Revenue Protection Inspectors at Cardiff

[jon0844]

I often think checkout operators don't go fast enough, but the fact is that they do their job properly and rushing causes mistakes.

Totally off topic, but they could scan a lot quicker but I think the main supermarkets have a policy to deliberately scan slowly to stop stressing people out - by having to fill bags super quick (and pay) with people waiting behind who are now going to fly through.

In Aldi/Lidl, they scan at lightning speed because the idea is you chuck everything back in your basket/trolley and pack afterwards (in your own time).

However, I only buy a few things at a time in Aldi so I'm able to pack a bag and keep up, then pay, and be out in what appears to be the blink of an eye!

Perhaps Tesco etc should have express checkouts for those who are up for the challenge!

 

[krus_aragon]

... I think that sings and announcements directing people to the manual gate will help...

A perfect idea for the capital of the Land of Song! :P

 

[Greenback]

A perfect idea for the capital of the Land of Song! :P

Oops!

 

[Deerfold]

Perhaps Tesco etc should have express checkouts for those who are up for the challenge!

They do have "Express checkouts". Unfortuantely that's just their name for the self-service ones.

 

[jon0844]

Yeah, I know they do - but not the sort of express I'm talking about!

Self-checkouts are way too slow given the need to weigh items and - again - not go too fast to scare people who are technophobic (but will increasingly find themselves forced to use them). Of course, you're not under the same pressure when there are loads of them.

I remember when I worked in the city, that M&S had over 40 self checkout terminals! And yet there was STILL a queue!

 

[ValleyLines142]

It's probably statements like this that cause you to come across to some as being unreasonable. It sounds as if you are simply too important and special to ever be delayed when travelling!

That's not the case at all. I am just as equal as everyone else. Human rights are a very, very strong issue to me, so such a statement is FAR from true!

I'm sure that these are only intended to help you to cope with the situation rather than possibly get upset and stressed every time you pass through the station and have to wait for a bit to get through the barriers.

At the moment, I can't see that unfortunately. But hopefully as I say we'll see some improvements.

I can't see anything changing at Cardiff Central in the short term. ATW management are well aware of the problems of arriving passengers and they want to send out a clear message to passengers that they will be caught out if they try and defraud the railway.

Indeed so and they're on the ball and do an excellent job; they just need to build up on the speed!

But by the very definition, there will be a delay in determining whether a passenger has valid tickets and documentation. It's not instantaneous!

Not if a new system was put into place.

Not a bad idea, and I expect it would work in most places. But Cardiff Central is problematic due to the layout and small number of gates.

This is EXACTLY what I was trying to suggest!

It won't alter the fact that passengers with railcards will still have to wait while their documentation is inspected, which is what Dan appears to dislike most.

Not true. I am absolutely MORE than happy to show them my documentation (although actually saying that I don't have a choice as to whether I'm happy or not).

I'm sorry but I strongly believe that inconveniencing people by a few seconds or minutes is a necessary evil until other methods are introduced to make it more difficult to buy discounted tickets without holding a railcard.

But it ultimately depends on how much that delay is. On one particular occasion it took me nearly ten minutes to exit the station, which is completely and utterly unacceptable.

It isn't really much different to when I was a child. I remember shuffling along in a big queue when tickets were manually inspected and taken from you for accounting purposes on entering and leaving a platform area. It was only when BR introduced open stations that we were able to enter and leave unimpeded and without significant delay. Passengers were used to it in the old days and just saw it as part of travelling.

Times have changed since though to be fair, although this new suggestion I had of specific queues is similar to this, which hopefully in the long run would actually IMPROVE the length of the queues!

 

[Greenback]

That's not the case at all. I am just as equal as everyone else. Human rights are a very, very strong issue to me, so such a statement is FAR from true!

Great, I'm sure you're not, but no doubt some people might interpret your particular wording that way!

But it ultimately depends on how much that delay is. On one particular occasion it took me nearly ten minutes to exit the station, which is completely and utterly unacceptable.

I agree that sort of delay is not acceptable. As it only happened once, what appeared to cause this long hold up? Was it the sheer number of people being checked? or some sort of one off problem?

At any rate, I'd express this dissatisfaction to ATW. The more people that let them know when there are unacceptable delays, the more chance there is that they will introduce measures to avoid it being repeated.

Times have changed since though to be fair, although this new suggestion I had of specific queues is similar to this, which hopefully in the long run would actually IMPROVE the length of the queues!

