Huddersfield RRB Ticket Inspection

[Krokodil]

Is it reasonable to expect people to walk sometimes a considerable distance to the station to buy a ticket, then walk all the way back? This is often (in the country) about half a mile down a busy unlit road.

Is that really likely at such a location, rather than at bigger stations where the buses wait on the forecourt?

There should not be ticket checks on rail replacement buses.

Why not?

 

[nr758123]

Does a bus stop count as a platform? I'm not aware of any penalty fare signage having been put up at rail replacement bus stops.

Where, as in most places, it's also used for regular bus services, there can be no question of treating it as a platform where possession of a valid ticket is necessary.

Is it reasonable to expect people to walk sometimes a considerable distance to the station to buy a ticket, then walk all the way back? This is often (in the country) about half a mile down a busy unlit road.

Absolutely not. Since this thread is all about the Huddersfield closure, let's take Slaithwaite as an example. Journey times are already typically more than doubled, with no reduction in fares to reflect the extended journey times. It would be totally unreasonable to expect passengers also to walk 10 minutes up a steep hill, and back again, in order to purchase a ticket from a machine on one of the platforms.

This thread concerns buses departing from outside stations in urban areas.

Not entirely. Slaithwaite, Marsden, Deighton and for part of the closure period several stations on the Penistone line.

There should not be ticket checks on rail replacement buses.

I would have no problem with ticket checks on replacement buses, provided ticket purchasing facilities were made available at the boarding location.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Where, as in most places, it's also used for regular bus services, there can be no question of treating it as a platform where possession of a valid ticket is necessary.

Absolutely not. Since this thread is all about the Huddersfield closure, let's take Slaithwaite as an example. Journey times are already typically more than doubled, with no reduction in fares to reflect the extended journey times. It would be totally unreasonable to expect passengers also to walk 10 minutes up a steep hill, and back again, in order to purchase a ticket from a machine on one of the platforms.

Not entirely. Slaithwaite, Marsden, Deighton and for part of the closure period several stations on the Penistone line.

I would have no problem with ticket checks on replacement buses, provided ticket purchasing facilities were made available at the boarding location.

I may have misinterpreted the OP, but is this not just a case of revenue staff being present at Huddersfield, checking tickets as people board and alight the buses there and selling tickets where necessary? I don't think there was any suggestion that tickets were being checked on board or at each intermediate station?

 

[Kite159]

..

I may have misinterpreted the OP, but is this not just a case of revenue staff being present at Huddersfield, checking tickets as people board and alight the buses there and selling tickets where necessary? I don't think there was any suggestion that tickets were being checked on board or at each intermediate station?

which makes sense, I can recall experiencing similar when there was engineering works between Preston & Bolton for the overhead wires, bus arrived at Preston and tickets were checked when passengers alighted from the bus. Those wanting a free ride ended up having to buy a ticket from the staff. I've seen similar at Chafford Hundred for a replacement bus towards Grays, although those using oyster/contactless were given a free ride due to the inability to touch out.

 

[Hadders]

There should not be ticket checks on rail replacement buses.

I wouldn't expect a bus driver to check tickets (in the same way as a train driver doesn't check tickets) but there's no reason why revenue staff cannot check tickets.

RRBs should not be seen as a free ride.

 

[johntea]

The bus driver couldn't care less - They're just on a contract job requested by the train operator to drive a bus between A and B

There are usually coordinators at each rail replacement stop who I guess could have basic training in ticketing and revenue protection but often they're working alone so it wouldn't be worth the risk in getting into an argument with a passenger

It is slightly odd how sometimes a bus will just say 'Rail Replacement Bus' and no other clue as to what rail service they are replacing until you actually ask the driver, I'm sure they used to have a bit of card they stuck up on the windscreen advising of the route they were covering if nothing else!

 

[TheManOnThe172]

I wouldn't expect a bus driver to check tickets (in the same way as a train driver doesn't check tickets)

Back in the days of Megatrain (which used lighty-modified Megabus systems), train passengers were indeed instructed to present tickets to the driver upon boarding.

 

[Howardh]

It is slightly odd how sometimes a bus will just say 'Rail Replacement Bus' and no other clue as to what rail service they are replacing until you actually ask the driver, I'm sure they used to have a bit of card they stuck up on the windscreen advising of the route they were covering if nothing else!

Had that issue plenty of times at Piccadilly when RRB's were/still are used towards Bolton and beyond - some would be "direct" and some stopping (eg Lostock) and no indication at the bus stop on the concourse, and no info on the front of the bus. If you were lucky there would be a Northern employee frantically pointing/shouting everyone to the right bus - ticket checks almost impossible as the main occupation was getting pax + luggage onto the right bus!

 

[Class 466]

Aren't TOCs fully compensated for the cost of hiring Rail Replacement Buses? Always understood that to be the reason why the overall majority aren't fussed about ticketless travel on them.

