Free travel on FGW from Evesham and Pershore to Worcester

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Whilst there may be barriers at stations between Paddington and Bristol TM^▸ (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context) served by high speed services, excepting some platforms at PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) and all of Chippenham, there still should be regular checks on board. Barriers aren't intelligent enough to check someone is on the right train with an Advance, they can't check that someone is dumb-belling, they are of no use checking someone who has started at an unbarriered station and has interchanged at say, Reading or Didcot, they can't prevent someone travelling in 1st Class on a Standard ticket.

[devon_metro]

Whilst there may be barriers at stations between Paddington and Bristol TM^▸ (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context) served by high speed services, excepting some platforms at PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) and all of Chippenham, there still should be regular checks on board. Barriers aren't intelligent enough to check someone is on the right train with an Advance, they can't check that someone is dumb-belling, they are of no use checking someone who has started at an unbarriered station and has interchanged at say, Reading or Didcot, they can't prevent someone travelling in 1st Class on a Standard ticket.

Agreed, I find it frustrating that I bother to pay to travel and nobody is there to check. It's no wonder so many people choose to evade their fares!

[JayMac]

Because of a lack of on board ticket checks today, First Great Western lost out on ^5 from me. Ready, willing and able to pay my Weekend First upgrade from Taunton to Newton Abbot, but a noticeably absent TM^▸ (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context) meant the ^5 stayed in my pocket.

My travelling companion was due to pay a ^15 upgrade having travelled much further than me. He too was not presented with an opportunity to do so.

[ChrisB]

Presumably you were thus unable to claim your 'free' 1st class drink & biccies though without your 1st class upgrade proof?

[JayMac]

Complimentary refreshments were offered and declined soon after I boarded. I was actually quite surprised to see a 1st Class Host on FGW^▸ (First Great Western) during Twixmas. 

I had come prepared with some ales to enjoy with my travelling companion. Three bottles of Hobgoblin for a fiver from Spar. 1st Class Host kindly fetched some tumblers for us to drink them from.

[shaun H]

A little update from my initial starting post on this topic, on new years eve i took my 9 year old son to birmingham from cheltenham spa, using cross country services. We got the tickets from the station (i have a railcard so used that too), you then have to pass through the barriers. On board the train after about 10 mins we were checked including the railcard by the TM^▸ (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context). At new street, no checks were made.
On the return journey, no check at new street, but again on the train a full check. Incidently, a girl had boarded the train at NS with no ticket, the TM made it very clear to her that she should have purchased a ticket BEFORE getting on the train as he issued her a ticket.
I have travelled using XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) many times and have always been checked at some point, it just seems FGW^▸ (First Great Western) arent so bothered, one thing i have noticed with FGW is that the TM will go through the train collecting fares from unstaffed stations, but not check tickets of those already on board, which can give rise to the dishonest traveller trying their luck !!

[ChrisB]

If FGW^▸ (First Great Western) stopped once between Worcester & say, Charlbury, I'm sure you'd be checked. If XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) stopped at Worcester or Bromsgrove, say, I don't they'd check you.

Mostly down to distance between stops