Ticket checking at Nuneaton?

[TheTraveller]

Noticed over the past few weeks there have been guards checking tickets at the entrance to Nuneaton, are they finally cracking down on people getting on without paying? The amount of people I see get on at Nuneaton without a ticket and get off at Hinckley/Bedworth for a free journey is a joke.

 

[50010 Monarch]

From my experience London Midland revenue protection is a joke full stop.

 

[70014IronDuke]

From my experience London Midland revenue protection is a joke full stop.

I don't know nowt about Nuneaton, but from my very limited experience (er, one trip!) all I know is that last Autumn I did Euston - Rugby on an LM cheapo.

No checks to Northampton - but there a young Asian lady conductor got on, aged, I'd guess, around 25. She was beautiful (I don't mean this in a 'sexy' way - I mean it in terms of how she carried herself and general demeanour) - she articulated the train announcements very well, and checked tickets in a most personable manner.

I thought she was a credit to herself, to LM and to British Asian womanhood.

 

[Bungle965]

From my experience London Midland revenue protection is a joke full stop.

Most Saturdays I go from Bescot to Birmingham and I have only had a ticket check on the train about it twice. It's Joke.
Still buy my tickets though just in case!

 

[ivanhoe]

Revenue Protection in this Country is a joke. I don't know how Governments allow the TOCs to get away with it. Nobody really knows the extent of the problem and I can only comment on late journeys ( after 8pm) that I have experienced in recent years.

 

[SS4]

Most Saturdays I go from Bescot to Birmingham and I have only had a ticket check on the train about it twice. It's Joke.
Still buy my tickets though just in case!

My guess is that they expect most journeys in the local area to start or end at New St where they can check the majority of tickets. Of course it doesn't work when the staff are inattentive like the ones at BHM tend to me.

I also wonder how much money they get off WMPTE for the local routes?

 

[SJN]

The weekend just gone was the Godiva festival at Coventry so extra Revenue people were at Nuneaton to help out. There have been a few blocks there lately also. As a conductor myself, I always check as many trains as I can between other duties.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Going between Walsall and Birmingham can be difficult for staff if its a 323. We can only operate doors from either the cab or the middle door panel and as the stations are quite close together, its hard to get through.

 

[Robertj21a]

Revenue Protection in this Country is a joke. I don't know how Governments allow the TOCs to get away with it. Nobody really knows the extent of the problem and I can only comment on late journeys ( after 8pm) that I have experienced in recent years.

How does the Government become involved when it's private operators ?

 

[CC 72100]

Going between Walsall and Birmingham can be difficult for staff if its a 323. We can only operate doors from either the cab or the middle door panel and as the stations are quite close together, its hard to get through.

I was going to say, realistically I can imagine that it is very difficult/ impossible to get through on the 323s on such lines, so...

Originally Posted by SS4

My guess is that they expect most journeys in the local area to start or end at New St where they can check the majority of tickets.

which of course only works if they are actually manned. Have passed through 5/6 times this year at 'normal' times of the day - nothing.

 

[Bungle965]

17 minutes between Duddeston and New Street. Should be able to get though a fair few people there.
Sam

 

[SJN]

It takes 6 mins from Duddeston to New Street not 17. You may get through a few in this time yes but not many.

 

[Bungle965]

It takes 6 mins from Duddeston to New Street not 17. You may get through a few in this time yes but not many.

Sorry yes you are right I was looking at what time it departed from New Street rather than arrived. It can be done though I have seen it twice the conductor has checked the vast majority of people's tickets and still done the doors, although I do understand that it is very energy consuming which is also why Birmingham New Street it's self should tighten up on the revenue protection.

 

[SJN]

I know it can be done. I've done it. I was just saying it can be difficult and if people always sit at the front of the train, they may never get a ticket checked if the conductor cant get through. Its not that we are being lazy, its just not always possible. Its a lot easier with the other trains on the route, rather than the 323. There are proper barriers being installed at New Street later this year.

 

[Bungle965]

I know it can be done. I've done it. I was just saying it can be difficult and if people always sit at the front of the train, they may never get a ticket checked if the conductor cant get through. Its not that we are being lazy, its just not always possible. Its a lot easier with the other trains on the route, rather than the 323. There are proper barriers being installed at New Street later this year.

Like for instance 170 on Sundays or 350. I agree with you but it just makes me annoyed that I do buy a ticket each and every time but the vast majority of the others don't and when the conductor does not come round I question to myself why I even bother.
Sam

 

[SJN]

170 and 350 great on that route. I understand it's annoying when others don't buy tickets but you can bet that the day you don't, the revenue will be out and issuing Penalty Fares. Always best to get one.

 

[Bungle965]

170 and 350 great on that route. I understand it's annoying when others don't buy tickets but you can bet that the day you don't, the revenue will be out and issuing Penalty Fares. Always best to get one.

Indeed that is what I always think to myself.
Sam

 

[6Gman]

Like for instance 170 on Sundays or 350. I agree with you but it just makes me annoyed that I do buy a ticket each and every time but the vast majority of the others don't and when the conductor does not come round I question to myself why I even bother.
Sam

You "bother" because it's the right thing to do hopefully.

 

[cjp]

How does the Government become involved when it's private operators ?

