Guard counting passengers on last train of the day

[Speed43125]

Hello all,

I've ridden on the last train of the night from Edinburgh to Dunblane a few times now, and I've noticed after we pass Stirling ( 3rd to last stop, and were the train is stabled overnight) I've seen the guard walking down the train and counting passengers, once before stopping in Bridge Of Allan, and once before arriving into Dunblane.
Does this mean they are trying to get a case together to have the last train just terminate in Stirling, and remove the stretch of 6 or so miles to Dunblane, Or am I just reading too much into this?

PS, having on both occasions connected from advance ticket trains to Haymarket, and intending to buy a ticket on board, the guard didn't ever ask for my ticket, so I've ended up saving nearly 20 quid on tickets that I wasn't asked to buy.

 

[yorkie]

Hello all,

I've ridden on the last train of the night from Edinburgh to Dunblane a few times now, and I've noticed after we pass Stirling ( 3rd to last stop, and were the train is stabled overnight) I've seen the guard walking down the train and counting passengers, once before stopping in Bridge Of Allan, and once before arriving into Dunblane.
Does this mean they are trying to get a case together to have the last train just terminate in Stirling, and remove the stretch of 6 or so miles to Dunblane, Or am I just reading too much into this?

You may be reading too much into it; I've known passenger counts be taken on many occasions.

PS, having on both occasions connected from advance ticket trains to Haymarket, and intending to buy a ticket on board, the guard didn't ever ask for my ticket, so I've ended up saving nearly 20 quid on tickets that I wasn't asked to buy.

Be careful; you are required to buy the ticket(s) to your final destination from your origin station where you started your journey, assuming that facilities existed at that station, failing that you are supposed to buy at the first opportunity.

 

[Surreytraveller]

Ask the guard. I don't suppose there's any connecting bus for engineering work or something, or any planned in the future that they may need an idea of how many people are travelling?

 

[Bald Rick]

Many services (with guards / conductors) are supposed to do passenger counts. Particularly long distance services. However most guards / conductors do it in a way that means you don’t know they are doing it.

 

[ScotGG]

Or make it up! Many a job I've known where counting was supposed to happen but it rarely did to any accurate degree.

 

[LowLevel]

I do counts on most trains I work. You'd never know I was doing it but I have a piece of equipment synced to the ticket machine that works a counter when I click it in my hand.

 

[Havenscroft86]

Just to throw it out there, train disposal? If not many on count all passengers as they get off then you can be pretty sure the trains empty prior to doing a walk through.

 

[Mugby]

It's something I'd completely forgotten about but thinking back, I recall, a few years ago, lots of guards doing passenger counts using those finger clicker counters.

 

[MalaiseForever]

I often see them count passengers on VTWC out of Manchester in the evening peak. I was told it’s to help inform the allocation of 11 car units on busy services.

 

[Speed43125]

Alright thanks guys. Appreciate the insight.
As for the tickets, I know. At least the first time, the connecting TPE service was super delayed, and I had to run to catch this train. But your points are all taken

 

[DarloRich]

I have seen the guards do this on a regular basis on east coast services - it isnt anything controversial and i expect it is part of monitoring numbers and working out which trains are the busiest.

 

[sd0733]

Just to throw it out there, train disposal? If not many on count all passengers as they get off then you can be pretty sure the trains empty prior to doing a walk through.

Late at night I'd agree this sounds the most plausible reason. I often did it if were only a few on, check the toilets and do a count and then it speeds it up at the end when you terminate.

 

[yorkie]

Alright thanks guys. Appreciate the insight.
As for the tickets, I know. At least the first time, the connecting TPE service was super delayed, and I had to run to catch this train. But your points are all taken

If there is an open ticket office at the origin, you're best off getting ticket(s) to cover both TPE and Scotrail trains there; otherwise if the TPE misses the last connection and you have no onward contract, you would be left having to organise your own private transport, or being stuck overnight.

If buying in advance, I would purchase all tickets at the same time, in the same transaction. You do not need to do this; you could buy them at different times from different retailers, but if timings change or issues occur it may just make things easier. If a combination of two or more tickets suits your needs better than a through fare, it may be worth purchasing the tickets as one journey from an accredited split ticket provider. They should also back you up in the (unlikely) event of any issues.

 

[Ih8earlies]

On very lightly loaded last trains of the night from places like Middlesbrough or Scarborough - I too will do a passenger count after departing the last station before the destination. Then count them off onto the platform before closing the train up and doing a final walkthrough for disposal of the unit.

Occasionally the number has even been zero - in which case I wouldn't even bother releasing the doors upon arrival.

Saves so much tine at the end of a long late shift.

 

[dtaylor84]

If a combination of two or more tickets suits your needs better than a through fare, it may be worth purchasing the tickets as one journey from an accredited split ticket provider. They should also back you up in the (unlikely) event of any issues.

What on Earth is an "accredited split ticket provider" and how do they differ from an "accredited ticket provider"?

 

[grumblingalong]

DfT requires passenger counts to be submitted, two counts, for example, are submitted on every train between Norwich and London. These can be cross referenced to provide average loadings, which can then be used for many things.

 

[theironroad]

Late at night I'd agree this sounds the most plausible reason. I often did it if were only a few on, check the toilets and do a count and then it speeds it up at the end when you terminate.

+ Another.

Know this to happen regularly.