Revenue protection in the Bristol area (merged topics)

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Whilst I travel on my local line less frequently than commuters, it is interesting to note that I've seen three revenue blocks on the Severn Beach Line in recent weeks. For reference, two outside the times I was conducting a passenger survey. One at Clifton Down, one at Montpelier and one at Stapleton Road. The last one when I was doing the passenger survey.

Most welcome, but these are the first revenue blocks I've seen on the SVB Line since moving to North West Bristol (local station - Shirehampton) in 2007. 

I've heard rumour of a new Revenue Manager at FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Towers. Perhaps that explains the more visible current revenue protection. 

[Mookiemoo]

I've heard rumour of a new Revenue Manager at FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Towers. Perhaps that explains the more visible current revenue protection. 

At least he's found a line of work that is suited to his nature rather than being a member of the gestapo with a personality by pass

[Phil]

Ha ha! Great description of whoever it is! (and no, I don't want to know!)

[Chris from Nailsea]

Cough. 

I happen to know exactly who it is - and I thank you for not being any more specific. 

I've taken this opportunity to move a few posts and merge them here, in the interests of completeness, continuity - and simply to avoid any possible confusion due to some of them originally being posted in our 'North Downs Line' board.

Chris. 

[JayMac]

Out of the Bristol area slightly, but it was pleasing to see a full revenue check done after Swindon on a late night HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) from London. In my carriage alone two people were issued new tickets for travelling on the wrong service with AP tickets and one lady was given the full 'interview under caution'. I did ask the RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector, or Retail Price Index, depending on context) how many other ticket irregularities he had come across on this one train, but he politely declined to comment. I did comment that it was nice to see visible revenue protection on a late night HST.

On arrival at Bristol the RPI handed another passenger over to BTP^▸ (British Transport Police). Don't know the outcome of her interest to the RPI, but I did see her walking out of the station 5 minutes later.

All four people I saw being dealt with would not have fitted the usual stereotype of 'fare dodging scrote'...

[Red Squirrel]

This in today's 'Bristol Post':

Fare dodgers are costing rail line up to ^1 million every year

By Ian Onions

RAIL campaigners claim the highly successful Severn Beach line is losing out on ^1million in revenue each year ^ because rail users are not bothering to buy tickets.

Some passengers know there is little chance of being asked for a ticket by a conductor, so they hop on and off without paying. Most of the ticket-dodging happens between Clifton Down and Stapleton Road stations, because there is such a short distance between stops, which means a conductor has almost no chance of checking every ticket on a busy train.

Read more: http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/story-19258535-detail/story.html#ixzz2VzFkxgbV

Makes me wonder if Mr Onions has ever tried buying a ticket under the circumstances he describes.

The other day I got on at Montpelier, heading for Worcester. I asked the guard where to sit if I wanted to buy a ticket from her; she pointed to a spot right next to the door she was operating and said 'Stand there!'.

It is quite impossible for the guard to get round everyone on that part of the line at busy times because their other duties (ensuring the safety of the train at stations) have to take priority. So what are ticketless passengers supposed to do when they get off at Stapleton Road? Find the guard and form a queue? What effect would this have on dwell times?

All this is a king-sized pain if you want to make a connection, because you have to queue up for upwards of 15 minutes sometimes to buy a ticket at the revenue protection booth by the barrier. I understand now that it is OK to get on a penalty fares train at a penalty fares station without a ticket under these circumstances, but I'd rather not take the chance of getting into an argument with a less-understanding guard...

It seems wide of the mark to accuse passengers of fare-dodging when you make it very hard for them to buy a ticket!