Poll: The 2008 Fare Strike

[whole diary]

[Btline]

I am confused about how the fare strike ran! Please add your opinion!

[Shazz]

Due to first pro actively enforcing the purchase of tickets.

I beleive the strike itself was a complete and utter failure.

[John R]

It wasn't designed to get people to avoid paying, it was designed to gets lots of publicity about the situation.  I think it succeeded in that respect, notwithstanding that the shot of me holding a ticket (pure chance I found myself sitting next to a cameraman) didn't get onto Points West.

[ruthg]

Perhaps not a great failure as the ITVlocal news tonight said FGW^▸ (First Great Western) will be getting 52 extra carriages (although not for up to 7 years) mentioning the fare strike at the same time, so it did and does get publicity. Also mentioned in this link -

http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=181429&command=displayContent&sourceNode=229968&home=yes&more_nodeId1=133174&contentPK=19721262

[Shazz]

It wasn't designed to get people to avoid paying, it was designed to gets lots of publicity about the situation.  I think it succeeded in that respect, notwithstanding that the shot of me holding a ticket (pure chance I found myself sitting next to a cameraman) didn't get onto Points West.

Thats what i was meaning.

The strike itself failed.

The publicity did well.

etc

[Jim]

The whole thing was a riot. Only 100people actually took part in a "FARE STRIKE"

[Btline]

Things are a bit clearer. It seems that not many people get away with it, but the problem was highlighted.

Could someone tell me whether this has happened to any other TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) (train operating company) in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)?

Thanks, and keep voting! 

[dog box]

complete nonsense!!

[Timmer]

Publicity is what MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) wanted and they got that by the bucketful. Whether people paid their fare or not didn't seem to concern them that much. You have to get the media's attention and by saying we're having a 'fare strike' does just that. If they said we're going to stand outside Bath Spa and BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) wearing cow masks do you think even half the media that turned up on monday would bother? No, just some snapper from the local rag to take a picture to put on page 15 of the local paper to fill a bit of space.

So in answer to the question yes it was a success in its aim of gaining publicity but thats probably as much as MTLS are going to get. The government will not be swayed by action like this, they are getting what they want from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and that's money and over the coming years lots of it, yours and mine so why would they spoil it by pulling the franchise away from First?

[Btline]

PS I voted for option 2, not 3!

[TerminalJunkie]

There should have been a don't know/not affected/don't give a tinkers option, for those of us who wish to actively abstain.

[tramway]

And what else are the regular passengers (customers) supposed to do???

Of the 1000's of regular FGW^▸ (First Great Western) users we are the very few who post here who now have a reasonable understanding of the issues. The general FGW punter who aren't quite as switched on have now become easily accepting of a regular mediocre service.

Writing to your local MP^▸ (Member of Parliament)/DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)/ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) etc etc will only get you so far, they will always stick their heads in the sand and stock will move to big Labour constituencies.

The South West have been let down again and again, and it will probably be over 4 years from the demise of the Wessex franchise that FGW get anywhere near previous levels of service, and probably not even then?

Yes succesful as it highlights the continuing problems of the West transport problems, (I have no problems with playing devils advocate) but where are the similar events to make all the intrerested parties for a greater Bristol TPE^▸ (Trans Pennine Express) get themselves sorted out, and pressure on the new Wiltshire Unitary authority.

[12hoursunday]

I said all along that someone would end up with egg on their chin and it wasn't Firstgroup and I was right. I bet that MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) lot will be a little quieter now.

Fancy requesting to the Dft to strip First of the franchise. The Government won't listen to it own policitians let alone some nobodies with nowt better to do with their time but moan, so that ideal was going nowhere.

[Btline]

There should have been a don't know/not affected/don't give a tinkers option, for those of us who wish to actively abstain.

I've added one.

[Chris from Nailsea]

It wasn't designed to get people to avoid paying, it was designed to gets lots of publicity about the situation.  I think it succeeded in that respect, notwithstanding that the shot of me holding a ticket (pure chance I found myself sitting next to a cameraman) didn't get onto Points West.

I agree - lots of publicity was gained, but nobody has gone down to Princetown for fare-dodging (yet!).

Now, John, was that ticket you were waving a valid one, or one of the dodgy fare strike ones ...?