Am I wrong to feel aggrieved...?

[Johnny Lewis]

I am a member of railway staff (I work for one of the TOCs) and have just been charged the (whopping) £25 upgrade to travel in First Class from London Kings Cross to Leeds.

This is the first journey in a long while where I've been charged - I'm wondering if it is because of the free food that is now being offered. I received 4 sandwiches, a can of orange juice and a piece of lemon shortbread, served in a somewhat grudging fashion.

I know I should always expect to have to pay the upgrade, but 99% of the time, the Guards / Conductors don't seem to charge staff. Indeed, I travelled in First without paying from Manningtree to London earlier today. I'd never sit in First during the week, but weekends are a different matter. So I can't help feeling just the tiniest bit miffed.

What do people think?

 

[GB]

The question is are you entitled to free upgrades? If you are not then you will have to take it on the chin and count yourself lucky you had free upgrades in the past.

 

[EM2]

I think you've got off pretty well if you rarely get charged.
Did you ask the TM first though, or just plonk yourself down in First? I would always ask, it's only polite.

 

[Johnny Lewis]

No I am not entitled to free upgrades. But one comes to appreciate one of the few benefits of working for the railway. Anyway, I will use East Midlands Trains next time; at least they only charge £9!

And no, I didn't ask first - p'raps I should have done, then, if he'd said no, I'd have waited for the train half an hour later(!)

I guess I just have to accept that once in a while, I will have to cough up like everyone else.....

 

[dk1]

Dont think you will get much sympathy from most of the non-staff members on here. I ALWAYS have my means of payment ready & consider myself lucky that i rarely get charged. Should like me think yourself lucky you have got away with it so many times.

PS - Glad my colleagues at NXEA looked after you

 

[GB]

...but the point is it is NOT a benefit if you are not entitled to it.

 

[Ferret]

Dont think you will get much sympathy from most of the non-staff members on here. I ALWAYS have my means of payment ready & consider myself lucky that i rarely get charged. Should like me think yourself lucky you have got away with it so many times.

PS - Glad my colleagues at NXEA looked after you

No sympathy from the staff members on here either!!! If the TM says 'yes' it's always a bonus - it's certainly not an entitlement to be able to blag a lift or get a free upgrade but if it is offered or you ask and the Guard says yes then it's a bonus!

On a personal level, I'm happy to allow staff to occupy FC if there is space available as you never know when you may need some help, but it can't always be done!

 

[MCR247]

Oh please, get over yourself :roll:

Staff wish to use their discretion, fine. But if one didn't what is the problem? You aren't entitlled to anything, so if you don't get anything you have no right to complain. Its not like you were made to pay £50 pound for an upgrade when it is actually £20.


:roll:

 

[WestCoast]

If it's a TOC that doesn't offer great benefits or free catering in First Class, I could probably understand it.

However, TOCs like Virgin and East Coast have to provide catering as well, so I can see why they are charging you!

So, in this case, it's right that you had to pay!

 

[MCR247]

I don't see why what the TOC offers should come into it....?

 

[bluenoxid]

Just in case you didn't know, thousands of people have died today, thousands have been injured and billions are starving.

A bit miffed, yeah.

Moaning about it, ah come on.

 

[142094]

When working in the industry myself I've been more than happy with the free stuff I've been entitled to and never have gone over and above this and asked for more. There will be a time where someone will take issue with staff getting more than they should and TOCs will start to clampdown on it. As people have said, if you get away with it or the train staff allow you to do so, it is a bonus and if you don't, tough luck.

Of course this now raises the point that if TOCs were to take away privelages, employees would expect to get either an increased salary or something similar.

 

[lm321412]

I am a member of railway staff (I work for one of the TOCs) and have just been charged the (whopping) £25 upgrade to travel in First Class from London Kings Cross to Leeds.

Maybe you will tell the "whopping" £25 you paid to customers who pay thousands of pounds to travel First Class every year...

By all means have what your entitled to, but moaning about something that your not even entitled to? Come on, get real.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

There are guidance notes to assist EC staff in managing exactly this situation.

Staff travelling in first accomodation is entirely a matter for the guard to agree to or not. Catering staff are advised to offer staff travelling pax FoC with tea/coffee and IIRC light snacks (biscuits) but not more.

Clearly, like you, I have seen many crews being much more hospitable than that to staff travelling on EC in the 1st seats next to the kitchen. Thre's a greater chance of being offered something substantial to eat if boarding/asking after crew have completed the main passenger food services, and that the staff member can then be offered the unsold 'leftovers'!

 

[WestCoast]

I don't see why what the TOC offers should come into it....?

Because if they do offer something (up to a full meal), they may rather give it to those who have paid to upgrade. Just my opinion.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Staff travelling in first accomodation is entirely a matter for the guard to agree to or not. Catering staff are advised to offer staff travelling pax FoC with tea/coffee and IIRC light snacks (biscuits) but not more.

