Platform Ticket/Platform Pass - Refusal by SWR Staff

[Alteran Ancient]

So, the other day, I found myself at the Ticket Office at Waterloo, asking if they could issue a Platform Ticket for Waterloo East. I was basically told "no", and when I pressed, the excuse I was given was that "SWR's policy has changed and we cannot issue Platform Tickets, because they might be used for fare evasion".

I then responded with "I don't see why I should be punished because someone else might do something dishonest. Be that as it may, last I checked, Waterloo East is a Southeastern station, and last I checked, they were quite happy to issue Platform Tickets. What if I need to assist someone to the train?", to which the response was "you can just see them off at the gates". That's not an answer!

The majority of people I expect to dodge fares probably aren't smart enough to know that such a ticket exists, or believe it would be a workable strategy to successfully evade potential gatelines at both origin and destination, as well as any possible guard or RPO checks en-route.

So, "we won't give you one because you might try and cheat us" doesn't work with me - I don't buy that. In the end, I spoke to the SE gateline staff, explained the situation to them, and they rather enthusiastically tapped me through. My only worry would have been if I had encountered RPO staff, but there weren't any of that particular day - last thing I'd have wanted would be to explain to them why I had no ticket.

When did SWR decide to stop issuing Platform Tickets, or is this something that is just discretionary, and just that particular ticket office staff decided they didn't like me?

 

[bb21]

There is no obligation to issue platform tickets. Stations have various arrangements to ensure that people with a legitimate purpose are catered for.

For example, if you need to assist someone on or off a train, all you need in most cases is to have a word with gateline staff. I am not aware of anyone being refused access. People who are spotting at platform ends may be required to sign in instead of purchase a platform ticket.

 

[Clip]

As bb21 has said they dont have an obligation to give you a platform ticket and more is the point youre complaining about swr not issuing one for a station they dont go to nor operate.

I understand injustice on these pages but this is not one of them and a symptom of little knowledge making an issue

 

[Starmill]

It seems a little odd that they didn't sign Alteran Ancient in then, and give them a lanyard or whatever. Why one might choose to bring up fare evasion rather than do that I have no idea.

 

[bb21]

It seems a little odd that they didn't sign Alteran Ancient in then, and give them a lanyard or whatever. Why one might choose to bring up fare evasion rather than do that I have no idea.

You don't sign everyone in just because they need to get onto the platform. It depends on the purpose of the request, which we don't really know.

As for "fare evasion", it is a legitimate concern and is probably how the subject matter was communicated to staff as that is probably the easiest way to explain it, however it really should not be something said to the customer.

 

[Alteran Ancient]

As bb21 has said they dont have an obligation to give you a platform ticket and more is the point youre complaining about swr not issuing one for a station they dont go to nor operate.

I understand injustice on these pages but this is not one of them and a symptom of little knowledge making an issue

I realise that Waterloo East isn't SWR's station, but for an operationally-separate station such as Waterloo East which doesn't have its own ticket office, you don't have any other choice - you are literally dependent on a ticket office run by another operator.

 

[bb21]

I realise that Waterloo East isn't SWR's station, but for an operationally-separate station such as Waterloo East which doesn't have its own ticket office, you don't have any other choice - you are literally dependent on a ticket office run by another operator.

I am almost certain that ticket offices will not sell platform tickets to anywhere other than their own station. There may well be different policies at different TOCs re: access. There would also be local differences even within the same TOC.

SouthEastern will have their own policies on how the needs of people with legitimate purposes can be met. You are better off speaking to someone on SouthEastern's gateline, which is something you appear to eventually do in this case with a satisfactory outcome. There is very little an SWR ticket office can do from a practical point of view.

 

[Joe Paxton]

...
So, "we won't give you one because you might try and cheat us" doesn't work with me - I don't buy that. In the end, I spoke to the SE gateline staff, explained the situation to them, and they rather enthusiastically tapped me through. My only worry would have been if I had encountered RPO staff, but there weren't any of that particular day - last thing I'd have wanted would be to explain to them why I had no ticket.
...

"I asked the gateline staff if I could get access onto the platform and they agreed willingly."

