I currently have a Bedford-Luton Airport Parkway season.
The other morning I was on the 8.29 which is nonstop Bedford to St Pancras. I had purchased a Luton Airport Parkway to St Pancras ticket in addition. I got told off by the guard
The Guard was wrong to tell you off for this; you could write to the company so that the Guard can be issued some appropriate advice by their manager.
but he didn't PF me - said the trains is supposed to stop at LAP for it to be valid. Is that true?
No it isn't true.
Incidentally he was extremely quick to threaten getting the BTP
I'd report that. If he had done, he'd hopefully have been done for wasting police time.
I didn't protest at all and said I could buy a whole new ticket as I would just expense it back to work so it wasn't a problem as 'I'm not paying anyway' but he completely misunderstood and thought I was threatening not to pay!
I know the sort. You only tend to get them on the 'mainline' trains, not on the EMT branches.
Also, say I have the same bunch of tickets and want to travel 9pm St P to Bedford, that stops at Luton. Since Luton is 'short' of LAP and usually I can travel there on my season, would I be allowed to get this train?
You can take any train.
that will be fun to explain to staff who don't know! i just get so despairing of these situations. they just think you are being awkward.
They are the ones being awkward. Don't take the bait; simply say "oh, I was told by another member of staff it was permitted under Condition 14.2. Can you look that condition up please?"
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/Conditions%20of%20Travel%202016.pdf
NRCoT Condition 14.2 said:
If you are using a Season Ticket, daily Zonal Ticket, or another area based Ticket such as a concessionary pass, ranger or rover in conjunction with another Ticket and the last station at which one Ticket is valid and the first
station that the other Ticket is valid are the same, then the train does not need to call at that station for your combination to be valid
also worth mentioning that he told me he would come back to get me to purchase a new ticket but never did. i remained sitting exactly where i was, fully awaiting him and expecting him to come back. i was most calm and unbothered as i would have claimed the new ticket back from work. so even if his ticketing knowledge was wrong (i suspected it was at the time but didnt know for sure so did not argue) his behaviour was not on. i was SO cooperative!
He was probably told of his error by a colleague. Some people don't like going back to apologise. You are not the only one to experience this sort of behaviour by an EMT 'mainline' Guard. Most are absolutely not like that, but a small minority are. It's a known problem which EMT doesn't do enough to eradicate.
All the signs are there: making up rules, being rude, threatening BTP, etc. You are not their first victim and you won't be their last. One day someone may have a panic attack and the company could be in trouble then.
https://www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk/Documents/Train Manager - London External v2.pdf
We pride ourselves on passenger satisfaction and this is delivered through our customer focused service.
A great opportunity has arisen for a Train Manager to come on board at London St Pancras. Providing high levels of customer service, you'll check travel documents, ensure the safety of customers and provide advice and guidance as
necessary.
Looking after our customers will be your top priority. Passionate about delivering high standards of service, you'll have a natural instinct for working well with the public in a face to face role on our trains
Maybe one day EMT will insist that all of their 'mainline' Train Managers will act in accordance with the above, but I won't hold my breath.
