordinary" passengers. Whilst many staff will let it slide, there are some staff who seem to take a perverse pleasure in charging members of the railway "family" and, of course, automatic ticket gates won't "let you off".

In an extreme case, you could be subject to losing your travel facilities, disciplinary proceedings, and/or prosecution.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Last week I was travelling with a rival train operator (not going to name them) and I boarded at an unstaffed station. I had my wallet ready to pay for my ticket but when I showed my PRIV card the conductor just nodded and walked past without charging anything. I am new to the railway, only been working on it for 3 months. I have always bought a ticket before I board at staffed stations, my question is is it worth buying a ticket before hand if the conductor is not going to charge me anything on the train?

You should always buy a ticket (or use your boxes correctly if you have them) when you can, it's not worth losing your facilities/job over.

The only times I have not had a ticket and used my pass are (a) when I have spoken to the guard before boarding and they are happy to allow it (I only do this on routes where I can travel for free with my company if need be) and (b) when a sale has been refused by the guard (when boarding at an unstaffed station).

I can understand some staff following the rules to the letter and I respect their decision, there are some cheeky b*****ds out there who don't live up to their responsibilities whilst travelling which can leave the onboard staff in a tricky situation.

 

[Gricerjo]

If possible, you should buy a ticket before boarding just like "ordinary" passengers. Whilst many staff will let it slide, there are some staff who seem to take a perverse pleasure in charging members of the railway "family" and, of course, automatic ticket gates won't "let you off".

In an extreme case, you could be subject to losing your travel facilities, disciplinary proceedings, and/or prosecution.

I quite agree, - better to be safe than sorry. When I worked on the railway, most staff were ex BR and the railway "family" attitide still persisted. Today, you'll find a number of jobsworths who will take a delight in giving you a penaly fare and/or reporting you.

My advice is not to take a chance.

 

[158801]

Most Guards will let you travel because if they charge you, or refuse, they know there will be bullying, harrassment and vitimisation from their colleagues and probably a hate campaign on Facebook !

 

[pitdiver]

I live on the Thameslink route. My local station's Ticket Office closes at 1315. I always make sure I buy a ticket in advance even if I am travelling to the adjacent station being only 4 mins away. I hold a TfL priv card.

 

[Solent&Wessex]

I quite agree, - better to be safe than sorry. When I worked on the railway, most staff were ex BR and the railway "family" attitide still persisted. Today, you'll find a number of jobsworths who will take a delight in giving you a penaly fare and/or reporting you.

My advice is not to take a chance.

Jobsworths. Really?

Most Guards will let you travel because if they charge you, or refuse, they know there will be bullying, harrassment and vitimisation from their colleagues and probably a hate campaign on Facebook !

What a load of nonsense.

Why is it so difficult for some staff (or as it happens mainly spouses and dependants) to understand:

If you want to get something you are not entitled to, then don't automatically assume you are going to get it. Ask first, as some people advise above, and you will normally get a positive response.

If you don't ask, and just assume (incorrectly) then you have only yourself to blame if somebody else does not take the same viewpoint as you and - correctly - makes you pay or date a box.

 

[87015]

This is far better not being discussed in public...ask a colleague.

 

[9K43]

My wife and I have free bus pass nation wide and also Freepasss for the whole of the uk railway system.
The Railway free passes came about as I worked 30 years as a guard both on passengers trains and on freight TOC on privatisation
On retirement 5 years ago, we both got our free rail travel.
We use our free pass on our local branch line on a regular basis and buy the discounted ticket at £1.20 return.
On long journeys we date a box on the card , which is supported by our Photo -cards.
For retired members we get 16 instances of travel. This allows us to travel back home with the dated card.
On times like this I put my dated travel card for the examiner to pick up the card and pass together .
My photo ID is 5 years old, and my wife has a 30 years ID card with a picture taken at that time.
We never have any problems at all on inspection.
These cards are made of solid gold, and I do not intend to throw them away.

 

[158801]

deleted

 

[RJ]

I'll offer a different perspective as a member of railway staff.

