Emr - multiple ticket checks

[Chriso]

Same down south . It’s far too easy to travel for free unfortunately

 

[John Luxton]

From my observations with GWR and TfW which I have used a lot in last three years most guards tend to remember people who are doing a longer trip and only ask to see tickets which have not been seen. Only recheck has been if there has been a crew change or RPIs get on.

 

[Lewisham2221]

From my observations with GWR and TfW which I have used a lot in last three years most guards tend to remember people who are doing a longer trip and only ask to see tickets which have not been seen. Only recheck has been if there has been a crew change or RPIs get on.

That's the generally the case with all guards. I don't imagine anyone is trying to do a full ticket check after every stop.

You do occasionally end up asking somebody twice, but equally it's easy to miss someone new - especially if they look similar and/or sit in the same place as someone who got off at the same stop!

If I'm taking over a train mid-service, it depends on the circumstances as to whether I'll start with a full check or not. Is the train delayed? Has the previous guard told me revenue is done up to this point? How long am I going to be on the train for? Where did the service begin? Are there any request stops?

 

[Discuss223]

That's the generally the case with all guards. I don't imagine anyone is trying to do a full ticket check after every stop.

You do occasionally end up asking somebody twice, but equally it's easy to miss someone new - especially if they look similar and/or sit in the same place as someone who got off at the same stop!

If I'm taking over a train mid-service, it depends on the circumstances as to whether I'll start with a full check or not. Is the train delayed? Has the previous guard told me revenue is done up to this point? How long am I going to be on the train for? Where did the service begin? Are there any request stops?

A good way to help memorise everybody would be to engage in conversation with them as you are making the checks. Ask them how their journey is going. It doesn't have to be a long chat that delays the process, a simple "good morning, how are you today?" and you will find it easier to remember faces and who has been done. It also adds to the customer service received by the customer, so it's win-win.

 

[Lewisham2221]

A good way to help memorise everybody would be to engage in conversation with them as you are making the checks. Ask them how their journey is going. It doesn't have to be a long chat that delays the process, a simple "good morning, how are you today?" and you will find it easier to remember faces and who has been done. It also adds to the customer service received by the customer, so it's win-win.

It's more an occasional thing, if somebody moves seats, adds/removes an item of clothing.

 

[reb0118]

It's hardly identifying them and announcing their full itinerary to the whole carriage. Just a simple "yep (acknowledging the ticket/scan), changing at *****". It's not like they can stop anybody from seeing where they get off anyway!

I fear you do not understand the bigger picture. What if the passenger is an important top scientist with vital knowledge for the well being of the nation, or indeed a witness to a crime who was unable to state that vital piece of information to a detective over the telephone as the line was potentially insecure?

You have now broadcast the potential victim's itinerary to all and sundry. Any foreign asset, random hit man, or murderer cleaning up loose ends (delete as appropriate) now knows where they are alighting (and possibly the connecting destination too).

This allows the spy/assassin/murderer to relax for a bit, and possibly even repair to the buffet car for some light refreshment. This, thereby, puts the potential victim at a severe disadvantage. Why? Because they now have to contend with a suitably refreshed & relaxed opponent whilst they themselves are possibly up tight, tired, and emotional.

Remember, loose lips sink ships.

 

[GD1982]

I fear you do not understand the bigger picture. What if the passenger is an important top scientist with vital knowledge for the well being of the nation, or indeed a witness to a crime who was unable to state that vital piece of information to a detective over the telephone as the line was potentially insecure?

You have now broadcast the potential victim's itinerary to all and sundry. Any foreign asset, random hit man, or murderer cleaning up loose ends (delete as appropriate) now knows where they are alighting (and possibly the connecting destination too).

This allows the spy/assassin/murderer to relax for a bit, and possibly even repair to the buffet car for some light refreshment. This, thereby, puts the potential victim at a severe disadvantage. Why? Because they now have to contend with a suitably refreshed & relaxed opponent whilst they themselves are possibly up tight, tired, and emotional.

Remember, loose lips sink ships.

Post of the week!!

 

[Russel]

Post of the week!!

Knowing this forum, it's probably a genuine concern!

 

[Bradford PA]

As a passenger, I cheerfully accept duplicate checks on the rare occasions that they are made and staff often apologise when they realise that your ticket has been previously inspected. Some travelers do have on-board queries and the presence of visible staff is reassuring. Unfortunately, some passengers overreact, such as a gentleman going on an EMR train to Wellingborough, that I was on recently, who suggested that he was being singled out because he was black and born in Jamaica and refused to show his ticket. The guard was so intimidated that she abandoned her tour of the train and retreated to a place of safety. Even when alighting at Wellingborough the man attempted to seek out the guard for further challenge which led to a delay in the departure of the train onwards and required the intervention of a male member of the onboard team to resolve.

 

[Discuss223]

suggested that he was being singled out because he was black and born in Jamaica and refused to show his ticket. The guard was so intimidated that she abandoned her tour of the train and retreated to a place of safety. Even when alighting at Wellingborough the man attempted to seek out the guard for further challenge which led to a delay in the departure of the train onwards and required the intervention of a male member of the onboard team to resolve.

Was he mid-30s - early 40s, sometimes wearing an Arriva lanyard? If so, he's well known as a trouble causer. Needs to be banned from the network.

 

[childwallblues]

God forbid that the staff make an effort to provide good customer service. Honestly, they can't win.

Spot on there. I like to see the non payers getting caught.

 

[Andy Pacer]

e.g. if they have an Advance for a 16:04 to Leicester, that they are not boarding the 15:50 to Leicester. EMR have Revenue Protection drive on at the minute, including updated passenger information - warning of Penalty Fares and additional ticket checks at stations, for example Nottingham has just undergone a bridge closure to aid inspections.

The Leicester services are actually typically 3 minutes apart (xx.02, xx.05 and xx.32, xx.35) so can be even more chance of people boarding the wrong train on an advance.

 

[Bevan Price]

When checking tickets and I can see somebody needs to change I'll always just mention it - "are you changing at X?", the answer is either yes, no im changing at Y, or "what do you mean i need to change". I'll either say cheers or whatever and move on, or advise further. I have had people travelling further afield who wernt too sure so I've printed itineraries. Never had somebody complain about me checking they know where to go!

I agree multiple full ticket checks on one train can be irritating (due to crew change or whatever). I try to do full checks at the start of a service, then try and catch everybody else throughout the journey rather than check everybody multiple times. If the guard I'm relieving tells me they have done all tickets up to this point, I'll just go through and ask for tickets from *insert last station name here*.

Sometimes guards walk so quickly that they are halfway along the coach before I have time to show them my ticket.

 

[RPI]

I generally always do a full check when I get on, obviously being an RPI that's my job, but I also like to know where people are going, where any assists are, the fact that if I'm heading west nearly every station has a short platform and most trains are at least 9 cars so advising people of short platforms and where to be, the amount of times I've checked a ticket that's already been checked but only now has the passenger been advised that the train doesn't stop at the station where they're going!
So it may seem an inconvenience to some, but it's genuinely helpful for those who are perhaps more vulnerable or needs that little bit of extra help.

On top of all the above, there are the obvious revenue protection conversations involving donuts amongst other things that are detected.