Indeed, times have changed! Many more people now seem to be in a massive rush and simply must get wherever they are going immediately! I even find myself in that situation sometimes, even though it's very bad for the blood pressure!

That's all my point is, really. Accept that it will take a few minutes to get out of the station on arrival and people will experience less stress and misery. Though like I said, ten minutes is excessive.

 

[455driver]

If you 'know' your RC discounted ticket wont work the automatic ticket gates why do you go to ticket gate away from the assistant, I would head to the gate nearest them to save crossing every other queue!

But thats probably just me!

If you think you have got problems I have just had a letter from the inland revenue saying I owe them £500 because I underpaid my income tax!

 

[WelshBluebird]

If you 'know' your RC discounted ticket wont work the automatic ticket gates why do you go to ticket gate away from the assistant, I would head to the gate nearest them to save crossing every other queue!

But thats probably just me!

At least in my experience at Cardiff Central, staff stand next to the large "accessible" gate. The barriers next to this are pretty much always used for people exiting the station. And so if you are entering the station you don't have the ability to do what you suggest. There sometimes are staff at both sides of the gateline, but in my experience it is rare.

If you are exiting the station, then even then the gate immediately next to the wider barrier can get a lot busier because of exactly the reason you mention. And because of the lack of room, you quite can get "forced" to go to a specific barrier due to the crowd behind and to the side of you. Cardiff Queen Street is even worse for that atm because the excess fares desk is in the area approaching the gateline.

It also doesn't help that because there is only the one wider accessible gate, it has to be used for people both entering and exiting the station, thus causing queues.

Pretty much all of this though could be solved by redesigning the gateline layout ATW have there.

 

[bb21]

No, I'm complaining because they take a very long time to do so. I should not have to be delayed by this.

Start living in the real world.

ATW will unlikely change the design because you feel a sense of injustice at being delayed. All this anger is doing is damaging your own health and no one else's.

Lodge a complaint, and make suggestions for improvements if you wish, and one day it might be acted on if enough people complain. It certainly will not be the result of solely what you say or wish.

It's when I'm exiting the station, so regardless of what time I arrive they're still going to be there. I can't decide when my train arrives sadly.

Of course you can't decide when the train arrives, but you can decide to allow a substantial amount of time to get out of the station. Accept that you are not going to make the 1630 bus if your train pulls in at 1625, and when you do, you will be pleasantly surprised. Things are not going to change any time soon and trying to find a way to cope with it is the only realistic solution for the short term.

Don't pack your schedule to the rafters. No one is that busy.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Great, I'm sure you're not, but no doubt some people might interpret your particular wording that way!

Well that's not how I'm intending to come across, so as long as people know that then there's no problem.

I agree that sort of delay is not acceptable. As it only happened once, what appeared to cause this long hold up? Was it the sheer number of people being checked? or some sort of one off problem?

It was just down to the fact that it was rush hour at Wales' busiest and biggest station, and there simply was no organisation and no structure.

At any rate, I'd express this dissatisfaction to ATW. The more people that let them know when there are unacceptable delays, the more chance there is that they will introduce measures to avoid it being repeated.

I might write to ATW and suggest my idea of a queueing system for specific tickets, i.e. those with railcards going past the RPIs and those with normal tickets just passing through the barriers as normal.

Accept that it will take a few minutes to get out of the station on arrival and people will experience less stress and misery. Though like I said, ten minutes is excessive.

I will admit there are times where I've got out pretty quickly, but there is still a higher proportion of fairly long queues.

If you 'know' your RC discounted ticket wont work the automatic ticket gates why do you go to ticket gate away from the assistant, I would head to the gate nearest them to save crossing every other queue!

This is what I do now. I obviously won't go to the ticket gates as I know it won't work!

ATW will unlikely change the design because you feel a sense of injustice at being delayed. All this anger is doing is damaging your own health and no one else's.

Lodge a complaint, and make suggestions for improvements if you wish, and one day it might be acted on if enough people complain. It certainly will not be the result of solely what you say or wish.

I'm not expecting that at all, although what I will say is that I'm not the only one to complain.

Of course you can't decide when the train arrives, but you can decide to allow a substantial amount of time to get out of the station. Accept that you are not going to make the 1630 bus if your train pulls in at 1625, and when you do, you will be pleasantly surprised. Things are not going to change any time soon and trying to find a way to cope with it is the only realistic solution for the short term.

