Amazing i saw this.
Last night my wife and kids came back from the Watercress Line and the rear carriages never opened at Clapham Junction. They had to rush through to the front section. She said to the guard that thre had been no announcements and he said I did make one ... she said well funny how no one else that just got off heard them either ... maybe this is a comms problem? If so ... isn't this a danger ? And if the announcements are not being made or heard will people be fined for being at Waterlook with a Not London ticket ?
Interesting thought.
Just to add ... Why when he came through did he notmentuion that the door in the carridge she was in wouldn't open?
Ah good old Clapham Junction platform 7 which cannot take 10 coaches. If I'm completely honest I think the fact the Desiro doesn't have car lockouts (like Electrostars do) but instead unit lockouts is their biggest failing.
What you mention, however, is very odd. Were there automated announcements made throughout the journey upto Clapham? Another problem I notice on the Desiro is that guards who make announcements sometimes do not do so loudly enough. With all the pointwork in the Clapham area that is a recipe for disaster.
The reason the guard wouldn't have said anything (I assume) is that he was relying on you to hear the announcement(s) on approach to Clapham and move forward then. Thinking about it even more, the information to move forward should also have been on the scrolling display on approach to CLJ - was this working?
Then the issue of a 'Not London' ticket at Waterloo in such circumstances. I think if you explained the issue to staff (was in rear coach... no announcement to move forward... missed stop as a result) AND took the first train back to Clapham I'm sure they wouldn't really have too much of a problem with it. If they do excess your ticket, however, then a letter including details of the service you took with no announcement, and a photocopy of your tickets should result in a refund.