FCC getting soft

[LowLevel]

Not me personally, no. I don't have that power - I need to spend a few more weeks studying the dark arts.

 

[lev441]

Is this 'soft' from FCC?

Three people run to catch a train at Mill Hill broadway. RPI's start checking our carriage having seen these people run for the train. Automatically said £20 each if you don't have tickets..

 

[Merseysider]

Is this 'soft' from FCC?

Three people run to catch a train at Mill Hill broadway. RPI's start checking our carriage having seen these people run for the train. Automatically said £20 each if you don't have tickets..

Probably a decision made from higher up that the £20 up front is worth more to them than a protracted case that might not even result in anything before the franchise ends. Not necessarily 'soft'.

 

[Hadders]

Is this 'soft' from FCC?

Three people run to catch a train at Mill Hill broadway. RPI's start checking our carriage having seen these people run for the train. Automatically said £20 each if you don't have tickets..

Assuming the passengers were issued with a penalty fare this would be the correct and appropriate course of action.

There is a requirement to hold a ticket before boarding and I have to wonder how they would have paid had they not encountered an RPI on the train.

 

[DelayRepay]

Having used FCC to commute into London for the last 2 years, I have probably had my ticket checked only three or four times on the train (but there are barriers at both ends).

Last week, I had my ticket checked twice on consecutive days.

This may be a coincidence, or it may be that have information that someone is using the same trains as me who doesn't buy a ticket.

But either way, if they were going soft surely they wouldn't even bother checking tickets?

 

[RJ]

Having used FCC to commute into London for the last 2 years, I have probably had my ticket checked only three or four times on the train (but there are barriers at both ends).

Last week, I had my ticket checked twice on consecutive days.

This may be a coincidence, or it may be that have information that someone is using the same trains as me who doesn't buy a ticket.

But either way, if they were going soft surely they wouldn't even bother checking tickets?

They're a local TOC to me - I do short distance journeys at leisure times and I'd say maybe 3 times out of 5, there's an on board ticket inspection. I've also seen blocks on at stations on the Wimbledon loop at peak times. I've even seen the St Pancras gateline manned after 1am on weekend nights. FCC's revenue staff certainly have more presence than on Southern or Southeastern's services.

 

[Abpj17]

Having used FCC to commute into London for the last 2 years, I have probably had my ticket checked only three or four times on the train (but there are barriers at both ends).

Last week, I had my ticket checked twice on consecutive days.

This may be a coincidence, or it may be that have information that someone is using the same trains as me who doesn't buy a ticket.

But either way, if they were going soft surely they wouldn't even bother checking tickets?

Mine is checked regularly. But I find it can depend on the times. Tickets are rarely checked on fully peak trains - there is no way to walk through them. I travel on Thameslink north of London.

I'm often travelling on trains that cut-across the 9.30am peak/off-peak divide. These are regularly checked - enough space to walk through, but can catch people buying off-peak tickets but getting on before 9.30.

 

[DelayRepay]

Mine is checked regularly. But I find it can depend on the times. Tickets are rarely checked on fully peak trains - there is no way to walk through them. I travel on Thameslink north of London.

I'm often travelling on trains that cut-across the 9.30am peak/off-peak divide. These are regularly checked - enough space to walk through, but can catch people buying off-peak tickets but getting on before 9.30.

Ah - I travel on truly peak trains, normally departing St Albans at around 7:30 and returning between 5 - 6 from London. As I said, very few RPIs have ever checked my ticket but both ends are barriered.

I have to say it's rare to find the barriers open at St Albans unless returning late at night.

 

[nw1]

Cue her posting on here in a couple of weeks when she gets a notice of intent to prosecute letter...

Or more likely, not posting here because she did send the photocopy of the left-at-home Network Card in and the train company were (correctly) satisfied that she wasn't a dodger.

People do actually honestly forget, believe it or not!!!
Granted, there are going to be people who "play the system" but not everyone, or even a majority, are in that situation I suspect.

 

[Abpj17]

Ah - I travel on truly peak trains, normally departing St Albans at around 7:30 and returning between 5 - 6 from London. As I said, very few RPIs have ever checked my ticket but both ends are barriered.

I have to say it's rare to find the barriers open at St Albans unless returning late at night.

Yeah; the RPI can't walk through the trains and after the recentish spate of upgrades, almost all stations have barriers closed at peak/daylight times now. Farringdon is probably the biggest remaining risk as you can switch into the underground without passing a barrier.

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=31765