But I'm sorry to say, I would make the 1630 bus if a better system existed.

I'm not trying to be purposely argumentative but it's just the honest truth I'm afraid.

Don't pack your schedule to the rafters. No one is that busy.

Unfortunately there are times when I, and others, are very busy people!

Of course, I accept the fact where you say it shouldn't be packed the rafters to the point where I am in several places at once, but I do have a LOT to do.

Be fair, you can't say you wouldn't be irritated if you were unneccesarily delayed, when it could be avoided.

Fair enough if a train is delayed, yes it's annoying but it can't helped. However, when a better inspection structure can exist, then it is annoying, hence my views on this thread, hence why I am going to write to ATW to suggest my plans complete with an annotated diagram of Cardiff Central to explain.

 

[gswindale]

Unfortunately there are times when I, and others, are very busy people!

Of course, I accept the fact where you say it shouldn't be packed the rafters to the point where I am in several places at once, but I do have a LOT to do.

When?

What on earth can be so important that 5/10 minutes here and there is so precious.

Chill out & enjoy life more - you'll feel a lot better for it

I'd recommend against flying anywhere as well as even something as simple as a bag drop can take ages due to the slowness of the system & the stupidity of the Great British public.

 

[bb21]

But I'm sorry to say, I would make the 1630 bus if a better system existed.

I'm not trying to be purposely argumentative but it's just the honest truth I'm afraid.

We don't live in an ideal world and you would do well to remember that.

 

[Urban Gateline]

We don't live in an ideal world and you would do well to remember that.

Precisely! I plan lots of unofficial connections during Journeys to and from work which need a quick platform change at a station which has 17 platforms and my connecting train arrives on platform 17 where the stairs get very congested so people move slowly!

Of course in my mind I am annoyed if I miss that connection but it's not the end of the world, the way you come across Dan, is that you think you are more important than everyone else so people should make way and put the red carpet down so you can exit the station without needing to queue! I do agree with others who have said that the speed of inspections are unlikely to change and you should just plan it into your Journey.

 

[FenMan]

Precisely! I plan lots of unofficial connections during Journeys to and from work which need a quick platform change at a station which has 17 platforms and my connecting train arrives on platform 17 where the stairs get very congested so people move slowly!

Of course in my mind I am annoyed if I miss that connection but it's not the end of the world, the way you come across Dan, is that you think you are more important than everyone else so people should make way and put the red carpet down so you can exit the station without needing to queue! I do agree with others who have said that the speed of inspections are unlikely to change and you should just plan it into your Journey.

Quite. Several times I've taken a North Downs Line Gatwick-bound service to change onto the Lewes train. The FGW service is scheduled to arrive at Gatwick at :50 and the Lewes train departs at :50.

I've made the connection three times and missed it once, but it was no big deal as I caught the next service to Haywards Heath, where a coffee and a bun in the cafe on the platform soon soothed any annoyance at not making the fast connection.

I'd like to thank the FGW drivers on here who, after trundling through the Surrey Hills, enjoy letting it rip between Redhill and Gatwick so I can make the connection.

 

[Clip]

Unfortunately there are times when I, and others, are very busy people!

.

How old are you? You're coming across as very arrogant and seem to be one of those who is all 'me me me and **** everyone else' brigade that are so prevalent in this country right now. We all lead busy lives, let the people do their job, you don't know how many fare evaders this has caught and if they are keeping on doing it then it must be actually working now.

You want to see being inconvenienced? Come to London and have a go on our railway/underground at peak times and then you will see what busy people do and at times its not very pretty.

Show some respect to the staff doing their jobs please, as you are an enthusiast and you should acknowledge that the railways are not perfect but they are doing the best they can in what is obviously a small access/egress station.

 

[WelshBluebird]

I think people are being a bit harsh on DanTrainMan185 here. I think he now understands the point that proper ticket checks (including checking railcards) is correct and required. What he seems to be unhappy about is the situation that currently occurs at Cardiff Central where people are needlessly delayed, not because of the ticket / railcard check itself, but because of the setup, design and layout of the gateline. I don't see any issue with being annoyed at that, because it is a situation that ATW have backed themselves into and could easily be fixed by a redesign of the gateline.

Sadly i can't see ATW doing anything, because it appears if they have no learned from their mistakes and are making the same mistake at Cardiff Queen Street Station. As I said earlier, the excess fares area for CDQ is in the same area as the approach to the barriers in a narrow subway. It really isn't a suitable place for it.

but they are doing the best they can in what is obviously a small access/egress station.

