Poor revenue protection

[whole diary]

[Sleepy]

Travelled 5 hours in 1st Class , fed and watered but no ticket inspection on board, can confirm ticket selling on board did occur in Cornwall due to PA^▸ (Public Address (broadcast loudspeaker announcements) or Passenger Assist (railway staff providing physical assistance to passengers with mobility issues), depending on context) for someone to collect their ticket they were sold after boarding at a shack left with ATE. The Paddington barrier line staff didn't perform any better - by accident I put a ticket a few days out of date in it which gate correctly rejected for the member staff to open it and wave me through ! I did not realise my mistake until half way across Paddington concourse  I understand equipment is not infallible but even a check in just 1st Class to evict any chancers would be something.

[Timmer]

A lack of ticket inspection in First doesn’t happen so much at weekends when there is money to be made by selling Weekend First tickets.

The chancers usually try it on when the train leaves Paddington but very rarely succeed as the train manager tend to start their rounds in First.

[phile]

It amuses me when somebody tells GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Twitter about some problem on the train and the cut and paste response is "Speak to Train Manager/Conductor when they walk through the train".     In many instances,  this should read "If they walk through the train"

[1st fan]

In my experience it's normally very good for checks at the weekend but also during weekdays. One 1st host was going through with the trolley and asking to see tickets before dispensing anything. This was apparently because the TM^▸ (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context) was very busy in standard with something urgent.

I was on a fairly packed HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) out of Paddington to Hereford one Friday night a few years ago. A lady and her partner had sat down next to and opposite me in 1st before we departed. The lady said it's obviously not all first class ticket holders here and jerked her thumb in my direction. She then told her partner that she'd "Kick up a fuss if we're asked to move" as they were only going to Reading and the rest of the train was full. "Won't happen though as the guard never makes it through to First before then." To her apparent horror the Train Manager appeared and started to check tickets.

She made her 'stand' to no effect and both were given the option to move to standard or pay the difference. Whilst she was packing her things she watched with interest as I handed over my ticket. I suspect so that she'd have the satisfaction of seeing me get the same treatment. the look on her face indicated she didn't like it when it was marked and returned and the TM moved on. She said something about the TM being a uneducated fornicator to her partner and how he had to show up at the back of the train first. They both then left towards the buffet.

Similar thing happened when the train was in reverse layout at 1st was at the front. A bloke obviously thought he'd chance it in 1st and sat down well before the train left. He used the excuse of a bad leg as to why he couldn't sit or stand in standard. TM said he had to move and if he had a bad leg why had he walked the entire length of the train to reach this carriage? Bloke said he hadn't and the TM said "I watched you do it sir" Bloke made a great fuss of moving slowly towards the rear and limping despite having been fine when he boarded.

[eXPassenger]

And my experience is the opposite.  Travelling Paddington to Yatton.  The express often leaves from platform 1 or 8 (hence no barriers) and does not get checked.  If it is a through train there are no other checks as Yatton has no barriers.  If it is a change at Bristol then there is always a ticket check.

[Timmer]

Similar thing happened when the train was in reverse layout at 1st was at the front. A bloke obviously thought he'd chance it in 1st and sat down well before the train left. He used the excuse of a bad leg as to why he couldn't sit or stand in standard. TM^▸ (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context) said he had to move and if he had a bad leg why had he walked the entire length of the train to reach this carriage? Bloke said he hadn't and the TM said "I watched you do it sir" Bloke made a great fuss of moving slowly towards the rear and limping despite having been fine when he boarded.

Believe me they’ve heard it all.

[LiskeardRich]

My friend is a first class host on IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) and in conversation at the weekend I asked if someone’s in first with a standard ticket will they get freebies. He said no as hosts are supposed to check tickets.

[Tim]

I have been checked on my semi-regular Bath-Paddington morning peak service only perhaps 5% of the time in the last year.  I complemented the Guard on doing her job my last trip when she asked for my ticket.  She told me it her Polish father was to blame for instilling a work ethic into her.   

I know this will upset many, but I can't help feeling that the majority of Guards on the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) are simply too lazy to do their ticket checks.  Their laziness undermines the economic and customer service arguments for retaining the guard's role.