CC 72100
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- 23 Jan 2012
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Just seen this come up on my BBC homepage, story about a chap who had a ticket (the type is not specified) for Newton Abbot - Pad, ended up catching the train from Exeter and as a result had to buy a new ticket.
Also will be featured in 15 minutes or so on local news!
Is this simply a case of the passenger being in the wrong - trying to board a train a later stop and thus not sticking to the Terms & Conditions of the Advance ticket or poor training and the staff member in the wrong?
Annoyingly, it does not state in this article the type of ticket the passenger held!
Link here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-21503675
Also will be featured in 15 minutes or so on local news!
Is this simply a case of the passenger being in the wrong - trying to board a train a later stop and thus not sticking to the Terms & Conditions of the Advance ticket or poor training and the staff member in the wrong?
Annoyingly, it does not state in this article the type of ticket the passenger held!
Link here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-21503675
Apology after man told to pay for London train trip twice
A train company has apologised after staff refused to let a passenger board a train for which he had a ticket.
Alan Connett had a ticket from Newton Abbot to London Paddington, but decided to board the train up the line at Exeter after his circumstances changed.
A First Great Western guard would not let him on, saying he had to buy a new ticket for the same train costing £144.
First Great Western said staff did not break any rules, but apologised, saying more discretion should have been shown.
'A bit silly'
Mr Connett said he changed his travel plans because his car had to go in for repairs and he was offered a lift to Exeter.
He said: "I didn't see anything wrong with that, and I think most people would ask what was the problem for First Great Western. It seems a bit silly to me.
"I don't see what the disadvantage is to First Great Western of someone trying to do what I did, for very good reasons."
Mr Connett did buy a second ticket.
Dan Paynes, from First Great Western, said staff did have to ensure tickets were valid for the actual journeys for which they were bought.
But he added: "In the circumstances, I don't really understand why we didn't let him on.
"We apologise profusely and we'll be refunding him his money.
"We'll make sure that our colleagues know the rules and that they exercise them sensibly."