But that is the point. ATW are NOT doing the best they can do.

What on earth can be so important that 5/10 minutes here and there is so precious.

Just a quick point but 5/10 minutes can easily mean the difference between catching a connecting train / bus / whatever or having wait an hour or more for the next. So it isn't really just the question of the odd 5/10 minutes, which I would agree is something that can be written off.

 

[Gareth Marston]

I think people are being a bit harsh on DanTrainMan185 here. I think he now understands the point that proper ticket checks (including checking railcards) is correct and required. What he seems to be unhappy about is the situation that currently occurs at Cardiff Central where people are needlessly delayed, not because of the ticket / railcard check itself, but because of the setup, design and layout of the gateline. I don't see any issue with being annoyed at that, because it is a situation that ATW have backed themselves into and could easily be fixed by a redesign of the gateline.

Sadly i can't see ATW doing anything, because it appears if they have no learned from their mistakes and are making the same mistake at Cardiff Queen Street Station. As I said earlier, the excess fares area for CDQ is in the same area as the approach to the barriers in a narrow subway. It really isn't a suitable place for it.



But that is the point. ATW are NOT doing the best they can do.



Just a quick point but 5/10 minutes can easily mean the difference between catching a connecting train / bus / whatever or having wait an hour or more for the next. So it isn't really just the question of the odd 5/10 minutes, which I would agree is something that can be written off.

Pre ATW and the existence of RPC Wales a plan for gates would probably have informally been discussed between Wales and Borders and RPC Wales and the potential for passenger input made. Of course Chris Gibb and the late Tom Clift were head and shoulders above the managers that have followed. The Main gate line at Central could easily be moved out into the concourse.

 

[radamfi]

Does anywhere in Europe outside the UK and Ireland have manual ticket barriers as a matter of routine? I would totally agree that ticket holders should not be delayed unnecessarily when leaving the station. That surely reduces the desirability of rail transport, which surely none of us want. Only automatic barriers are acceptable. If you want to check railcards etc., then that needs to be done on the train, or embed the railcard as part of the ticket like the Dutch so it can be checked at the automatic barrier.

 

[Flamingo]

I use Cardiff Station daily, at all times. The ONLY occasions I see queues for the barriers that take more than 30 seconds to a minute maximum is when there is an event on, and special queuing is in place. This is about 6-8 times a year, and well publicised in advance.

Any posters claiming they have to wait for over five minutes to exit Cardiff station are exaggerating (or standing there saying "No, after you" for a very long time!)

 

[richw]

Any posters claiming they have to wait for over five minutes to exit Cardiff station are exaggerating (or standing there saying "No, after you" for a very long time!)

My previous post was hypothetical only not knowing the queue times. I've used Cardiff twice and exited immediately but these were during off peak times

 

[najaB]

I would totally agree that ticket holders should not be delayed unnecessarily when leaving the station. That surely reduces the desirability of rail transport, which surely none of us want. Only automatic barriers are acceptable.

In a lot of cases automatic ticket barriers are actually slower than manual checks. How many times have you seen people putting their seat reservation through the machine, taking it out, putting it in again, looking puzzled then realising, fishing through their bag for the ticket, etc... while a queue forms behind them. Having people there means that they can open the gate for a family group rather than each person having to go through individually as well.

And they don't only do revenue protection, they are able to be the 'friendly' face of the railway (well sometimes).

 

[Greenback]

I think people are being a bit harsh on DanTrainMan185 here.

The way Dan is putting his views across is not helping him to get a sympathetic response, unfortunately.

I don't see any issue with being annoyed at that, because it is a situation that ATW have backed themselves into and could easily be fixed by a redesign of the gateline.

I don't think ATW were involved in the design and installation of the gateline, they inherited it. Under the franchise system I can see why they are reluctant to fund a relocation of the barriers, only to lose the contract in a few years time!

But that is the point. ATW are NOT doing the best they can do.

They are probably doing the best that can be done without compromising revenue protection and spending more money.

Pre ATW and the existence of RPC Wales a plan for gates would probably have informally been discussed between Wales and Borders and RPC Wales and the potential for passenger input made. Of course Chris Gibb and the late Tom Clift were head and shoulders above the managers that have followed. The Main gate line at Central could easily be moved out into the concourse.

