SWT Ordering bus driver to check tickets!

[embers25]

Following on from the Nat Express East Anglia debacle a few weeks back where on several lines they order ticket checks by replacement bus drivers some jobsworth at Guildford has jumped on the bandwagon and insisted that the bus driver checked tickets.

It must be a member of staff who'd had a bad day as they have never checked on or off bus during any of the blockades so far that I am aware. The bus drivers response however was comical. First after the SWT staff member insisted someone queue up in the huge queue (lack of open windows as usual!) the bus drive refused to leave instead waiting for them. Then everybody else that boarded was asked to show a ticket with the words and I quote "I have been instructed for some reason that I must ensure you have a ticket before boarding, given I have no idea what is considered valid if you've got a ticket of any sort, even a ticket for the cinema that'll be fine!"

No I'm not condoning traveling without a ticket and all passengers should have a valid ticket but as we have already established, replacement bus drivers cannot and should not be checking and if SWT care that much their staff should not be lazy and do it themselves.

 

[scotsman]

That's an insult to the trained RPIs!

 

[313103]

Whilst i agree it is the Bus Drivers job to drive buses, it is not his job to check 'RAIL' tickets. If SWT or any company want their staff to collect tickets, then they should employ enough train staff on Sundays to do it. The fact of the matter is that SWT are using a sister stagecoach bus company who obviously pay their staff less and think that the bus driver should do the job, rather then SWT paying extra staff to come in on Sundays and check tickets.

 

[notadriver]

Oh I'm so glad I wasn't there. If was the bus replacement driver would have told the rail staff to ......

 

[route101]

In March 2008 i took a rail replacement from Glasgow to Carlisle and there no check whats so ever . Anyone could of got on.

 

[CarterUSM]

Whilst i agree it is the Bus Drivers job to drive buses, it is not his job to check 'RAIL' tickets. If SWT or any company want their staff to collect tickets, then they should employ enough train staff on Sundays to do it. The fact of the matter is that SWT are using a sister stagecoach bus company who obviously pay their staff less and think that the bus driver should do the job, rather then SWT paying extra staff to come in on Sundays and check tickets.

Spot on. I don't know how SWT are getting away with this.

 

[trentside]

A few weeks ago I had a similar situation on an EMT replacement bus service from Lincoln to Retford. The bus was being provided by Stagecoach, and was driven by one of their local service drivers - but there was also a second man wearing a plain black fleece, with no identification or uniform visible, who insisted on checking tickets of all the passengers boarding the bus. Shortly before the bus departed, he boarded, told everyone to put their seatbelts on and then vanished - and so no passengers boarding at Saxilby or Gainsborough had their tickets checked.

 

[12CSVT]

Have these bus drivers been given training on different types of rail tickets ?
For example staff priv passes ?
If not then SWT would be on dodgy ground, I'd have thought.

 

[wintonian]

I remember over 10 years ago when there were replacement buses through New Milton or at Southampton Central or Bournemouth you would sometimes see an RPI ask to see tickets as people got on, but they never ever asked what I assume would not be the bus drivers job, to do it for them.

It's an outrage!

The bus drivers have no training and it is not there job to. If SWT want the tickets checked then they can go and find the RPI's to do it! :roll:

 

[embers25]

The driver was obviously VERY ticked off at being asked and obviously he hadn't been asked during previous trips. He also spent the whole way to Woking providing a running commentary of things happening on the road and life in general and had us all in stitches.

 

[Oracle]

The replacement service between Southampton and Bournemouth used a 700 Coastliner double-decker yesterday! It seemed that no checking was done on a later bus that we followed up from Brockenhurst.

 

[Chapeltom]

Bus drivers having to check rail tickets? That's barmy! I can see why the driver was "slightly annoyed" as it isn't part of his job to do the rail companies job.

 

[moonrakerz]

I don't know how SWT are getting away with this.

SWT are a Law unto themselves. Not only do they make up their own rules, they blatantly disregard rules laid down by DfT and other rail authorities, and expect the PAYING, travelling public to fall into line with their whims.

 

[embers25]

Yup that sums them up pefectly! Their only plus points are their clean trains, Salisbury Traincare depot and the 159/8 refurbs. Saying that other companies would love to have so many 159/158 and other stock laying around spare for most/all week. Why SWT haven't been forced to give some of their 158's to other TOCs I don't know as they seem to have many to spare although maybe someone can correct that statement with actual rosters! Certainly the one that does that stupid Pompey-Basingstoke one is a crazy waste of a unit.

 

[Tom B]

Surely when there is a railway replacement service in operation, there are staff freed up from the stations which are shut (in staffed areas - which I'm pretty sure Guildford is) who could check tickets rather than expecting bus drivers (broadly a law unto themselves) to do it?

As for some bloke wearing a plain jacket, I'd ignore him entirely - if he's an inspector he ought to be wearing identification and/or some uniform.

 

[142094]

Do the ticket offices actually close at stations which are in engineering works areas? Thought they would still be open to sell advance tickets etc.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

They stay open - you can still buy to travel on the day ( at least that's true round here ) even when the whole service is bustituted.

 

[thefab444]

Why SWT haven't been forced to give some of their 158's to other TOCs I don't know as they seem to have many to spare although maybe someone can correct that statement with actual rosters! Certainly the one that does that stupid Pompey-Basingstoke one is a crazy waste of a unit.

We'll have some more 450s then please.

IIRC there are 8 diagrams for 11 158 units.

 

[142094]

They stay open - you can still buy to travel on the day ( at least that's true round here ) even when the whole service is bustituted.

That's what I thought. Of course may still mean that there are staff other than ticketing staff free to do other things like checking tickets on the replacement buses.

 

[wintonian]

Most of the ones I see are standing where the buses stop answering passengers questions and directing them to the correct bus, which at Winchester generally means that there are more staff visible then there normally would be.

 

[swt_passenger]

We'll have some more 450s then please.

IIRC there are 8 diagrams for 11 158 units.

No other TOC would be able to take them on without an increase in DfT's subsidy to that TOC. Look at the hoops Northern had to jump through to keep the Pacers displaced by the Metrolink closures.

If a magic wand was waved and SWT were provided with the few 450s needed for the Hampshire locals and the weekday Lymington flyer, the small number of released 158s would probably end up in store for all we know, and they'd still need half a dozen 158s just for the Salisbury - Romseys and the 10 car Waterloo service + spare. More if they ever run a further 10 car to Waterloo.

Running 9 of 11 158s (81%) daily (including the FGW hire), and 27 from 30 159s, (90%) are normal levels of DMU utilisation, , the idea there are loads of spares about just isn't correct - until more 450s are provided.

 

[CarterUSM]

That's what I thought. Of course may still mean that there are staff other than ticketing staff free to do other things like checking tickets on the replacement buses.

I understand what your saying, but whether it is part of their contract or job description to check tickets, is another matter. Devils advocate of course.