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Author Topic: Ox Rail Action Could Join MTLS Fare Strike  (Read 5004 times)
Lee
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« on: January 03, 2008, 14:38:59 »

Zahra Akkerhuys of Ox Rail Action said: "We would consider taking part in the boycott" (link below.)
http://www.oxfordmail.net/news/headlines/display.var.1938667.0.rail_protesters_may_join_ticket_boycott.php

"It is important that commuter groups across the country unite so we have got greater strength. Ox Rail Action believes these increases are an unfair and unjust price hike. We are at the end of our tether with it."

"Feelings are running really high on the trains. Last year was horrendous for commuters travelling on the train. We had hundreds of cancellations and awful overcrowding."

However, a spokesman for FGW (First Great Western) said the fare increases were necessary to help plug a ^50m cut in central government funding for 2008 as well as helping to pay for a ^200m investment in new engines and trains.

He said: "We have got to find some way of addressing this ^50m shortfall. Last year was a one-off as far as we were concerned and MTLS (More Train Less Strain) made their point on that occasion."

"We will consider what our policy will be if and when the strike happens."

Hang on a second. Isnt this "shortfall that needs to be addressed" part of the franchise agreement that FGW entered into? Quote from the link below.
http://thisisdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=143632&command=displayContent&sourceNode=142719&contentPK=19412222&folderPk=91672&pNodeId=201778

Quote
But Adrian Booth, spokesman for FGW, yesterday argued that the rises were as a result of the company taking a ^50 million cut in Government subsidy, reducing the burden to the taxpayer.

Perhaps FGW should tell their spokesmen to get their story straight.

Ox Rail Action is meeting at Waterman's Arms, in South Street, on Osney Island, on Tuesday, January 8, from 8pm
« Last Edit: January 03, 2008, 14:48:56 by Lee Fletcher » Logged

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Lee
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« Reply #1 on: January 15, 2008, 15:30:38 »

Ox Rail Action have decided to take part (link below.)
http://mtls.org.uk/node/44
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Lee
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« Reply #2 on: January 18, 2008, 10:00:50 »

More on the Ox Rail Action decision to join the fare strike :

Quote
As you will all know, FGW (First Great Western) has continued to dazzle us with its poor performance and high fares.
 
We had hoped that the train service between Oxford and London Paddington would improve with the introduction of the new timetable in December 2007 but it failed to deliver the promised improvements. Instead all that was delivered was an increase in fares, some of which (ie season tickets) were increased by 11 per cent.
 
We have continued to lobby FGW demanding a better service and asking for fares to be returned to pre-January 2 levels. Yesterday, Ox Rail Action met Andrew Haines, FGW chief operating officer, who told us that they are going to make some improvements to operations in the coming weeks which should make a 'noticeable' difference to the rush-hour service. Only time will tell...
 
FGW refused to budge on fares and the increase is here to stay.
 
Given FGW's continued poor performance (with punctuality levels as low as 62 per cent) and the increase in fares, Ox Rail Action has agreed to join the Bath group More Train Less Strain in a fare strike on Monday January 28.
 
On this day of direct action, we ask all commuters to carry a fare strike ticket, which will be distributed outside the station on the day of the strike. We ask commuters to show their fare strike ticket instead of their season ticket to guards/at the ticket barrier.
 
We would like as many commuters as possible to take part. We are not encouraging illegal activity and we do not want to be fined/arrested; but we do want to send a clear message to FGW and Secretary of State for Transport Ruth Kelly that enough is enough and that FGW should improve its punctuality, reliability and deliver a better-value service.
 
The existing franchise system is failing to deliver any significant benefits to the average commuters.
 
We'd love you all to get involved. If you are able to help with the organisation of the strike then please do drop us a line; you could perhaps hand out leaflets on the train to let other people know about the strike or turn up on the day to help hand out the tickets as commuters arrive at the station.
 
Of course, not everyone has time to get involved in the organisation but please please support the strike by joining in and carrying a fare strike ticket on the day.
 
If you have any questions on the strike please do drop us a line.
 
Look forward to hearing from you.
 