My guess is that it would not be cheap, even if it proved to be easy.

Does anywhere in Europe outside the UK and Ireland have manual ticket barriers as a matter of routine? I would totally agree that ticket holders should not be delayed unnecessarily when leaving the station. That surely reduces the desirability of rail transport, which surely none of us want. Only automatic barriers are acceptable. If you want to check railcards etc., then that needs to be done on the train, or embed the railcard as part of the ticket like the Dutch so it can be checked at the automatic barrier.

In an ideal world all of these things would be done, everywhere. Unfortunately, we have a fragmented railway, where most things are viewed in the short term as a result of franchises.

In the real world, we have packed trains, double units and frequent stops, all of which make thorough onboard ticket checks difficult if not totally impossible at times.

I use Cardiff Station daily, at all times. The ONLY occasions I see queues for the barriers that take more than 30 seconds to a minute maximum is when there is an event on, and special queuing is in place. This is about 6-8 times a year, and well publicised in advance.

Any posters claiming they have to wait for over five minutes to exit Cardiff station are exaggerating (or standing there saying "No, after you" for a very long time!)

Although I don't use the station as frequently as Flamingo, I am often in Cardiff and my observations are similar. If two train loads arrive at the barriers at the same time, I'd say that the total delay would be more than 30 seconds, but no more than 60.

My previous post was hypothetical only not knowing the queue times. I've used Cardiff twice and exited immediately but these were during off peak times

When I exit the station it normally takes me no more than 10-20 seconds, even when I have to go to the manual gate with my day ranger.

I think the main crux of the matter is that Dan expects to be off the train, out of the station and on to a bus (or doing something else) in a certain amount of time, and this doesn't always happen. The fact that he manages it sometimes makes it all the more frustrating when he doesn't.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Chill out & enjoy life more - you'll feel a lot better for it

My life is fine the way it is, thanks.

I'd recommend against flying anywhere as well as even something as simple as a bag drop can take ages due to the slowness of the system & the stupidity of the Great British public.

That's completely different as that's planned. It's just the speed of the RPIs at the station that is the issue.

Of course in my mind I am annoyed if I miss that connection but it's not the end of the world, the way you come across Dan, is that you think you are more important than everyone else so people should make way and put the red carpet down so you can exit the station without needing to queue! I do agree with others who have said that the speed of inspections are unlikely to change and you should just plan it into your Journey.

Not at all, I am just as equal as everyone else.

How old are you? You're coming across as very arrogant and seem to be one of those who is all 'me me me and **** everyone else' brigade that are so prevalent in this country right now. We all lead busy lives, let the people do their job, you don't know how many fare evaders this has caught and if they are keeping on doing it then it must be actually working now.

I’m sorry but I actually find your comments quite offensive.

As I have explained several times on this thread, the issue is not the fact I have to show my railcard but the structure that is currently in place.

You don’t know me, you know absolutely nothing about me and/or what I do and the experiences that I’ve gone through. Please don't sit there and judge me, as you don't know a thing. And for the record, I am completely the polar opposite of arrogant.

I don’t have to (and shouldn’t have to, quite frankly) explain who I am, as this is a rail forum, but if you must know, I’m 20 years old student in uni and I work for Costa. I also run a dancing school for young kids and I also lead a normal non-work non-uni life. I could go on and on about who I am and what I’ve achieved in my life, but I’m not going to.

Unless you've shared the same experiences that I have, then, with all due respect, you are in absolutely no position to comment whatsoever.

You want to see being inconvenienced? Come to London and have a go on our railway/underground at peak times and then you will see what busy people do and at times its not very pretty.

I’ve been on the tube at all hours in various different locations across the network and have experienced no problems. Your example is again completely unrelated, however.

Show some respect to the staff doing their jobs please

Believe me, I already do. You think I don’t? I never once haven't respected staff.

As you are an enthusiast and you should acknowledge that the railways are not perfect but they are doing the best they can in what is obviously a small access/egress station.

I’m not an enthusiast? I use the railways for purely academic and leisure purposes.

If you don't like me, that's absolutely fine as there is understandably a personality clash here and there, please just leave this thread. But do NOT judge me unless you know me.

I think people are being a bit harsh on DanTrainMan185 here. I think he now understands the point that proper ticket checks (including checking railcards) is correct and required. What he seems to be unhappy about is the situation that currently occurs at Cardiff Central where people are needlessly delayed, not because of the ticket / railcard check itself, but because of the setup, design and layout of the gateline. I don't see any issue with being annoyed at that, because it is a situation that ATW have backed themselves into and could easily be fixed by a redesign of the gateline.