On occasion, it has caused me more hassle holding a Priv ticket. On at least two occasions, I've showed gateline assistants my Priv and Season ticket. For one reason or another, they incorrectly state that I can't use my season ticket at their station. Both times, they said it was not permissible to pass through the barriers at an intermediate station with a season ticket. When I try to suggest otherwise, they both came out with the same rubbish! "If you'd have just shown your Priv and asked for a free ride, I'd have let you go. But because you're trying to insist your ticket is valid when it's not, I'm not letting you through." On one occasion I called the police on the gateline assistant.

Conversely, I showed the same documents to a member of gateline staff this week. He thought the ticket was not valid at that station so ignored it. He saw the Priv and said "You should go to the ticket office and buy a Priv ticket"

Earlier this year when entering York station, I showed my Staff Pass to a Transpennine Express RPO. He refused to let me through, despite the pass being valid at that station through an arrangement with another TOC that he knew nothing about. He claimed I was making it up when I explained it to him. My passes were withdrawn and I had to wait for 10 minutes whilst him and his colleagues flapped about trying to verify whether or not I was telling the truth. At one point, after failing to find anyone who knew anything, I was told to go away, buy a ticket and research the arrangement before coming back. I think I was remarkably patient by standing back and letting them do their thing for all that time - in my mind I was wondering what the hell was wrong with them.

So in some cases, staff are not so friendly and seem to enjoy hindering other staff who have a valid ticket for their journey. It's pathetic in my eyes that some staff behave in this manner. If I have a valid ticket or pass, why am I subjected to this rubbish?!

That said, for every wrong'un, there are plenty of staff who are friendly and welcoming when they see I'm a Priv holder. For example, I went from Kings Cross to Norwich one time. Upon arrival at Cambridge (on a Rectory Road ticket,) I saw the queue at the ticket office was long, with only one person serving. I asked the guard on the Norwich service if I could buy a Priv ticket from her before departure. She said yes and duly came along and sold me the Priv SOR to Norwich that I was after. No hassle or anything

 

[notadriver]

We need more positive stories like this from you RJ

 

[Haywain]

I asked the guard on the Norwich service if I could buy a Priv ticket from her before departure. She said yes and duly came along and sold me the Priv SOR to Norwich that I was after. No hassle or anything

But some people on this thread seem to believe that selling you a ticket made her a "jobsworth".

 

[Solent&Wessex]

But some people on this thread seem to believe that selling you a ticket made her a "jobsworth".

And they are idiots.

 

[RJ]

But some people on this thread seem to believe that selling you a ticket made her a "jobsworth".

I wouldn't agree. If there's anything I've had reinforced through my travels on the railways, it's to always cover myself. The Priv gives a generous discount and I have no issues with buying a ticket.

I also think that it's impolite to ask a guard for a free ride. I hate being put in a position where I'm supposed to reject a request someone makes of me. As such, I will always approach a guard, show them my Priv and ask if they are prepared to sell me a ticket. They then have the power to say I can go free, buy a Priv ticket or buy a full priced ticket without having to feel bad. Some have taken that opportunity to instruct me to go and buy a ticket from a TVM and catch the next train. One even said I could board but would get a Penalty Fare for £140 if I did. I'd say in 60% of cases, the guard would either invite me on for a free ride or agree to sell a Priv ticket.

 

[Gricerjo]

I wouldn't agree. If there's anything I've had reinforced through my travels on the railways, it's to always cover myself. The Priv gives a generous discount and I have no issues with buying a ticket.

I also think that it's impolite to ask a guard for a free ride. I hate being put in a position where I'm supposed to reject a request someone makes of me. As such, I will always approach a guard, show them my Priv and ask if they are prepared to sell me a ticket. They then have the power to say I can go free, buy a Priv ticket or buy a full priced ticket without having to feel bad. Some have taken that opportunity to instruct me to go and buy a ticket from a TVM and catch the next train. One even said I could board but would get a Penalty Fare for £140 if I did. I'd say in 60% of cases, the guard would either invite me on for a free ride or agree to sell a Priv ticket.

Under the NRCoC should you not buy your ticket before you board the train? (Assuming you had the opportunity to do so)

 

[island]

Under the NRCoC should you not buy your ticket before you board the train? (Assuming you had the opportunity to do so)

That's correct, but many on-train staff members look out for other staff members.