Am I wrong to feel aggrieved...?

[313103]

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?

I actually think you have made all of us who work in the industry, look like good for nothings who want it free all the time and when you have to pay moan about.

Despite my 31 years of working on the railway i have only gone in First class if I have paid the upgrade. I never try it on and on some occasions feel miffed when i have filled in a box and i am the only one who has seen it. I don't moan about (well i do to my wife) or write about it on a public forum where you are unlikely to get sympathy as most of the people have to pay large amounts of money to do what you do for free.

 

[ukrob]

313103, I don't often agree with you but well said - in particular the first paragraph

 

[Mr Spock]

why do you think its wrong?? are we not allowed any perks left (we put up with enough cr*p as it is)

I consider that it is wrong for staff to allow others to travel for free when they are not entitled to, what is so hard to understand about that?

When you joined the railways you were told what perks (travel facilities) you would be entitled to but you appear to think that it is not enough and staff should be allowed to travel whenever and wherever you like for free.

 

[Flamingo]

A slow drive through Sheffield or Leeds in the evening does me for the week

Once you don't mind the tickets for kerb-crawling!

 

[ANorthernGuard]

I consider that it is wrong for staff to allow others to travel for free when they are not entitled to, what is so hard to understand about that?

When you joined the railways you were told what perks (travel facilities) you would be entitled to but you appear to think that it is not enough and staff should be allowed to travel whenever and wherever you like for free.

actually yes I do, it seems more like Jealously from alot of people just because you don't get the same perks, I don't get upset if people have company cars or get discounts in shops or whatever, its a simple case of just being polite on the railway, we look after each other thats the way its always been and always will be, that is one of the reasons the railway is great.

 

[All Line Rover]

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.

You don't (politely) ask if you can sit in First Class? You should! Whenever I travel First Class with Virgin (which I do very frequently), I almost always see a few members of Virgin Trains staff sitting in First Class. The FC host happily gives them tea/coffee and biscuits, but not sandwiches or meals, which is understandable.

I think Virgin TM's are very flexible about staff sitting in First Class simply because of the amount of free seats available. Why should a fellow member of staff (who works for Virgin) have to stand in Standard Class on a Virgin train when there are plenty of free seats available in First Class?

That's my opinion anyway...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

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!

Not that argument again! :roll:

If you work in a supermarket and buy something with your 10% discount, you are consuming a product that costs money to produce.

If you work for a TOC and occupy an empty seat (in Standard or First Class) it costs the TOC nothing!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

With the whole upgrade thing, and I don't intend to be mean here, more fool her for paying full 1st Class fare at a weekend!

Did she honestly pay £423 for an FOR when she could have paid £144.70 for an SVR and two weekend upgrades? If so then she's a bit of an idiot in my opinion. If she bought the FOR from the ticket office, the person who sold it to her is an even bigger idiot!

 

[whhistle]

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(!)

Err, or just travel in Standard?

You must remember that is not a right to have free First Class travel. Seriously, if you are moaning about not getting that then I'd suggest you re-look at what you do get and be happy witht that!

 

[Eng274]

If I was employed by a TOC and was given free travel to commute to where I was based I'd just be extra grateful that they were willing to save me a serious chunk of my salary!

I know someone who commutes between Edinburgh and Glasgow who would sell their granny to avoid paying £3,188 per annum to get to work.

 

[rmt-driver]

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

Do you have to be in railway uniform to have a chance of not getting charged the upgrade?

 

[island]

Sandwiches?
My seat neighbour last Sunday (Glasgow-Euston), paying full-fare 1st class, was told by VT that sandwiches were available at the shop in standard (to be paid for) if she wanted more than coffee and crisps.

That'll be the same as every other first-class passenger on weekends.

 

[rmt-driver]

That'll be the same as every other first-class passenger on weekends.

Not as important as passengers on Mondays, even though they may well have paid exactly the same price :roll:

 

[Scotrail84]

Looks he's no entitled to it and it seems he thinks the world owes him something. Erse of the highest order!

 

[hairyhandedfool]

....With the whole upgrade thing, and I don't intend to be mean here, more fool her for paying full 1st Class fare at a weekend!

....Did she honestly pay £423 for an FOR when she could have paid £144.70 for an SVR and two weekend upgrades? If so then she's a bit of an idiot in my opinion. If she bought the FOR from the ticket office, the person who sold it to her is an even bigger idiot!

I haven't read the thread fully, but are assumptions being made here?

Was her plan to travel on a weekday and the plan changed after buying the ticket? Did she pay for the ticket?

