People in flourescent jackets at WY stations checking tickets

[johntea]

Yesterday at Saltaire station I boarded a train to Leeds, as I got on a couple of people in flourescent jackets got off and with what appeared to be a sort of tablet computer round their neck stood at the platform and asked alighting passengers for tickets to be shown.

At Castleford station this morning a similar thing.

Are they revenue protection or survey staff? Usually the survey staff are wearing Metro uniform and do their survey on the trains.

 

[eastwestdivide]

The fluorescent jackets with tablets were out in S Yorks too earlier this week. Some sort of revenue protection contractors, quite reluctant to show any proper ID to confirm they were entitled to ask for my ticket, but full of "it's a legal requirement" stuff.

 

[maniacmartin]

Yes, its a legal requirement for them to show ID if requested when asking to see your ticket, under the Railway Byelaws

 

[johntea]

Couple of the same team at the exit of Shipley P1 this lunch time wearing different clothing!

 

[Anvil1984]

IIRC Northern are doing ticketless travel surveys through an agency at present. They wont take details but basically just get reasons why passengers aren't buying tickets (or something like that)

 

[Squaddie]

They wont take details but basically just get reasons why passengers aren't buying tickets (or something like that)

1. I was running late
2. I've only come one stop
3. The guard didn't offer to sell me one
4. I always buy a ticket at my destination
5. I didn't realise my season ticket had expired (three months ago)
6. I can't afford to buy tickets
7. I got PFd yesterday so why should I have to pay today?
8. I wasn't feeling well
9. I didn't know I needed a ticket

 

[185]

Got to have some form of formal ID to be there.

Sounds like the same on-the-cheap contracting like when they hired 'Trainpeople' in.

Sort of behaviour from Northern almost invites any old crook and his dog to turn up in a Hi-Viz and randomly demand money.

Oooh....that's a good idea.... err... :P

 

[johntea]

Imagine my surprise to find they were still about on a dark wet evening at 8:30pm at Castleford station!

Rather intimidating to randomly get asked for your ticket by a stranger, indeed some people flat out refused!

A rather poor survey exercise by Northern if you ask me!

 

[91103eastcoast]

Do Northern contract out everything with regards to ticket inspections?

On another point, surely taking details and going through the proceedings would provide a better deterrent to ticketless travel than simply listing excuses?

 

[Flamingo]

1. I was running late
2. I've only come one stop
3. The guard didn't offer to sell me one
4. I always buy a ticket at my destination
5. I didn't realise my season ticket had expired (three months ago)
6. I can't afford to buy tickets
7. I got PFd yesterday so why should I have to pay today?
8. I wasn't feeling well
9. I didn't know I needed a ticket

You forgot one - "The man on the platform said I could get on without one" (otherwise, I think you covered most of them - I've never had the PF one, though!)

 

[island]

You forgot one - "The man on the platform said I could get on without one" (otherwise, I think you covered most of them - I've never had the PF one, though!)

Is that because FGW RPIs are never about?

 

[Flamingo]

Is that because FGW RPIs are never about?

It depends - the west are quite active. The ones in London are like the Loch Ness monster - everybody has heard of them, but very rarely seen..

 

[eastwestdivide]

Out again today round S Yorks. When I said "you don't look like Northern Rail", the reply was "we're just doing a survey"

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Out again today round S Yorks. When I said "you don't look like Northern Rail", the reply was "we're just doing a survey"

Market researchers are supposed to wear a visible ID card...

 

[island]

That might be a code of practice, but it is not the law, unlike with railway staff who need to produce one on request.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

It is, however, a requirement of the railway that all non-staff working visitors must display recognisable ID though isn't it?

 

[island]

To the extent it is, it's an internal matter for the railway and not for the customer.