Seems sensible.

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

Quite honestly, I think you should count yourself lucky you haven't been required to pay the upgrade EVERY time! I feel quite aggrevated at the fact you posted this - surely paying once in a while doesn't affect your job! You get free Standard Class travel, I couldn't complain!

In fact, posting this might just lower the chances of free upgrades for others - so I would be careful!

 

[ANorthernGuard]

Maybe you should have asked 1st? personally I never charge any staff (not that we have 1st class) but still I do expect respect.

 

[Scotty]

I guess I just have to accept that once in a while, I will have to cough up like everyone else.....

Exactly.

 

[Darandio]

Am I wrong to feel aggrieved...?

Yes, you are!

 

[Solent&Wessex]

Maybe you should have asked 1st? personally I never charge any staff (not that we have 1st class) but still I do expect respect.

Indeed. I never assume I will get anything I'm not entitled to. As a "New Entrant" I don't get free travel at all. I often end up getting it, but I don't assume I will. I ALWAYS ask first. If they say yes, then bonus. If they say no then I buy a ticket like I am meant to. It is courtesy for your colleagues. It irritates me when people just plonk themselves on my train - in any class - and just expect to either go First Class or get a free ride. I will always offer staff a free ride, and where possible will offer them FC, but if it is something they are not entitled to they should ask first - like myself and lots of others do.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Given how much i spend on rail travel each year i would love to have some freebies. Not going to happen though is it? So why should you have a freebie?

 

[AlterEgo]

I'm staff and no sympathy from me.

I always pay the fare. With my TOC I'm entitled to unlimited Std travel at weekdays and unlimited 1st at weekends/bank holidays.

I commute using my own TOC during the week and feel bad even asking the TM if I can sit in First, even though 95% of them will agree to it.

I already save a vast amount of money by not needing a season ticket, so I never ever ask for a free upgrade during my daily commute. I "slum" it in Standard like everyone else. I have on several occasions flashed my pass in Std, and been practically ordered into First. I certainly would never ever expect anything from another TOC. I travelled from Bedford to London and back today on EMT and paid the Priv rate.

If I was a TM or guard though, I am of the "one railway" school and would agree to staff sitting in 1st, provided I was asked first! Respect is a two way street.

 

[ukrob]

Maybe you should have asked 1st? personally I never charge any staff (not that we have 1st class) but still I do expect respect.

Well said.

I can't believe how laughable the OP's question is. Not entitled to something, didn't ask first, and then is annoyed they didn't get it for free!

 

[Captain Chaos]

I always go up to the guard when boarding and offer to pay the upgrade immediatly when boarding and tell him where I am going to. If he/she decides not to charge me then that is up to them. They are entitled to use their discretion as to whether to charge or not. Which is exactly what I did today when travelling to St Erth and back. I have no sympathy really for the OP. He is expecting something he is not really entitled to. With me I will only ask to pay the upgrade if I really am willing to pay it. If I am not willing to pay it then I sit in Standard. I am always willing to pay. Anything else is a bonus.

 

[Masbroughlad]

Absolutely in the wrong! You get free standard travel which is a fantastic perk in the first place!

 

[causton]

Yes, you are. Workers at my place get 15% off on one day of the week for items only for ourselves. Most supermarket employees get 10% off for them and a family member/friend. My father gets a £75 voucher at Christmas to spend.
But to come and get free train travel every day plus much more (depending on when you joined etc etc I'm no expert this is probably all wrong), you're a lot better off than most! You should feel lucky you have that and that you can get free first class if the staff on the train are in a good mood, or upgrade to 1st for a reasonable price if they follow the rules.

This is assuming you work "on the frontline" as station staff/driver/guard, and not a manager, for the comparison with other jobs... if not, my thoughts are still valid!

 

[185]

Even Heidi Mottram, former MD of Northern Rail got a free trip on my train the day she forgot her pass

 

[amcluesent]

You got FOUR sarnies on EC and you're still aggreived!! Amazing...

 

[Stigy]

No I am not entitled to free upgrades. But one comes to appreciate one of the few benefits of working for the railway.

We get quite good benefits I think, taking in to account what other people get who work for other companies! What more do you want, free gym membership?

I always ask the Guard first, as it's only polite afterall. Could you imagine the embarassment if an RPI had found you first and reported you...? ;(

I'm assuming it's actually the TOC you work for, and not another TOC?

 

[dk1]

We get quite good benefits I think, taking in to account what other people get who work for other companies! What more do you want, free gym membership?

I always ask the Guard first, as it's only polite afterall. Could you imagine the embarassment if an RPI had found you first and reported you...? ;(

I'm assuming it's actually the TOC you work for, and not another TOC?

If the guard hadnt been through why would it matter? If he had then you say the guard has ok'd it. Nothing else said We all work in together.