Going back to the topic in hand, I have only asked to use first class once recetly and even then I had bought a priv Anytime return to see if I could make use of the generous Virgin weekend first offer. I was turned down as it was on a Voyager with only one first class coach.

For those who think passengers are always harshly treated by guards, the number of times I have seen guards use discretion is far higher than I suspect you think.

 

[Marvin]

If you work for a TOC and occupy an empty seat (in Standard or First Class) it costs the TOC nothing!

It would cost the TOC nothing if I, as an ordinary paying customer, occupied an empty seat in First rather than standing in Standard. But for some reason they take exception to me doing so. Why should it be different if I happened to be railway staff?

 

[ANorthernGuard]

It would cost the TOC nothing if I, as an ordinary paying customer, occupied an empty seat in First rather than standing in Standard. But for some reason they take exception to me doing so. Why should it be different if I happened to be railway staff?

Every job has its perks, this is one of them officially or not, the majority of railway workers look after each other and don't spend half there time trying to either belittle each other or s**t stir about each other (of course it does happen BUT) like certain other jobs where you have to rely on each other in emergencies to help protect people and save lives it gives us a camaraderie, I'm sorry if people don't like it but maybe if other types of job had good perks there wouldn't be this jealousy that has been around non-railway staff for along time, get over it and look at the perks in your own job, if you haven't got any, get a job that has simple

 

[All Line Rover]

It would cost the TOC nothing if I, as an ordinary paying customer, occupied an empty seat in First rather than standing in Standard. But for some reason they take exception to me doing so. Why should it be different if I happened to be railway staff?

Because they want you to pay for a First Class ticket next time - it's one of the main reasons for travelling First Class! :roll:

A member of railway staff who is on free travel or a PRIV ticket is never going to pay for a full-priced First Class ticket! (In actual fact, upgrading a member of staff to a quiet First Class carriage could be considered a benefit (to the TOC) when Standard Class is packed, because more space will be made available for paying customers. )

 

[Trog]

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?

I have over 30 years service, and have never asked for an upgrade to first class, been offered one, or even just helped myself to one. As I would be too ashamed to be thought of as some sort of no good free loader for asking, or to get myself or the guard in trouble for allowing it.

In the event of problems I will show the guard my ID, and tell him that if he needs any help from someone passed to be on track, or the use of a lineside gate key etc he has only to ask. This is my duty as a railwayman, and I do not need or expect to be bribed with first class travel to pay for it.

If the train is crowded I will stand, as I was taught as a youngster that the paying passenger comes first.

Although being only human I do tend to react quicker should the nearest standee be young and the owner of a large pair of tits.

 

[Mr Spock]

I have never read such a load of cr*p from some staff on here about their "right" to travel for free all the time especially ANorthern guard.

When you joined the railways you signed a contract which presumably listed what travel facilities you were entitled to - if you did not agree with them then you should not have signed the contract.

As for "we are all in it together" attitude that seems to go out of the window when a guard does his job correctly and charges staff for travelling as that is when we get the attitude of "I will not help him" in these circumstances.

Seems to me that the jealousy comes from the "new entrants" who do not have the same facilities as protected staff.

 

[dk1]

Do you have to be in railway uniform to have a chance of not getting charged the upgrade?

Not at all. Most guards will smile once they see a staff pass & walk on. Some will charge but not many. Same as everywhere really.

 

[Darandio]

actually yes I do, it seems more like Jealously from alot of people just because you don't get the same perks, I don't get upset if people have company cars or get discounts in shops or whatever, its a simple case of just being polite on the railway, we look after each other thats the way its always been and always will be, that is one of the reasons the railway is great.

I wouldn't say that it is down to jealousy at all, its probably more to do with the OP rubbing everyones nose in it by having the cheek to start the thread in the first place!

If it is the case that you have free standard travel on only the TOC you work for, I don't think the majority have a problem with a member of staff allowing free travel on a different TOC. I certainly haven't, provided its all done fairly with regards to giving a seat up to a paying passenger and being prepared to stand. It's also referenced by staff members on here with regards to an extra pair of hands should anything "go down".

That isn't the issue at hand though, its the expectation on top of that already fantastic perk to be allowed into First Class for free simply because you are part of the "gang". Thats what I and many others don't agree with and what has probably shocked many.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

I wouldn't say that it is down to jealousy at all, its probably more to do with the OP rubbing everyones nose in it by having the cheek to start the thread in the first place!

If it is the case that you have free standard travel on only the TOC you work for, I don't think the majority have a problem with a member of staff allowing free travel on a different TOC. I certainly haven't, provided its all done fairly with regards to giving a seat up to a paying passenger and being prepared to stand. It's also referenced by staff members on here with regards to an extra pair of hands should anything "go down".

