Cardiff Queen Street - long queues

[CentralTrainer]

Basically the gateline assistant called me back but I just waved my arm in front of me and said I have to go.

If I were that Gateline Assistant and you did that to me - I'd be straight onto BTP and the Guard to meet you at the next station.

 

[yorkie]

Why risk going through the stress and inconvenience of having the book thrown at you, which, going by the responses here, it is a fight you cannot win, when there is a much easier alternative of turning up at the station 10-20 minutes earlier?

How early should people turn up before the scheduled departure of an ATW service from Queen Street?

And, more importantly, how early do ATW want people turning up?

Yes I know that inadequate staffing levels, be it at railway stations, restaurants, post offices, shops, whatever, is a damned nuisance. It seems to be common in southern England though,

Are you suggesting many train companies are not fulfilling their Charter commitments? If so, do you think this is acceptable?

and it is advisable to plan with the expectation you will get held up.

By how long?

"I'll do exactly the same thing again if I have to." That is a very antagonistic attitude. If you regularly go around with that sort of attitude, one day, you will antagonize someone who is in a bad mood and in no mood for BS, and get yourself thumped.

I agree that it is unwise to do this sort of thing again, though if the gateline staff thumped him, they'd be sacked.

I suggest monitoring and complaining about queuing times, and taking the complaint as far as you need to (Transport Focus, DfT, ORR, MP etc).

 

[Fare-Cop]

"I'll do exactly the same thing again if I have to." That is a very antagonistic attitude. If you regularly go around with that sort of attitude, one day, you will antagonize someone who is in a bad mood and in no mood for BS, and get yourself thumped.

I certainly don't subscribe to the idea of physical retribution, but I agree, keep up that attitude and sooner or later a member of staff will call BTP and/ or, revenue staff and the OP will find himself explaining to a Court why he thinks the rules do not apply to him.

From the experience of recent Courts reported in Cardiff, the OP (or anyone copying his lead) would be very likely to find out just how expensive this 'attitude' can become.

 

[SA_900]

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[CentralTrainer]

Given he purchased a ticket once onboard they would have told you not to waste their time

And that makes the whole thing ok then?

No wonder people think that rules and authority don't apply to them...


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[najaB]

And that makes the whole thing ok then?

No wonder people think that rules and authority don't apply to them...

We were told on a thread recently that T&Cs don't apply if they're too long. :roll:

 

[yorkie]

Given he purchased a ticket once onboard they would have told you not to waste their time

But if BTP are on hand, they may get to him before he has the chance to board.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Why risk going through the stress and inconvenience of having the book thrown at you, which, going by the responses here, it is a fight you cannot win, when there is a much easier alternative of turning up at the station 10-20 minutes earlier?

Well I am now that I have fallen victim to the useless layout at Queen Street.

"I'll do exactly the same thing again if I have to." That is a very antagonistic attitude. If you regularly go around with that sort of attitude, one day, you will antagonize someone who is in a bad mood and in no mood for BS, and get yourself thumped.

Oh well, that's just me. I'm sassy and don't let people get on top of me. I take no BS either, so maybe we'd actually get along!

If I were that Gateline Assistant and you did that to me - I'd be straight onto BTP and the Guard to meet you at the next station.

LOL what on earth for? Buying a valid ticket on the train instead of at the station because they've taken too long? Dear me....

How early should people turn up before the scheduled departure of an ATW service from Queen Street?

I did tweet ATW this morning actually. Their reply was the standard five minutes.

And, more importantly, how early do ATW want people turning up?

About two hours by the sounds of it!

Are you suggesting many train companies are not fulfilling their Charter commitments? If so, do you think this is acceptable?

Yes and no.

I agree that it is unwise to do this sort of thing again, though if the gateline staff thumped him, they'd be sacked.

If the gateline staff did assault me I'd be on the phone to the police straight away, all over a bloody train ticket as well!

I suggest monitoring and complaining about queuing times, and taking the complaint as far as you need to (Transport Focus, DfT, ORR, MP etc).

I intend on doing so. A randomer replied to my tweet saying the same, and providing a link for Transport Focus.

Given he purchased a ticket once onboard they would have told you not to waste their time

Exactly. I did nothing wrong. I even had my railcard and money in my hand, so it was obvious I wasn't a fare evader. I must admit I'm a little tired of some of the dramatic responses I've seen on here (having me arrested, being thumped, honest to god I'm laughing but fuming at the same time!)

 

[najaB]

Exactly. I did nothing wrong.

The veracity of that statement depends on if you are speaking morally or legally.

 

[ValleyLines142]

The veracity of that statement depends on if you are speaking morally or legally.

Both, as far as I'm concerned.

I am not a criminal. Regardless of these stupid rules that are in place, I had a valid ticket for travel and to potentially prosecute someone for buying it elsewhere is absolutely shocking when there are poor facilities beforehand that potentially would have caused a delay. It baffles me that this is okay and I may even take it up with Transport Focus right away.

I've encouraged many other people to do the same.

 

[najaB]

I am not a criminal. Regardless of these stupid rules that are in place...

Laws don't stop being laws because you don't agree with them.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Laws don't stop being laws because you don't agree with them.

It wasn't stopped though, as my ticket was valid for travel.

If I then got on the train and asked for a single from a later station then I'd accept it.

 

[najaB]

It wasn't stopped though, as my ticket was valid for travel.

If I then got on the train and asked for a single from a later station then I'd accept it.

To review your initial post:

...and overrode the gateline assistant's decision and proceeded up to the platform. He said something to me but I brushed my arm at him as if to say look I seriously have to go. I made my train with LESS THAN THIRTY seconds to spare.

You broke the law when you boarded without first obtaining a ticket despite there being working facilities for their issuance. It may be a 'stupid rule' but it is what it is and you did what you did. The law doesn't say the facilities need to be adequate, just working.

Do ATW need to 'up their game'? Yes, without question. But that doesn't absolve you of the obligation to comply with the rules, no matter how stupid you feel they are.

 

[ValleyLines142]

To review your initial post:You broke the law when you boarded without first obtaining a ticket despite there being working facilities for their issuance. It may be a 'stupid rule' but it is what it is and you did what you did. The law doesn't say the facilities need to be adequate, just working.

Do ATW need to 'up their game'? Yes, without question. But that doesn't absolve you of the obligation to comply with the rules, no matter how stupid you feel they are.

I have no energy for this anymore. My views still stand.

 

[najaB]

My views still stand.

You are entitled to your views. They don't trump the law though.

 

[ValleyLines142]

You are entitled to your views. They don't trump the law though.

I don't really care anymore

 

[Greenback]

I'm sure no one wants to see you get into trouble through being frustrated with the queues and jumping on a train after being explicitly told not to.

Whether we like it or not, that is a criminal offence and ther eis always going to be a possibility that ATW will cause you a great deal of grief and difficulty even if a court of law eventually found in your favour. That's not guaranteed either, no matter how strongly you and others may feel that you ar emorally in the right. Courst are concerned with legalities more than moralities.

 

[bnm]

Next time it happens at the same location, ask the gateline staffer, "I've queued for nearly 10 minutes, I'm about to miss my train, can I purchase my ticket on the other side of the barrier?"

Don't mention or point to the excess fares windows, maybe just a casual glance in their direction...

If allowed through then board your train (which just so happens to be on the other side if the barrier ) and pay at the earliest opportunity.