 

[TheManBehind]

Back when I was crew, drivers got staff cars, whereas us poor guards had to shlep it on the buses (despite being the one carrying the cash!) - I recall being told not to undertake ticket checks on buses because a) TOC insurance didn't cover us undertaking revenue activity on non-operator vehicles, and b) the operator's insurance didn't cover us undertaking work activities on their vehicles.

How true that is, I can't say, but it seems like something that might be accurate - I doubt the risks assessments for doing revenue checks on a moving double-decker, or coach where you're expected to be seated, are going to look great, and operators won't want to increase mid-journey dwell times to check tickets on boarding.

 

[Ellwill]

Occasionally down in SE territory we've had station staff checking tickets before boarding RRBs, particularly in Medway where the local Arriva buses are extortionately expensive at £7.80 for a day ticket...

 

[class442]

Aren't TOCs fully compensated for the cost of hiring Rail Replacement Buses? Always understood that to be the reason why the overall majority aren't fussed about ticketless travel on them.

Yes, Schedule 4 compensation for engineering work from NR to TOCs include Estimated Bus Mileage. This is a formula based on a set bus rate per mile * estimated miles between stations * trains affected. So it doesn't necessarily match the exact cost paid to the bus operators - it may compensate more, maybe less.

 

[BurtonM]

I've occasionally had tickets checked for RRBs at Stalybridge in the past.

I once ended up convincing Northern to get me a taxi to Manchester on a Sunday to make a connection - the transport coordinator dispatched a bus several minutes ahead of schedule as it had loaded to capacity.
They dispatched the bus while I was using the TVM

 

[Spaceship323]

I would have no problem with ticket checks on replacement buses, provided ticket purchasing facilities were made available at the boarding location.

Most of the bus drivers in Leicester can't even deal with a plusbus ticket so you've no chance in them correctly checking a train ticket!

 

[Belperpete]

I've seen TFW do it quite a lot. Not onboard, but a sort of bloackade at start/ end stations.

Likewise. During the first (recent) time that Barmouth bridge was closed, and RRBs were running virtually the whole Cambrian Coast service, ticket revenue dropped dramatically. TfW introduced ticket inspections, using their staff. As I recall, they travelled on the bus, and you had to have a ticket to get on the bus. As most stations on the Cambrian coast have no ticket issuing facilities, some TTIs insisted that passengers had to have bought a ticket online, and needed some persuading that this isn't always possible.

I have also seen ticket checks before boarding at places like Chester and Wolverhampton.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Sep 2025 ==

I once ended up convincing Northern to get me a taxi to Manchester on a Sunday to make a connection - the transport coordinator dispatched a bus several minutes ahead of schedule as it had loaded to capacity.
They dispatched the bus while I was using the TVM

What would have been the point of holding it if it was at capacity and no more people could get on?

I had exactly that happen on an RRB in Germany. When the bus was full (crush full), the driver closed the doors to prevent any more people getting on - but we then sat there for about 10 minutes until the scheduled departure time! All this did was to unnecessarily delay and discomfort those on board.

 

[mickey]

As most stations on the Cambrian coast have no ticket issuing facilities, some TTIs insisted that passengers had to have bought a ticket online, and needed some persuading that this isn't always possible.

They also had a trial a couple of years ago where regular guards were instructed to ask passengers to buy online (on their phones) rather than selling directly. Which completely failed given the beautiful remote location isn’t exactly known for phone reception!

The sleekest RRB ticket operation I’ve seen was a joint SWR/XC one at Eastleigh when the southbound line was closed. A double Voyager pulled in, they had marshals by the exit pointing to various buses for each destination, then a ticket checker/scanner by the door to each bus. They ended up with what must have been close to 100% compliance in barely any time at all - from memory 4 separate buses had all departed within 8 mins of train arrival.

 

[Edsmith]

Why? They aren't put on to provide people with a free ride. As with any sort of fare evasion that means less money to the transport operator, and that costs someone money.

I recall a rail replacement bus driver refusing some passengers at Earley on the A329 stop heading into Reading without tickets. He said to me that he did so because by taking them for free the ordinary bus would lose that revenue. If that happens the revenue loss affects how much money the transport operator makes. That in turn threatens jobs.

I think it was ridiculous of the bus driver at Earley to say that. Ideally there would be rail staff at every stop to check tickets but as that isn't practical we have a situation where many people travel for free and nobody is much bothered about it.

 

[TheManBehind]

They also had a trial a couple of years ago where regular guards were instructed to ask passengers to buy online (on their phones) rather than selling directly. Which completely failed given the beautiful remote location isn’t exactly known for phone reception!

The sleekest RRB ticket operation I’ve seen was a joint SWR/XC one at Eastleigh when the southbound line was closed. A double Voyager pulled in, they had marshals by the exit pointing to various buses for each destination, then a ticket checker/scanner by the door to each bus. They ended up with what must have been close to 100% compliance in barely any time at all - from memory 4 separate buses had all departed within 8 mins of train arrival.

I always found that SWR either nailed it or completely cocked it up a drainpipe when it came to managing rail replacement interchanges!