Best wishes,
 
Zahra Akkerhuys

Question :

It looks like Ox Rail Action are planning to show fare strike tickets on the way in to the station, having not yet travelled on the train. Can they still be prosecuted for this, or will they simply not be allowed access to the station?
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Jim
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« Reply #3 on: January 18, 2008, 15:35:25 »

They should be disallowed access to the station, as they have no right to be on railway property without a ticket.
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vacman
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« Reply #4 on: January 18, 2008, 19:20:37 »

More on the Ox Rail Action decision to join the fare strike :

Quote
As you will all know, FGW (First Great Western) has continued to dazzle us with its poor performance and high fares.
 
We had hoped that the train service between Oxford and London Paddington would improve with the introduction of the new timetable in December 2007 but it failed to deliver the promised improvements. Instead all that was delivered was an increase in fares, some of which (ie season tickets) were increased by 11 per cent.
 
We have continued to lobby FGW demanding a better service and asking for fares to be returned to pre-January 2 levels. Yesterday, Ox Rail Action met Andrew Haines, FGW chief operating officer, who told us that they are going to make some improvements to operations in the coming weeks which should make a 'noticeable' difference to the rush-hour service. Only time will tell...
 
FGW refused to budge on fares and the increase is here to stay.
 
Given FGW's continued poor performance (with punctuality levels as low as 62 per cent) and the increase in fares, Ox Rail Action has agreed to join the Bath group More Train Less Strain in a fare strike on Monday January 28.
 
On this day of direct action, we ask all commuters to carry a fare strike ticket, which will be distributed outside the station on the day of the strike. We ask commuters to show their fare strike ticket instead of their season ticket to guards/at the ticket barrier.
 
We would like as many commuters as possible to take part. We are not encouraging illegal activity and we do not want to be fined/arrested; but we do want to send a clear message to FGW and Secretary of State for Transport Ruth Kelly that enough is enough and that FGW should improve its punctuality, reliability and deliver a better-value service.
 
The existing franchise system is failing to deliver any significant benefits to the average commuters.
 
We'd love you all to get involved. If you are able to help with the organisation of the strike then please do drop us a line; you could perhaps hand out leaflets on the train to let other people know about the strike or turn up on the day to help hand out the tickets as commuters arrive at the station.
 
Of course, not everyone has time to get involved in the organisation but please please support the strike by joining in and carrying a fare strike ticket on the day.
 
If you have any questions on the strike please do drop us a line.
 
Look forward to hearing from you.
 
Best wishes,
 
Zahra Akkerhuys

Question :

It looks like Ox Rail Action are planning to show fare strike tickets on the way in to the station, having not yet travelled on the train. Can they still be prosecuted for this, or will they simply not be allowed access to the station?
They can be prosecuted for attempting to travel, although, do they just expect the barrier staff to let them through? DURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #5 on: January 18, 2008, 19:50:38 »

Quote
We ask commuters to show their fare strike ticket instead of their season ticket to guards/at the ticket barrier.

Hmmm.  Are they trying to be clever (perhaps too clever) by relying on their valid season ticket as a sort of 'get out of jail free' card, if they are collared by vacman's colleagues/at the barriers for waving a fare strike ticket about?  Undecided
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« Reply #6 on: January 19, 2008, 14:00:11 »

It is OF COURSE UNLAWFUL to Travel without a Valid Ticket or AT least with intent to travel without Paying your fare.

If it was unlawful to Travel without a Ticket then when boarding at unstaffed stations All Passengers would have to board at one door and pay the fare when entraining. Just like ON THE BUSES

However it would never Stand Up in Court if when asked on the train for your ticket if you present a Fare Strike ticket to the Train Staff, they would point out this isn't a ticket, "sorry" says the passenger and then pays for or fumbles around for their ticket.

It is Politics to show Fare Strike Tickets, Ticket holders can show a fare strike ticket at the gate line, when passing through the ticket barriers with a valid ticket.
It gets the message across, it causes Publicity, that the Media will get it's teeth into, and believe me with a Image Focused company like FIRST GROUP, that will HURT!

Vacman knows his stuff with tickets, and probably spends half his time chasing scum who board trains with no intent to pay the fare, and if they end up in Court GOOD, it's the honest traveller who ends up paying for the Fare Dodgers.

However can ANYONE justify the over the rate of inflation price hikes on Season tickets.

