Some of the
eyewitness reports in this forum have claimed the TIL lot identify themselves as "conducting a survey"... then pounce on people with (in TIL's view) inadequate tickets, finally revealing who they truly are.
This seems unsporting to say the least and we all know the kind of people who would be attracted to a job like that.
TIL in addition to providing Revenue Protection Staff for Transport for Wales, do also undertake some Ticketless Travel Surveys on behalf of some TOC’s on behalf of the Department for Transport.
They will or should be dressed smartly with TOC and or TIL Lanyards and photo ID plus will be carrying a tablet to record data / scan e-tickets and where relevant will be also in possession of a Transport for London TOC specific Revenue Inspection Device (yellow case) to check Oysters / Contactless and Smartcards.
On Ticketless Travel Survey Duties then this IS an actual Survey and staff undertaking the Surveys are not there to issue penalty fares or write ticket irregularities reports although anything that can be resolved with the guards / Train Managers intervention will be passed to them to deal with.
The Survey is purely that and to gain a picture of what is currently happening on the TOC’s network that is being surveyed.
Survey Staff may assist in Customer Service advising customers on board of options during delays and whether connections will be made etc.
On a late running late 10 car (5+5) Penzance service not so long ago, with the Train Manager in one portion and myself in the other I was able to assist him by going through my 5 cars to ascertain if anyone would be needing onward Taxi connections of which 2 customers required St Erth to St Ives which was thus able to be communicated to the Train Manager and arranged for them.
Some TIL staff do have relevant railway experience, the negative appears to be relating to up north contractors and their modus operandi.
Surveying staff will always announce what they are doing upon entering the carriage.
TIL staff undertaking RPI work for TFW will be wearing TIL red & white stripy ties and wearing TIL in partnership with TFW Red Hi-Vis Tabards.
Chiltern RPI’s as far as I am aware are directly employed by Chiltern - TIL only gets involved after reports from these Chiltern Staff get passed over to them for processing.
There was a report linked to in the Daily Mail online where Transport for London denied that TIL was involved in its network, and whilst that may be true in regards to Revenue Protection Activities, TIL provide staff to Tfl in connection with London Underground Engineering Works Closures and will be seen at Station Entrances and at Bus Stops directing customers to the Rail Replacement Bus Services.
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