Network Rail managed station, which TOC gets to operate the ticket office?

[bicbasher]

How is it decided which TOC manages the ticket office when there are two or more TOC's operating from the station. London Bridge's ticket office is managed by Southeastern, despite Southern and FCC also operating from there.

 

[Lrd]

There are some stations that have more than one ticket office, like Euston, where Virgin run the main one and London Midland have their own one near one of the platforms.

 

[island]

Meanwhile Victoria's ticket office is operated by Southern, despite train services there also being offered by Southeastern and Gatwick Express (*stir stir stir*).

 

[yorkie]

There are no services operated by Gatwick Express since 2008 as it is a brand name for the Southern Train Operating Company. "Gatwick Express is operated by Southern" is stated on the website for the brand.

 

[AlexS]

I think there's also a common sense element to it - for example Birmingham New Street ticket office is operated by Virgin, which makes sense as London Midland have a ticket office at Birmingham Snow Hill, and I suppose just to complete the trio of operators, Chiltern have Moor Street having taken it over from Central.

 

[thedbdiboy]

And the answer is......
The franchising process includes designating a 'Lead Retailer' for all stations which are required to have staffed Ticket Offices in accordance with schedule 17 of the Ticketing & Settlement Agreement. The obligation in respect of any particular franchise is included in each individual franchise specification. So, for example, an obligation in the South Central franchise is to operate a staffed ticket office at London Victoria (even though they don't run the station). Note that the Lead Retailer does not always operate the majority of services at a station.

 

[island]

And in a few isolated cases, the Lead Retailer operates no services at all from the station.

 

[Deerfold]

And in a few isolated cases, the Lead Retailer operates no services at all from the station.

Although I don't think that applies to any Network Rail-managed stations.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Those are usually stations only served by XC, arent they?

 

[maniacmartin]

Following on from thedbdiboy's post on TOCs that re required to retail tickets at certain stations, is there anything to prevent other TOCs from setting up a secondary ticket office in a station because it wants to? Or does the Lead Retailer have to agree to this?

If not, can they do this at any station, or just Network Rail stations? Evidently it would result in loss of revenue for the lead retailer.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Those are usually stations only served by XC, arent they?

Aside from ScotRail at Lockerbie, yes, I think so.

 

[barrykas]

Following on from thedbdiboy's post on TOCs that re required to retail tickets at certain stations, is there anything to prevent other TOCs from setting up a secondary ticket office in a station because it wants to? Or does the Lead Retailer have to agree to this?

If not, can they do this at any station, or just Network Rail stations? Evidently it would result in loss of revenue for the lead retailer.

Looking at the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement, there doesn't appear to be anything obvious stopping another TOC from doing so, however they wouldn't be entitled to any commission from their sales, unless the relevant TOC(s) agreed.

So, for example, the former Gatwick Express office at Victoria would only get commission for Gatwick Express tickets, and presumably London Midland have an agreement with London Overground so they get commission for their own sales and London Overground ones at Euston.

Cheers,

Barry

 

[dvboy]

London Midland often have a temporary ticket office (basically 2 people with Avantix at a table) at the Victoria Square entrance to Birmingham New St

 

[thedbdiboy]

Looking at the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement, there doesn't appear to be anything obvious stopping another TOC from doing so, however they wouldn't be entitled to any commission from their sales, unless the relevant TOC(s) agreed.

So, for example, the former Gatwick Express office at Victoria would only get commission for Gatwick Express tickets, and presumably London Midland have an agreement with London Overground so they get commission for their own sales and London Overground ones at Euston.

Cheers,

Barry

Correct. Where these facilities exist, any commission has to be negotiated on a case by case basis. The only time a retailer is automatically entitled to commission is where they are Lead Retailer.