Southern - Revenue Protection

[Rupee]

Hi,

I'm a season ticket holder with Southern and just wondered if anyone can confirm whether Southern still employ as many RPO's compared to a few years ago??

I hardly see any these days, compared to a few years ago.

Used to see loads of them regularly carrying out their "blitz" operations at stations, on board trains and even undercover operations. Not anymore.

I don't even see many of them at Brighton dishing out fines like they used to.

See a few of those "Rail Enforcement" people whatever they do apart from strutting around.

Anyone shed any light?

 

[yorkie]

I don't know the answer to the question but they don't dish out any fines. They can charge Penalty Fares, and they can collect evidence for possible prosecutions. If someone is successfully prosecuted, that can result in a court imposing a fine.

 

[Urban Gateline]

Those Rail Enforcement Officers you refer to as "strutting around" can actually issue MG11's, which is a report for prosecution of a fare evader, far stronger than a penalty fare!

In response to your actual question, Southern recently recruited for the Peckham and Brighton Revenue Protection depots, however I'd agree with your comment that there are not as many around as there used to be, it's the same sad story with South West Trains, where any Revenue Staff leaving do not get replaced!

 

[falcon]

Revenue protection has been decline for the last few years on all TOC it is not seen as a priority,in fact it is seen as a hindrance as it can cause delays to trains and confrontation.The train operator East Coast that run trains from London to Inverness removed the On Train Revenue Protection staff in 2009.They had 12 Rail Enforcement Officers who were supposed to issue MG11 put hardly ever did.They were all made redundant in 2011.As a result East Coast have no revenue protection on trains at all. Many of the other TOC have are similar only have single figures doing revenue protection.The TOC now prefer agency staff on ticket gates sometimes with Avantix to take excess fares.There will be less and less on board revenue protection as time passes also due to scan tickets ect.

 

[Matt Taylor]

Is there really an economic case for employing more RP staff when most TOC are on revenue support?

 

[Bidstonboy]

Those Rail Enforcement Officers you refer to as "strutting around" can actually issue MG11's, which is a report for prosecution of a fare evader, far stronger than a penalty fare!

In response to your actual question, Southern recently recruited for the Peckham and Brighton Revenue Protection depots, however I'd agree with your comment that there are not as many around as there used to be, it's the same sad story with South West Trains, where any Revenue Staff leaving do not get replaced!

Yes, there were 3 of them at Brighton on Wednesday, when I tried to get out using a Southern Day Save ticket the machine rejected it and the 3 were over in a flash, they must be new and blood thirsty as they looked disappointed when I had a valid ticket. In fact the Day Save didn't work at any barrier which was a pest as I had to use an intercom to get out at a couple of places.

 

[Wath Yard]

In fact the Day Save didn't work at any barrier which was a pest as I had to use an intercom to get out at a couple of places.

Oddly enough they do seem to work at Victoria, however I had a discussion with someone at Lewes about it a while back and he implied it was deliberate that they don't operate gates but didn't go into detail as to why it was.

 

[johnnycache]

I work for Southern

We have over 100 revenue protection staff - the same as ever - despite many of our stations now being gated

We are not in revenue support

Sorry about daysave tickets not working barriers maybe we ought to review that

 

[Bidstonboy]

I work for Southern

We have over 100 revenue protection staff - the same as ever - despite many of our stations now being gated

We are not in revenue support

Sorry about daysave tickets not working barriers maybe we ought to review that

Thanks Johnny, it's always nice when somebody acknowledges your comment and tells the relevant people. I think the ticket is a great idea and enabled me to visit 11 pubs in 6 different places on the network, so don't say it is a complaint, I wouldn't want the ticket withdrawn! In fact, it would be great if more TOCs had a similar ticket.
Cheers.