Subsidies??
If more revenue came in then less subsidy would be required in future

 

[najaB]

Still buy my tickets though just in case!

Personally, I buy a ticket because it's a legal requirement. But hey, whatever works for you.

 

[Mugby]

I've seen them checking tickets at the bottom of the steps leading on to the new platforms at Nuneaton a few times but strangely not at the main entrance.

 

[Bungle965]

Personally, I buy a ticket because it's a legal requirement. But hey, whatever works for you.

That is still why I buy my ticket every single time and not once have I not but when you see the vast majority of other people completely ignoring the ticket office (when it is open) or the ticket machine, it does make you wonder why you bother but then you realise that you bother because you are helping keep the trains working and as you say it is a legal requirement.I go and buy my ticket.
Sam

 

[WL113]

Interesting topic this. On the Rugeley Trent Valley to Birmingham New Street route ticket checks are erratic to say the least. I can understand it is difficult to get through the train at peak times and not worth the hassle on the late services but during the afternoon? Its rare to get checked lately, apart from a few weeks ago when there were a couple of RPIs about for a day.

Considering it took over thirty years to get the line back open for passenger trains I do hope lack of revenue isn't used as a reason for reducing what is a good service in the future.

Perhaps some more staff would be an idea??

 

[island]

I was going to say, realistically I can imagine that it is very difficult/ impossible to get through on the 323s on such lines, so...



which of course only works if they are actually manned. Have passed through 5/6 times this year at 'normal' times of the day - nothing.

The effectiveness of ticket checking at the Birmingham New Street barrier is not normally reduced by removing all staff from it.

 

[OwlMan]

RAIL passengers who attempt to dodge paying their fares at Nuneaton Train Station are the targets of a new sting.

From http://www.nuneaton-news.co.uk/Insp...tory-26871592-detail/story.html#ixzz3fTDX5I4k

London Midland has announced that it has recruited three more teams to patrol stations across its network, checking the validity of tickets at random points during the day.
The increase of inspections has come into force across all London Midland-run stations including in Nuneaton and passengers are being warned to buy their ticket before entering the platforms or pay at least a £20 fine.
A spokesperson for London Midland said: "In the past we have found our system to be too flexible and if people are determined to not pay for their ticket they might know when the teams start checking tickets and wait.


"By having random checks it means that we can stop people from boarding trains without a valid ticket and by working with British Transport Police and rail staff we can target more stations at various times during the day.

"We have roaming teams that complete exercises at stations across the country on our network.
"Teams come in and close all the entrances to the platforms to check people's tickets.
"We have recruited three more roaming teams which are based in Milton Keynes, Crewe and in Birmingham who are in addition to our current teams, who will be working across the network to complete more random inspections."
For more information visit the London Midland website at http://www.londonmidland.com

 

[TheTraveller]

RAIL passengers who attempt to dodge paying their fares at Nuneaton Train Station are the targets of a new sting.

Thanks for posting, didn't see that.

Well at least they're doing something, finally, shouldn't even be an option to jump on without paying first in my opinion.

 

[wellwhatitis]

Like for instance 170 on Sundays or 350. I agree with you but it just makes me annoyed that I do buy a ticket each and every time but the vast majority of the others don't and when the conductor does not come round I question to myself why I even bother.
Sam

This is the statement from passengers I hear that annoys me the most. You don't buy a ticket to have it checked, you buy it to travel. Why can't people get their head round that? Do you object when you leave a shop and nobody checks your receipt?

 

[CaptainHaddock]

This is the statement from passengers I hear that annoys me the most. You don't buy a ticket to have it checked, you buy it to travel. Why can't people get their head round that? Do you object when you leave a shop and nobody checks your receipt?

No but you would object if you'd paid for your shopping but most of the other customers hadn't!

 

[wellwhatitis]

No but you would object if you'd paid for your shopping but most of the other customers hadn't!

Maybe, but it is still completely the wrong attitude. And the fact is that out of 100 people in a shop 99 will go to the till and pay maybe 1 will leave without doing so. Yet on a train the equation is probably more like 50/50 or worse.

The question is why do people think their behaviour is correct in one situation where they fully accept it's wrong in another?

 

[Clip]

Maybe, but it is still completely the wrong attitude. And the fact is that out of 100 people in a shop 99 will go to the till and pay maybe 1 will leave without doing so. Yet on a train the equation is probably more like 50/50 or worse.

The question is why do people think their behaviour is correct in one situation where they fully accept it's wrong in another?

Because on the railway you have a higher chance of getting away with it. People take risks. Human nature I guess

 

[DeeGee]

Maybe, but it is still completely the wrong attitude. And the fact is that out of 100 people in a shop 99 will go to the till and pay maybe 1 will leave without doing so. Yet on a train the equation is probably more like 50/50 or worse.

The question is why do people think their behaviour is correct in one situation where they fully accept it's wrong in another?

Do you reckon there's a forum somewhere for staff, shoppers and enthusiasts of Asda, where every couple of days someone comes on, they've put a bottle of Scotch in their gusset, got to the till, panicked, forgot they wanted to buy scotch and instead tried to buy a bottle of mineral water only for the very rude and aggressive store detective to speak to them in such a horrible manner that they panic and give the name and address of someone that, despie being unable to rmember their own name and Address, they can remember this other person's? And then ask for forum help to get away with it?