Absence of Ticket Inspections on HSS

[whole diary]

[plymothian]

The other problem with swapping between units is the FSL has to close down their catering provision for each change, then basically ends up twiddling their thumbs for whilst in the other unit.

[CMRail]

Train Manager was very busy yesterday on the Bristol train, sat down in first class with a cup of tea! Yes he was on duty, yes it was a 10 car IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) and no there were no ticket examiners on board!

[Tim]

Well, my experience of HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) in the 'West' is that ticket checks are always very frequent, and usually after every stop.  Based on my observations of travelling at least once or twice a month.

I think I have confused you with my incorrect terminology.  By "west" I meant the local services around Bristol (as opposed to Thames valley).  Ticket almost always checked on these trains by lively engaged staff.  The HSS services I used are Bath-London and occasionally Cardiff-London and these services are almost always unchecked.  West of Tauton, I have insufficient data to comment on high or low speed services. 

[Timmer]

The HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) services I used are Bath-London and occasionally Cardiff-London and these services are almost always unchecked.  West of Tauton, I have insufficient data to comment on high or low speed services. 

Is this in First or Standard? My experience is First is regularly checked, and rightly so, and Standard not as much especially with most IC^▸ (Inter City) stations having gatelines.

[plymothian]

The HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) services I used are Bath-London and occasionally Cardiff-London and these services are almost always unchecked.  West of Tauton, I have insufficient data to comment on high or low speed services. 

Is this in First or Standard? My experience is First is regularly checked, and rightly so, and Standard not as much especially with most IC^▸ (Inter City) stations having gatelines.

Which shows the fallacy of the attitude that many TMs^▸ (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context) have, given there are hundreds of ways to get on the train without passing through a gateline.

[CMRail]

Have noticed that recently ticket examinations are on the up on services out of London. I guess TMs^▸ (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context) no longer have to worry about releasing the doors, making announcements (walking to the buffet for it), SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) etc.

[TaplowGreen]

There were hordes of them at Reading this morning on both gate lines.

[didcotdean]

My ticket was checked yesterday mid afternoon from London before Reading even though it left from a barriered platform (on a Cardiff service).

Just before leaving there had been an incessantly long announcement about not using Advance tickets that were for another service; I say that as the Train Manager was went through three times, wording it a slightly different way each time, including the need for a matching seat reservation. I note in passing that the carriage I was in wasn't even a quarter full.