Assisted travel - do you tip?

[breadfan]

It had never occurred to me until yesterday as I drove my Mum to the station to meet her help onto the train (Preston to London), but she asked me if it was normal practice to tip, and if so, how much.

I said I didn't know but I would find out in time for her return journey.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It had never occurred to me until yesterday as I drove my Mum to the station to meet her help onto the train (Preston to London), but she asked me if it was normal practice to tip, and if so, how much.

Never heard of tipping on the railway, other than possibly restaurant car staff. I expect not.

Neil

 

[Delta558]

Not at all - I've occasionally been offered a pound or so by some of the old school' who insist on trying to tip but never accepted it. I'd rather a genuine 'thank you', it is worth much more to me.

 

[breadfan]

Thanks for the replies. I will let her know.

I'm sure she feels the need to pay a bit more, with her having senior railcard discount and then a buggy at Euston. While other don't have such luxuries.

 

[bengolding]

I've been told on good authority that Network Rail buggy driver assistance staff at a certain large London terminal fight over each other to get the 'desirable jobs' - assisting the elderly who are more likely to tip them than the disabled. Might explain why one driver recently thumped another.

Back in GNER restaurant and MML First Premier Service days, I regularly tipped when I got a really attentive service.

 

[LowLevel]

It's a disciplinary offence to accept gratuities normally at my TOC. I always told em to put it in a charity box - I've never earned less than 20 grand a year on the railway so many of the tippers (who presumably assumed I was on minimum wage) probably needed it more than me.

Our regulars used to buy us presents at Christmas though like chocolates and booze - those we were allowed to keep (it all got shared out between the platform staff and station supervisors and the booze was raffled each time).

 

[sarahj]

I hate it when they try and tip me. Just a 'thank you' will do. If you want to do more perhaps a note to customer services or even 'good deed feed' in the metro.

 

[Greenback]

In the old days, it used to be customary to tip porters a very small amount, and no doubt this memory lingers on in some, and has been passed down to others by older relations. I'm also pretty sure that people would feel a tip was in order in the old restaurant cars, as it would be in a static restaurant.

Nowadays, it isn't necessary to tip anyone on the railway and, as has been said, it may well be an offence to accept one.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

. . . . I'm also pretty sure that people would feel a tip was in order in the old restaurant cars, as it would be in a static restaurant.

It can't be as much as five years since a bowl of coins and notes would be firmly dropped onto the table in front of the wined and dined, as the host asked everyone "Was everything all right?".

Those bowls filled up quite quickly.

 

[Greenback]

As I thought! Perhaps the word old wasn't the best choice, I intended to refer to the days when restaurant cars were a bit more common than they are now!

 

[Donny Dave]

My opinion is that anything abover the normal standard of service* deserves a little bit extra. it is up to the person recieving the tip then to accept or refuse the tip.

Good food in a restaurant, prompt service through the night at your local watering hole of choice, hotelier going above and beyond the call of duty to make sure your stay is as good as possible, etc. If I think they deserve a bit extra, even if they refuse it, I will leave something on the counter for them to take, or put in the charity box.