Virgin / fare evader on Twitter...

[SS4]

I would guess most people get on the door nearest them. It certainly seems the fashion at BHM to crowd on at the nearest door and block/walk down the corridor invariably with someone who'd not win a race against a tortoise in front while all the good seats go! [/rant]

 

[calc7]

(Out of interest - how do people generally use these mixed up trains? Do they all clamour for the nice carriages, or know that the 153 will be emptier? Or do passengers not know the difference and just get on whatever door is nearest?)

The LM 153s I've seen have a very shiny livery - I reckon most passengers notice the difference. Commuters on the other hand may be a bit more savvy.

 

[scotsman]

There's a few twitter accounts that specialise in hunting down these idiots. Some seem to do it for fun, retweeting admissions to embarrass the person. Others, however, take screenshots of relevant details, context, profile pictures and the offending tweet. They then pass this to the BTP, before retweeting it.

I've helped in a few of these cases, usually by tweeting something to them after they get retweeted, only for them to dig the hole even deeper!

 

[185]

Wonder if, on my late evening journey from Lostock (closed office, no machine) to Manchester I twitted "I haven't paid and if a guard/conductor/miss tranny universe 2008 would like to get off his/her/it's arse and walk down the train to sell me one so I can get off at Oxford Road without any hassle" would it work???

No, that's a Piccadilly guard

 

[NathanPrior]

Was on the 21:10 BHM to EUS yesterday and there were 2 people going on about how they didnt pay and were gonna hide when the member of staff was checking tickets which didn't happen at all for the entire journey. There wasn't even people collecting tickets at Euston at the end, but mind you no one does that there now days

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Yepp you're right, single unit was a 153. The twin unit was a 170. LM run 153+170 combos to make more 3 car trains at peak times (and sometimes off peak?). Really 170s should have been built with gangways like 158s/172s because this does cause the problem you are talking about.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwbphotos/4521667004/

I personally enjoyed the old 150/1 and 153 combinations LM did this side of city or even 153+153+150/2! Especially on all stations as you could board at Stourbridge Town onto a 139 when the ticket office is shut early, get a 5p PTT from the PERTIS, and travel to Solihull! Odds on a ticket check if you knew where to sit is unreportable (although I do have a PTE pass so I'm covered!)

 

[krisk]

Was on the 21:10 BHM to EUS yesterday and there were 2 people going on about how they didnt pay and were gonna hide when the member of staff was checking tickets which didn't happen at all for the entire journey. There wasn't even people collecting tickets at Euston at the end, but mind you no one does that there now days

That's not good that no check was made

 

[Urban Gateline]

Hiding in the toilet is well known by Guards, so I doubt anyone would get away with that anymore! If a Guard walks past the loos whilst doing a ticket check, and sees them occupied, they could just wait for the person to come out or get a colleague to keep an eye. If the person doesn't come out after a reasonable time (10min?) then the guard can unlock the toilet and see if the person is ok

I saw this when I was off duty on SWT, a couple went into the Loos together and closed the door, of course this is suspicious because either they are fare evading or doing some sort of hanky panky So I found the Guard and he was happy to unlock the toilets to have a word, turns out neither had tickets and wanted to evade the fare for just 1 stop (Egham to Virginia Water!) End result was that plain clothes BTP took the couple off the train at Virginia Water and delt with them, hopefully a lesson learned!

 

[jon0844]

Well at least they got f....d!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

No ticket checks for me this weekend on VT between New St and Euston or Euston and Piccadilly...

Edit - Should point out no block at Euston southbound, however there was one on the way back North (as well as a search for alcohol) but there was nothing to stop you flashing a ticket for Keynes and staying on to Stoke etc.

Still, not as bad as my one last week with no check between Euston (no block) and Warrington!

 

[calc7]

No ticket checks for me this weekend on VT between New St and Euston or Euston and Piccadilly...

Not even at Euston?!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

See edit above, there was but that, however, wouldn't stop someone just showing a ticket for MKC and chancing north thereof.

 

[calc7]

See edit above, there was but that, however, wouldn't stop someone just showing a ticket for MKC and chancing north thereof.

Fairly good chance of getting away with that by my experiences.
The xx20/xx43 don't often have a ticket check between MKC and SOT/COV (and then often not after that!) seemingly due to the perception that the block at Euston and the barriers at MKC will mean every customer is bona fide!

 

[Urban Gateline]

Fairly good chance of getting away with that by my experiences.
The xx20/xx43 don't often have a ticket check between MKC and SOT/COV (and then often not after that!) seemingly due to the perception that the block at Euston and the barriers at MKC will mean every customer is bona fide!

At least there is a manual block at Euston though, I bet at other London Terminals with ticket barriers, people with an Oyster card could get onto a long distance train, therefore if there's no on-train ticket check they only pay the Oyster max fare!

 

[calc7]

At least there is a manual block at Euston though, I bet at other London Terminals with ticket barriers, people with an Oyster card could get onto a long distance train, therefore if there's no on-train ticket check they only pay the Oyster max fare!

Or with a season ticket including Zone 1, nothing at all!