Thank you so much, at least there is someone who actually knows what I'm saying (not that it was hard) and knows my experiences, and isn’t judging me. And in fairness it was only the structure of the queueing system I was complaining about.

Does anywhere in Europe outside the UK and Ireland have manual ticket barriers as a matter of routine? I would totally agree that ticket holders should not be delayed unnecessarily when leaving the station. That surely reduces the desirability of rail transport, which surely none of us want. Only automatic barriers are acceptable. If you want to check railcards etc., then that needs to be done on the train, or embed the railcard as part of the ticket like the Dutch so it can be checked at the automatic barrier.

Exactly so. Thank you.

I use Cardiff Station daily, at all times. The ONLY occasions I see queues for the barriers that take more than 30 seconds to a minute maximum is when there is an event on, and special queuing is in place. This is about 6-8 times a year, and well publicised in advance.

Have you seen the RPIs at Cardiff?

The way Dan is putting his views across is not helping him to get a sympathetic response, unfortunately.

I'm being as reasonable as I can, to be fair.

 

[Clip]

You don’t know me, you know absolutely nothing about me and/or what I do and the experiences that I’ve gone through. Please don't sit there and judge me, as you don't know a thing. And for the record, I am completely the polar opposite of arrogant.

I don’t have to (and shouldn’t have to, quite frankly) explain who I am, as this is a rail forum, but if you must know, I’m 20 years old student in uni and I work for Costa. I also run a dancing school for young kids and I also lead a normal non-work non-uni life. I could go on and on about who I am and what I’ve achieved in my life, but I’m not going to.

Unless you've shared the same experiences that I have, then, with all due respect, you are in absolutely no position to comment whatsoever.

I’ve been on the tube at all hours in various different locations across the network and have experienced no problems. Your example is again completely unrelated, however.

Believe me, I already do. You think I don’t? I never once haven't respected staff.

I’m not an enthusiast? I use the railways for purely academic and leisure purposes.

If you don't like me, that's absolutely fine as there is understandably a personality clash here and there, please just leave this thread. But do NOT judge me unless you know me.


.

I didnt say I didnt like you, I pointed out at the way that you were coming across in this thread and I am not the only one.

If you dont want to be judged on what you say on a forum then you jolly well shouldnt be putting such opinionated views about how busy you seem to think you are in your life that you get frustrated at having to show your correct documentation to an authorised member of staff from the railway on an open forum as you will get judged on what you say - thats how these places work.

 

[Haywain]

I think you've missed the point of an internet forum. At the end of your initial post you said:

PS: this is not me complaining; this is just me posting my observations and wondered what other peoples views/thoughts were

and now you don't want people to comment, according to these:

Unless you've shared the same experiences that I have, then, with all due respect, you are in absolutely no position to comment whatsoever.

If you don't like me, that's absolutely fine as there is understandably a personality clash here and there, please just leave this thread. But do NOT judge me unless you know me.

 

[Greenback]

I'm being as reasonable as I can, to be fair.

All I can say is that some of the wording you have used can be read as being arrogant, selfish and self important. As it has been by others.

It's worth remembering that on a forum no one can see your body language, hear your tone of voice, see you facial expression and so on, so people can only go by what is written. Even smilies don't always help. So everyone, not just you and this thread, needs to be aware of how their posts could come across.

It doesn't help to get defensive and take things personally either!

 

[Llanigraham]

My life is fine the way it is, thanks.



That's completely different as that's planned. It's just the speed of the RPIs at the station that is the issue.



Not at all, I am just as equal as everyone else.



I’m sorry but I actually find your comments quite offensive.

As I have explained several times on this thread, the issue is not the fact I have to show my railcard but the structure that is currently in place.

You don’t know me, you know absolutely nothing about me and/or what I do and the experiences that I’ve gone through. Please don't sit there and judge me, as you don't know a thing. And for the record, I am completely the polar opposite of arrogant.

I don’t have to (and shouldn’t have to, quite frankly) explain who I am, as this is a rail forum, but if you must know, I’m 20 years old student in uni and I work for Costa. I also run a dancing school for young kids and I also lead a normal non-work non-uni life. I could go on and on about who I am and what I’ve achieved in my life, but I’m not going to.

