Where have all the conductors gone?

[Fgw+xc+swtconn]

Now when travelling on Southwest Trains to Ivybridge. And to Dawlish and back, I have noticed on both occasions there has been no conductor. This means anybody can get into first class for free. Which did happen when on the way back from Dawlish, some fat family got on and got into first class for as the train was full. Much to my amusment though, the exit in first class is emergency only and they came running out when they realised the doors wasn't going to open for them. So where are the conductors?

 

[devon_metro]

On board the train.

 

[northwichcat]

If the conductor is aware of RPI staff being present at all the stations the train has so far called at then perhaps they think they just need to check the first class section.

 

[djw1981]

If it is a DMU then it must have a guard, and they will be o the train, selling tickets, dealing with operational incidents etc. After all safety of teh train is their prime concern, above ticket sales or customer service.

 

[Mojo]

If it is a DMU then it must have a guard.

All SWT services (except ECS) have guards, not just their DMUs, although some aren't commercial (don't think this applies to that line), so to the OP; there would have been one, just he didn't come round. Interestingly enough I've noticed (on different TOCs) that the Conductors/Train Managers don't come around as often as they used to.

 

[graham125hst]

I sometimes wonder the same myself when I travel with Virgin from Manchester to London.

The other Friday I went on the 15:55 to London Euston which was a very busy train. Not one sign of anyone checking tickets at Manchester, on the train or at Euston!!

Most times the conductor comes through just the once, so for a lot of people they could get free travel to Stoke or Crewe if they fancy trying it.

 

[westcoaster]

in relation to the service the op travelled on, iirc swt crews only sigh as far as exeter, swt hire fgw crews for the journey from exeter westwards.

 

[Helvellyn]

in relation to the service the op travelled on, iirc swt crews only sigh as far as exeter, swt hire fgw crews for the journey from exeter westwards.

Nope, wrong I'm afraid. Salisbury Crews sign the road to both Paignton and Plymouth. The only service that operates with hired FGW crews is the Saturday service to Penzance (returning on a Sunday), and I believe the FGW crews work it between Exeter and Penzance. Salisbury crews also sign the road to Bristol Temple Meads, and divisionary route via Westbury and Castle Cary.

Not every Driver and Guard at Salisbury will sign all the above routes, as it will depend what link they are in.

 

[Drsatan]

On the Romsey - Eastleigh - Soton C - Romsey - Salisbury services I've noticed that ticket checks seem to have declined in frequency. Probably because they've installed ticket barriers at Salisbury: a station which in my opinion is completely unsuited for them.

 

[northwichcat]

I sometimes wonder the same myself when I travel with Virgin from Manchester to London.

The other Friday I went on the 15:55 to London Euston which was a very busy train. Not one sign of anyone checking tickets at Manchester, on the train or at Euston!!

Most times the conductor comes through just the once, so for a lot of people they could get free travel to Stoke or Crewe if they fancy trying it.

When I've done Southbound journeys from Stockport to London once it was after Stoke before I got asked for my ticket, another time it was 2 minutes after leaving Stockport.

Last time I did London Euston-Crewe tickets were checked at Euston Station. Soon after leaving Euston the conductor said over the PA, something along the lines of "I'm aware you already have had your tickets checked, so I'll only be checking first class."

 

[Aictos]

Now that's just common sense by that conductor, kudos to them,

 

[Lampshade]

I have only once seen a Guard on a SWT service, in April 2008, since then I've travelled with SWT many many times and not had my ticket checked. Whether this is because I've travelled in the front of a 2x458 when the Guard was in the rear train or not I don't know, but it does seem as though now barriers are in, conductors are out.

Whenever I've travelled with Virgin out of Manchester tickets have started to be checked before the train had even cleared the train shed hock:

 

[devon_metro]

SWT guards should stay in the middle cabs of double 458 sets. Many are non commercial so there is no need to do tickets.

 

[royaloak]

91107, it all depends what services you catch, most of the suburban guards are non-commercial, and as devon metro stated, if the train is formed of 2x458 then the guard will pretty much stay in the middle as that is the only position they can work the doors from. That is why you will see RPI/ RPAs on these services.
Only the long distance services routinely have commercial guards on board.

 

[ashworth]

Travelled from Notingham to London and back on Saturday and there were not many train staff to be seen.
On the outward journey to Kings Cross via Grantham I had my ticket checked by the EMT conductor almost immediately upon leaving Nottingham but no-one came around to check tickets on the East Coast train between Grantham and London. I have travelled on that particular Saturday morning train on a number of occasions during the past year but have never had my ticket checked.

On the return journey from St Pancras direct to Nottingham I never even saw a member of EMT staff for the whole journey and this time I was in 1st Class. Is this generally the case now that there are barriers at St Pancras? At weekends you do not get any free refreshments in 1st Class and so perhaps staff feel they don't need to bother. I don't really know whether it was actually worth paying the extra to travel 1st Class in what was a very tatty HST where the door at the end of the carriage was jammed open leaving it very noisy and draughty, not to mention toilet smells. I know it is only about £5 more for AP 1st Class at weekends but is it really worth it when you still have to fetch your own refreshments and pay for them?

 

[yorksrob]

I travel on EMT's 1st class quite regularly on weekends and in my experience the guard usually makes a visit. I find it's worth the extra money for a big comfy seat

 

[rick9525]

I had my tickets checked 3 times between Hull and Manchester a couple of months back though one was announced as being conducted by revenue protection after Selby and not the conductor who had already been round before Selby.