That isn't the issue at hand though, its the expectation on top of that already fantastic perk to be allowed into First Class for free simply because you are part of the "gang". Thats what I and many others don't agree with and what has probably shocked many.

Just "for the record" I have never asked to go into 1st class and I ALWAYS give up my seat if the train is full, I still stand by my belief that Train staff should get free Travel we all look after each other, now if certain psychologist/Star Trek sounding members don't like that...get a job on the railways if not..stop whining
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I have never read such a load of cr*p from some staff on here about their "right" to travel for free all the time especially ANorthern guard.

When you joined the railways you signed a contract which presumably listed what travel facilities you were entitled to - if you did not agree with them then you should not have signed the contract.

As for "we are all in it together" attitude that seems to go out of the window when a guard does his job correctly and charges staff for travelling as that is when we get the attitude of "I will not help him" in these circumstances.

Seems to me that the jealousy comes from the "new entrants" who do not have the same facilities as protected staff.

also I am certainly not jealous of anyone with boxes, your constant whining and hatred of the perks that train crew getting are about as old as one of our pacers.

 

[Scotrail84]

If the train is crowded I will stand, as I was taught as a youngster that the paying passenger comes first.
Although being only human I do tend to react quicker should the nearest standee be young and the owner of a large pair of tits. [/QUOTE]

 

[Eng274]

If the train is crowded I will stand, as I was taught as a youngster that the paying passenger comes first.
Although being only human I do tend to react quicker should the nearest standee be young and the owner of a large pair of tits.

I'll remember that when the bus is full of old dears with their free buspasses

 

[AlterEgo]

As for "we are all in it together" attitude that seems to go out of the window when a guard does his job correctly and charges staff for travelling as that is when we get the attitude of "I will not help him" in these circumstances.

Sorry but I object to that. I always offer to assist on-train staff where needed, even though I'm an office wallah with no PTS.

I've had to do it twice in the last two months alone, travelling pass on my own TOC. I wouldn't hesitate to offer help to staff of another TOC either. I did assist with a faredodging incident on HS1 recently - the guard, having checked my Priv ticket, knew I was staff and asked me to discreetly keep an eye on the toilet while he did dispatching duties. Not a problem - it might be me working onboard one day.

 

[Scotrail84]

I'll remember that when the bus is full of old dears with their free buspasses

Id like to point out that i did not post the bit about the boobies i merely posted the smiley face

 

[Mr Spock]

Just "for the record" I have never asked to go into 1st class and I ALWAYS give up my seat if the train is full, I still stand by my belief that Train staff should get free Travel we all look after each other, now if certain psychologist/Star Trek sounding members don't like that...get a job on the railways if not..stop whining
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


also I am certainly not jealous of anyone with boxes, your constant whining and hatred of the perks that train crew getting are about as old as one of our pacers.

If you had read my previous posts you would know that I had worked for the railways and now retired with travel facilities.

I have no problems with train crew (does that mean only they get the special free travel offer) getting perks I just think that they should stick to their contracted ones.

AlterEgo - I was not having a go at all staff only the ones that have posted that they would not help if they were not allowed to travel free.

By the way whats the difference between a member of public who constantly travels without a ticket and a member of staff that does the same - the first one gets done for fraud and the second gets "Hi mate sit where you want". Some justice.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

If you had read my previous posts you would know that I had worked for the railways and now retired with travel facilities.

I have no problems with train crew (does that mean only they get the special free travel offer) getting perks I just think that they should stick to their contracted ones.

AlterEgo - I was not having a go at all staff only the ones that have posted that they would not help if they were not allowed to travel free.

By the way whats the difference between a member of public who constantly travels without a ticket and a member of staff that does the same - the first one gets done for fraud and the second gets "Hi mate sit where you want". Some justice.

You sound like you were Mr Popular when you were on the railway, I have never once said in my life that I wouldn't help a colleague if they needed or asked it, so then if you want to be Mr Cheerful why should retired railway men/women get free travel they no longer input anything into the railway so why should they, maybe its because its the right thing to do just like all Staff should have free travel privileges.

 

[43167]

I remember when weekend first was £3. Dont know if I would bother with it now, especially at £25. Maybe if I was going on a long distance, like Kings Cross-Inverness, any other journey, probably not.

 

[Flamingo]

I note that the OP has not replied to any of the points raised on the thread...

 

[Scotrail84]

I note that the OP has not replied to any of the points raised on the thread...

Its either a wind-up to see how many folk would go mental or the OP is a shiote bag!