Can't see a problem with that.

 

[Dhassell]

I know Stratford International station insist on getting a platform ticket, I got told by staff it was to "cover insurance" but I am not sure how correct that is.

 

[RJ]

Platform tickets are only required to be issued in areas legally designated as Compulsory Ticket Areas.

I personally don't see any harm in issuing them to people who want one as a collector's item. But there will always be staff who want to do revenue's job when they aren't employed for that purpose. If someone asks me for one and has a legitimate reason, I take them at their word. If they then choose to travel without a valid ticket, that's down to revenue to catch them.

 

[Joe Paxton]

Platform tickets are only required to be issued in areas legally designated as Compulsory Ticket Areas.

I personally don't see any harm in issuing them to people who want one as a collector's item. But there will always be staff who want to do revenue's job when they aren't employed for that purpose. If someone asks me for one and has a legitimate reason, I take them at their word. If they then choose to travel without a valid ticket, that's down to revenue to catch them.

Though if ticket office staff at Waterloo have been given an explicit instruction not to issue platform tickets, then they are correctly doing their job if they follow said instruction.

 

[Dhassell]

Aye, if required to, ticket office staff can refuse to sell tickets, for example I was at Bristol Parkway last year during Cheltenham Festival, it was getting so packed, for about 40 minutes staff were told not to sell any tickets to Cheltenham Spa.

 

[clagmonster]

I don't think SWR issue platform tickets at any of their booking offices. I certainly have never succeeded, but after consistent failures have stopped trying. I think London Midland have stopped also, I have had staff find the option greyed out when trying to issue them.

 

[philthetube]

Sort of on topic, if I arrive at Waterloo east without a ticket and am unable to buy the required one from a machine, priv for example, am I obligated to walk to Waterloo or can I board a service and pay at the other end, (if possible)?

 

[Haywain]

Aye, if required to, ticket office staff can refuse to sell tickets, for example I was at Bristol Parkway last year during Cheltenham Festival, it was getting so packed, for about 40 minutes staff were told not to sell any tickets to Cheltenham Spa.

Which is ridiculous, as TVMs would continue to sell tickets and all that is achieved is aggravating the customers.

 

[RJ]

Sort of on topic, if I arrive at Waterloo east without a ticket and am unable to buy the required one from a machine, priv for example, am I obligated to walk to Waterloo or can I board a service and pay at the other end, (if possible)?

I've had that one before when travelling to Lewisham. The barrier staff said I had to buy a public rate ticket to Charing Cross and obtain a refund and Priv ticket from there. Or, go back into the Underground, walk round to Waterloo and buy a Priv ticket from there. They said if I went through their barriers, I'd be issued with a "very big" Penalty Fare.

Needless to say, I did get through the barriers without taking them up on any of their options. As far as I know there's no obligation to start a journey from a different station because one can't issue a ticket.

 

[Clip]

It seems a little odd that they didn't sign Alteran Ancient in then, and give them a lanyard or whatever. Why one might choose to bring up fare evasion rather than do that I have no idea.

They wouldn't sign anyone in for a station they don't manage

 

[Dhassell]

Which is ridiculous, as TVMs would continue to sell tickets and all that is achieved is aggravating the customers.

Aye, there was nothing stopping people using the TVM, Most of the people understood why. I remember there being an off-duty member of XC staff wanting a ticket to Cheltenham and then got all irate when they refused .

 

[PeterC]

I have known BR stations to refuse to sell platform tickets to train spotters and collectors back in the 1960s.

 

[221129]

Aye, there was nothing stopping people using the TVM, Most of the people understood why. I remember there being an off-duty member of XC staff wanting a ticket to Cheltenham and then got all irate when they refused .

Unlikely as XC staff wouldn't need one...

 

[Dhassell]

Unlikely as XC staff wouldn't need one...

Think it was for his wife actually. Can't 100% remember.

 

[AlterEgo]

Think it was for his wife actually. Can't 100% remember.

They still wouldn’t need one.

 

[Dhassell]

They still wouldn’t need one.

May have been his mother then! As I said, can't quite remember!