Unless you've shared the same experiences that I have, then, with all due respect, you are in absolutely no position to comment whatsoever.



I’ve been on the tube at all hours in various different locations across the network and have experienced no problems. Your example is again completely unrelated, however.



Believe me, I already do. You think I don’t? I never once haven't respected staff.



I’m not an enthusiast? I use the railways for purely academic and leisure purposes.

If you don't like me, that's absolutely fine as there is understandably a personality clash here and there, please just leave this thread. But do NOT judge me unless you know me.



Thank you so much, at least there is someone who actually knows what I'm saying (not that it was hard) and knows my experiences, and isn’t judging me. And in fairness it was only the structure of the queueing system I was complaining about.



Exactly so. Thank you.



Have you seen the RPIs at Cardiff?



I'm being as reasonable as I can, to be fair.

Dan,
Sorry, but your replies come over in 2 ways, one as slightly arrogant, especialy the red bit above, and secondly as a young man who hasn't yet realised that life isn't fair and sometimes it doesn't and won't go the way you want it to. As you get older hopefully you will realise that. If you don't life will be very hard.

I use Cardiff Central quite often and the worst I've had to wait to get out through a manned gate is no more than 2 minutes, and then because someone else couldn't find their ticket in a large handbag. At 60odd I really wasn't bothered, and as you will quickly realise life is far to short to worrry about the small delays you suffer. Cardiff has got quite a good bus service so you won't have to wait long for the next one.

If I come into your Costa shop should I have to wait 5 minutes whilst the "barrista" chats to the customer in front of me? By your posting on here, perhaps I should complain and "stamp my feet"? Will you give me a free coffee because of the delay? I suspect the answer to that is no, so therefore now look at the delay at the Station again.

Cardiff Station is a design from long ago and to put in more or wider exits is impractical and probably almost impossible without major reconstruction. As such they do the best and quickest job that they can.

And finally, if you have a complaint about something the best way of trying to sort it out is not to go bleating to a web forum but to actually write to the operator. I'm sure Costa have a Complaints Department who would be the first point of call if someone wanted to complain about poor service rather than bleating on a forum.

 

[ValleyLines142]

that you get frustrated at having to show your correct documentation to an authorised member of staff from the railway

Oh sweet jesus how many times have I got to say this?

IT'S NOTHING TO DO WITH DOCUMENTATION!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE READ MY POSTS!!!!!!

I am literally going blue in the face.

I think you've missed the point of an internet forum. At the end of your initial post you said:and now you don't want people to comment, according to these:

Yes but I wasn't expecting all of this nonsense!

There is a CLEAR difference between views, which, like Welshbluebird and radamfi have stated, which are perfectly valid, then there's people judging me.

All I can say is that some of the wording you have used can be read as being arrogant, selfish and self important. As it has been by others.

It's worth remembering that on a forum no one can see your body language, hear your tone of voice, see you facial expression and so on, so people can only go by what is written. Even smilies don't always help. So everyone, not just you and this thread, needs to be aware of how their posts could come across.

It doesn't help to get defensive and take things personally either!

Which is fair enough but I have personally told everyone on this thread what my intentions were but there are some forum members who are still not listening to me, so I'm actually past the point of caring now.

NOW I am angry and agitated because I've had to repeat myself several times to people in this thread, not you personally Greenback, but others anyway.

I use Cardiff Central quite often and the worst I've had to wait to get out through a manned gate is no more than 2 minutes, and then because someone else couldn't find their ticket in a large handbag. At 60odd I really wasn't bothered, and as you will quickly realise life is far to short to worrry about the small delays you suffer. Cardiff has got quite a good bus service so you won't have to wait long for the next one.

As I've (yet again) mentioned before, there are times when I am out quickly.

If I come into your Costa shop should I have to wait 5 minutes whilst the "barrista" chats to the customer in front of me? By your posting on here, perhaps I should complain and "stamp my feet"? Will you give me a free coffee because of the delay? I suspect the answer to that is no, so therefore now look at the delay at the Station again.

No because I multitask and serve quickly, yet still maintain a conversation.

 

[WelshBluebird]

Cardiff Station is a design from long ago and to put in more or wider exits is impractical and probably almost impossible without major reconstruction. As such they do the best and quickest job that they can.

But that simply is not the case.
As I have said it would be easy to redesign the gateline so it comes out into the main station concourse.
Just because ATW don't want to spend the money to do it, does not mean it wouldn't be easy to do.