Being in the EU» (European Union - about) what would happen if the EU ruled that Railway Ticket prices across all member states MUST be of Equal Valve per Kilometre/mile!

ALL BRITISH TOCS WOULD BE IN THE BROWN STUFF THAT'S WHAT.
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grahame
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« Reply #7 on: January 19, 2008, 14:26:19 »

If it was unlawful to Travel without a Ticket then when boarding at unstaffed stations All Passengers would have to board at one door and pay the fare when entraining. Just like ON THE BUSES

I have been advised by a member of railway staff to do almost exactly that if joining at an unstaffed (at the time) station where the ticket machine is malfunctioning. That way there is no argument about trying to avoid payment (in a penalty fare zone especially).

In practise a quick "The ticket machine on the platform is broken. Can I buy a ticket from you when we gate started" to the conductor should be enough to avoid the delay.

I'm very glad we're allowed onto the platform, and to join the train without a ticket, at Melksham. The nearest ticket office or agencies are ... Chippenham and Trowbridge stations
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Lee
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« Reply #8 on: January 21, 2008, 11:18:33 »

Further link from Ox Rail Action with the following note :
http://oxrailaction.wordpress.com/2008/01/20/oxford-passengers-to-join-fare-strike/

Quote
The FARE STRIKE tickets will be issued from stations including Oxford station (between 6.30am and 8.30am) and are intended for use by anyone travelling  on First Great Western services; we are not encouraging passengers to travel without a valid ticket, but we are encouraging them not to show it
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Lee
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« Reply #9 on: January 25, 2008, 18:15:08 »

Ox Rail Action have decided to suspend their "Fare Strike" action. Quote :

Quote
Ox Rail Action has decided to suspend its fare strike due to take place on Monday following the recent announcement by FGW (First Great Western) to double compensation to passengers for poor performance.

After discussions with regular travellers, we have decided to hold off from immediate action since FGW has now met our key demand - to effectively freeze season ticket prices.

We welcome First Great Western's offer of double compensation and the admission that service has not been up to scratch. We are pleased FGW has acknowledged that they need to change.

However, OxRail Action has informed First Great Western that it must improve the punctuality and reliability of its trains. If it does not, we will reschedule the strike.

We have communicated this to Andrew Haines, First Great Western's Chief Operating Officer, who has promised regular meetings with OxRail Action to ensure Oxford passengers are kept informed and listened to.

He also told us: "We have shown we can't take our customers for granted and perpetually raise fares. There will be fare rises going forward but we would want to be sensitive about how they are applied, and we haven't ruled out extensions to the discount if performance hasn't improved."

It is vital that the voice of passengers continues to be heard. We will be holding a meeting soon to discuss our next steps. Please come. OxRail Action is made up of regular travellers who volunteer to help. The more who work with us, the more effective we can be. Please tell your fellow travellers to register with our email list. Details on the website at www.oxrailaction.wordpress.com

In Bath, Bristol, Frome, Yate and other stations in the West Country, a strike organised by pressure group More Trains Less Strain will still take place on Monday.

If any Oxford passengers still wish to register their protest, a fare strike ticket can be downloaded from the Bath group's website at http://www.moretrainlessstrain.co.uk/about_us
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vacman
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« Reply #10 on: January 25, 2008, 23:38:32 »

Oh dear, MTLS (More Train Less Strain) won't like that, what a shame!!
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #11 on: January 25, 2008, 23:56:32 »

Well, if you look at it (http://www.moretrainlessstrain.co.uk/node/24) their ticket's completely useless anyway - it expired on 22 Jan 2007!   Cheesy Wink
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« Reply #12 on: January 25, 2008, 23:58:20 »

Well, if you look at it (http://www.moretrainlessstrain.co.uk/node/24) their ticket's completely useless anyway - it expired on 22 Jan 2007!   Cheesy Wink
Not sure it will work through ticket barriers either!!
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #13 on: January 26, 2008, 00:04:16 »

... except at Plymouth, obviously.   Wink
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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
vacman
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« Reply #14 on: January 26, 2008, 00:06:28 »

... except at Plymouth, obviously.   Wink
Ye, they'll just let anyone through at Plymouth!
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