Earliest Opportunity & Young People

[island]

Most/all platforms at Reading have dispatchers who would doubtless be more than willing to point out the location of the excess office.

 

[Flamingo]

It wouldn't matter if there was two or twenty - the problem was that the passenger did not attempt to use them, therefore any question as to location or queues is really irrevelant.

 

[transmanche]

It wouldn't matter if there was two or twenty - the problem was that the passenger did not attempt to use them, therefore any question as to location or queues is really irrevelant.

Is that the rule now? Passengers without tickets must seek out and queue at the excess fare window when changing trains, even if the queue is visibly longer than can be dealt with in the time before the connecting train departs?

 

[island]

Is that the rule now? Passengers without tickets must seek out and queue at the excess fare window when changing trains, even if the queue is visibly longer than can be dealt with in the time before the connecting train departs?

"Two or twenty" refers to the number of excess fares offices. In this specific instance, the passenger had 20 minutes, which was more than enough to seek out an excess office, and very unlikely to be insufficient to purchase a ticket.

 

[WelshBluebird]

It wouldn't matter if there was two or twenty - the problem was that the passenger did not attempt to use them, therefore any question as to location or queues is really irrevelant.

Out of curiosity, what about the situation I very nearly found myself in on Friday, where attempting to use them even if you think you should have time, means you may end up having to delay your journey? (which I am pretty sure you should not be required to do).

Bristol Temple Meads is a good example as the excess fares line is often not manned at all, and you cannot usually see how long the ticket office queue is from the platform side of the gateline. So if you get yourself let through so you can buy a ticket, and there turns out to be a large queue (or not enough staff at the windows) then you can easily miss your train just because you tried to buy a ticket.

 

[island]

In that sort of situation my first suggestion would be to consult the gateline attendant. If he says you have enough time to go through, but you miss the train, you could then claim Delay-Repay.

 

[Deerfold]

In that sort of situation my first suggestion would be to consult the gateline attendant. If he says you have enough time to go through, but you miss the train, you could then claim Delay-Repay.

Although as FGW don't operate Delay Repay you'd have to be delayed by at least an hour.

 

[Flamingo]

Out of curiosity, what about the situation I very nearly found myself in on Friday, where attempting to use them even if you think you should have time, means you may end up having to delay your journey? (which I am pretty sure you should not be required to do).

Bristol Temple Meads is a good example as the excess fares line is often not manned at all, and you cannot usually see how long the ticket office queue is from the platform side of the gateline. So if you get yourself let through so you can buy a ticket, and there turns out to be a large queue (or not enough staff at the windows) then you can easily miss your train just because you tried to buy a ticket.

In that sort of situation my first suggestion would be to consult the gateline attendant. If he says you have enough time to go through, but you miss the train, you could then claim Delay-Repay.

I'm not so sure about the second point Island, but asking the staff for advice would be a good idea. At least then there is some sort of defence, as opposed to not making any effort to purchase a ticket.

 

[transmanche]

I'm not so sure about the second point Island, but asking the staff for advice would be a good idea. At least then there is some sort of defence, as opposed to not making any effort to purchase a ticket.

But surely that results in just another 'the-man-on-the-platform-told-me-I-could' scenario...

 

[Flamingo]

But surely that results in just another 'the-man-on-the-platform-told-me-I-could' scenario...

Get a name, as always...

 

[DaveNewcastle]

John.

 

[Flamingo]

John.

That'll do