Travelcard and CDR

[jumble]

One for Ferret maybe

I travelled from Paddington to Morton-in-Marsh not so long ago and on the day I had a 1 day Z1 to 6 paper travel card.
I went to the ticket office and asked for a CDR in conjunction with the travelcard and was sold a West Drayton to Morton-in-Marsh CDR and then told by gentleman selling it the time of my next train which did not stop at West Drayton
I was gripped both out and back but no comment was made
Was I sold the correct ticket ?
What are Great Western Guards advised to do in this case
is the fact that the ticket office told me that the ticket was vaild an excuse.

 

[maniacmartin]

Was I sold the correct ticket ?

No, this ticket would not be valid on a train that doesn't stop at West Drayton. You would have had to have a weekly or longer Z1-6 Travelcard for it to be classed as a Season ticket which would make it valid.

The correct ticket (Boundary Zone 6 to Moreton in Marsh) is however the same price and has the same restriction code, so perhaps it was laziness on the case of the ticket office staff?

 

[LexyBoy]

What are Great Western Guards advised to do in this case

One for Flamingo to answer - I'd hazard a guess at "whatever doesn't cause the passenger to complain to management" In reality it's probably well known that West Drayton is the last station in zone 6 and BZ6 fares are based on this so no reason to take issue.

It's still a bit naughty to sell it though as it is not valid, plus the revenue allocation will be different so FGW could be accused of depriving SWT of revenue due.

is the fact that the ticket office told me that the ticket was vaild an excuse.

I don't think so, unless you can prove what was said.
I think the correct procedure when assessing validity is to keep asking staff until you find someone who says [whatever you want to do] is not valid, and go with that. No chance of getting into trouble then.

 

[bb21]

I think the correct procedure when assessing validity is to keep asking staff until you find someone who says [whatever you want to do] is not valid, and go with that. No chance of getting into trouble then.

Might as well just assume that the answer is "no" then on every occasion in that case.

 

[jumble]

Hmm
this is then an example of where the totally law abiding such as I am can be prosecuted under byelaw 18 despite doing everything by the book and being told by the ticket office which train to catch
This is actually disgracefull and would richly deserve a big fuss to FGW management.
I would hope that any RPI would use discression

Thanks

 

[yorkie]

Many Train Operating Companies (TOCs) are happy to issue, and accept, tickets from named stations rather than Boundary Zone X.

A few years ago, we approached a friendly FGW guard at Waterloo and enquired if we could buy Travelcard extensions to Reading. He confirmed we could, we boarded, he locked the doors and we departed. He sold tickets from West Drayton, despite the train not taking that route. SWT didn't check tickets on the return journey.

There's not going to be an issue if travelling with the same TOC, but if travel is with another TOC, there could be a problem.

So in the case of West Drayton on FGW, I wouldn't worry about that, as there's no other TOC involved (normally!)

As for Byelaw 18, I don't want to drag this thread off-topic but my opinion is it should be abolished. If there's intent that's a different matter. If there's no intent it should be a civil matter.

 

[furlong]

is the fact that the ticket office told me that the ticket was valid an excuse.

If the ticket is generally treated as valid, there's no problem.
If it was technically deemed invalid, then you could still argue an authorised person gave you permission to travel on that train while in possession of that ticket.

(3) No person shall be in breach of Byelaw 18(1) or 18(2) if:
(iii) an authorised person gave him permission to travel without a valid ticket.

“authorised person” means:
(i) a person acting in the course of his duties who:
(a) is an employee or agent of an Operator