All Fares available on board(?)

[wellhouse]

An interesting situation at Huddersfield this morning.

Having bought tickets the day before, we were enjoying an excellent breakfast at the Buffet on Platform 8, when repeated announcements were made addressed to those queuing at the booking office that they could buy all tickets from conductors on board, including off-peak and railcard discounted fares.

No sooner had we joined our First TPE service to York (and Huddersfield is a First TPE managed station) than the recorded announcement was made that only full Anytime Tickets could be bought on board. Not a problem for us, since we had tickets already, and when the Conductor came through, she told us that she had heard the announcement during the stop at Huddersfield without being noitified officially.

I can't help thinking that there must have been some unfortunates during the morning who may have connected with either East Coast, Cross Country or Virgin services without having the opportunity to buy on board their first train, and then been hit with full fares. (Our train was full and standing between Leeds and York, so that the trolley couldn't get through) If First TPE didn't tell their own staff on trains stopping at Huddersfield that a dispensation had been allowed, I can't believe that they had spread the word further afield.

 

[yorkie]

I can't help thinking that there must have been some unfortunates during the morning who may have connected with either East Coast, Cross Country or Virgin services without having the opportunity to buy on board their first train, and then been hit with full fares. (Our train was full and standing between Leeds and York, so that the trolley couldn't get through) If First TPE didn't tell their own staff on trains stopping at Huddersfield that a dispensation had been allowed, I can't believe that they had spread the word further afield.

People in such a position should explain the situation to the guard on EC/XC/Virgin either the guard will charge a discounted fare or they can call control and ask them to check with Huddersfield station and then get back to you, which would be time consuming but they can do that if they want, and when they do contact the station then they would find out that you are entitled to a discounted fare. I'd refuse to be bullied, that's for sure.

 

[142094]

Huddersfield usually has the automated announcement which says that only the undiscounted fares can be bought on the train. Either TPE have cocked up and not told all the guards, or someone at the station has been giving out duff info to passengers. I've never heard of this happening before, usually it's tough luck if there is a queue at the office and you miss the train.

 

[Bellwater]

Queues at Huddersfield can be horrendous, so I expect that's why tpe have said offer a full range of tickets. Unfortunately inter-TOC communication in my experience is poor, unless you actually ring Control and tell them the situation! As a passenger the easiest thing to do is find the Traincrew(if possible)and ask if you can purchase from them given the situation, can't see it being a problem.

 

[Solent&Wessex]

Huddersfield usually has the automated announcement which says that only the undiscounted fares can be bought on the train. Either TPE have cocked up and not told all the guards, or someone at the station has been giving out duff info to passengers. I've never heard of this happening before, usually it's tough luck if there is a queue at the office and you miss the train.

I received a text message from the Control Centre on my work phone at 1019 yesterday saying that a full range of tickets should be offered from Huddersfield due to large queues at the booking office.

I then received another message at 1253 to advise that the long queues had gone and we should revert back to normal ticketing restrictions.

It is quite common to get messages like this for different stations, especially Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings.

I can only assume some delay in this message reaching the member of staff on the OPs train.

 

[142094]

Sounds like a good and practical idea, as long as everyone gets the message. Either that or there should be more ticket machines/staff at Huddersfield station in the first place. Just wonder what would happen say if someone was on a Northern service to Leeds/Sheffield/Man Vic etc, and asked for a discounted ticket?

 

[Solent&Wessex]

Sounds like a good and practical idea, as long as everyone gets the message. Either that or there should be more ticket machines/staff at Huddersfield station in the first place. Just wonder what would happen say if someone was on a Northern service to Leeds/Sheffield/Man Vic etc, and asked for a discounted ticket?

1. The booking hall and office is going to be getting a major rebuild starting later this year which will see the booking hall enlarged significantly and I believe a greater provision of ticket buying facilities.

2. On a Northern train you would probably be sold whatever you wanted anyway as they rarely seem to bother with the "buy before you board policy". In fact, they will often sell you a completely invalid Off Peak ticket of some sorts in the weekday morning peak aswell!

 

[mickey]

usually it's tough luck if there is a queue at the office and you miss the train.

Isn't there an agreed maximum waiting time in the CoC? If so (and you had waited at least that amount of time in the queue, preferably with a few extra minutes' grace) you should always be able to buy a discounted ticket on board. You may have to argue your case but you'd win - if nothing else they can simply use CCTV footage to prove their/your case...

 

[Solent&Wessex]

Isn't there an agreed maximum waiting time in the CoC? If so (and you had waited at least that amount of time in the queue, preferably with a few extra minutes' grace) you should always be able to buy a discounted ticket on board. You may have to argue your case but you'd win - if nothing else they can simply use CCTV footage to prove their/your case...

I don't think there is anything solid about waiting times, at least I can't recall seeing anything.

What I do know is, is that the Revenue Protection pages of the staff fares manual say : "Neither a queue at a ticket office nor the customers late arrival at the station (unless a train company is clearly at fault) are valid grounds for boarding a train without having first bought a ticket or paid any excess fare" (or words to that effect).

 

[ian13]

I don't think there is anything solid about waiting times, at least I can't recall seeing anything.

What I do know is, is that the Revenue Protection pages of the staff fares manual say : "Neither a queue at a ticket office nor the customers late arrival at the station (unless a train company is clearly at fault) are valid grounds for boarding a train without having first bought a ticket or paid any excess fare" (or words to that effect).

I recall that there was in a DfT guideline that 10 minutes was a reasonable waiting time, and that full ticket ranges should be available on the train past this. Yorkie would probably be able to clarify this...

 

[First class]

I recall that there was in a DfT guideline that 10 minutes was a reasonable waiting time, and that full ticket ranges should be available on the train past this. Yorkie would probably be able to clarify this...

Key word there is "guideline". Up to the individual TOC whether how they interpret this.

Anyone who boards a train without a valid ticket where their origin/interchange station had working ticket purchasing facilities is liable to a higher priced fare, limited selection of tickets and/or a Penalty Fare.