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Watford Junction / Virgin Trains
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swt_passenger
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They don't need any special regulations, there is just no advertised service.
A whole load of Virgin platform and on train staff will attempt to not let you on or off as appropriate. The calls are not advertised in the timetable therefore your ticket isn't valid, and in the unlikely event of being checked onboard you'll be liable to the fare to the next stop northbound, or from the last call southbound.
Someone will now post to say that he does it regularly with no problems at all.
Oracle
Established Member
I was going to post, but decided against, that getting on at an unadvertised stop meant that you had to pay the fare from the last advertised one. I recall that my school trip to Waterloo once got on a fast Waterloo BIL train (in 1965?) that had stopped for the station starter at Feltham. Our teacher queried with the platform staff and were told to just get on! I think she was worried that the Guard would come round and charge for all if us for the fare from Staines!
bengolding
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I was on a Wolverhampton service from Euston a few weeks back. Pick-up only at Watford but as there was no barrier check at Euston, the Train Manager allowed customers to disembark at Watford if they had an incorrect ticket (i.e. London Midland only or Advance booked on another service) to avoid having to buy another full fare ticket on board. I'm sure this happened on another Wolverhampton service several months back too.
I've heard of this happening on services from Birmingham N St before; customers with LM only or other incorrect tickets being allowed to alight at Coventry.
Have you seen this happen?
I admit that, if seen getting on, toward Euston, someone could be stopped from doing so.
But false imprisonment on a train, now that seems unlikely!
How many is a whole load of staff? I've never seen many staff at Watford? I think there is some exaggerating going on
tbtc
Veteran Member
I would assume if you bought a ticket from Watford to Euston and you jumped on a Virgin Train without being told not too, then they have no case whatsoever. I suspect alot of train users would do this, not knowing they arn't supposed too.
Not only that but even if your ticket is checked, the next stop is Euston anyway
Not only that but even if your ticket is checked, the next stop is Euston anyway
I suspect not many do this - how would they know where the train was going? and how would they know to even expect the train?
swt_passenger
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Southbound, two or three station staff, and the train manager and the first class hosts. The station staff were all telling people no-one was to embark, before the train arrived. It didn't look unusual, but it was about 4 years ago...
As a train dispatcher at Watford Junction I'll clear this up:
Firstly the dispatch of Virgin Trains at Watford is done by London Midland staff, there are no Virgin staff at all at Watford.
Services towards London Euston are set down only, and if we see somebody attempt to get on the train near to us we will stop them, however if somebody at the opposite end of the platform attempts it we'll let it go, and the train manager will take it from there after departure (usually a full price single from Coventry).
Services away from London are pick up only so thats Eustons responsibility to stop people boarding, we won't stop you alighting of course. The risk being you get ticket checked before Watford and then charged a full single to Coventry.
There is one chap who regularly jumps on the 21:15 set down service, and is always chucked off without fail.
There is a LM service to Euston at the same time as the Virgin Trains so really there is no excuse to be boarding a set down only service.
The platform displays also state:
It might make us sound like complete jobsworths but if Virgin catch on to LM staff allowing passengers onto set down services, we'll very swiftly be told to be on our way.... to the job centre. And of course none of us want that, so these rules are enforced.
Firstly the dispatch of Virgin Trains at Watford is done by London Midland staff, there are no Virgin staff at all at Watford.
Services towards London Euston are set down only, and if we see somebody attempt to get on the train near to us we will stop them, however if somebody at the opposite end of the platform attempts it we'll let it go, and the train manager will take it from there after departure (usually a full price single from Coventry).
Services away from London are pick up only so thats Eustons responsibility to stop people boarding, we won't stop you alighting of course. The risk being you get ticket checked before Watford and then charged a full single to Coventry.
There is one chap who regularly jumps on the 21:15 set down service, and is always chucked off without fail.
There is a LM service to Euston at the same time as the Virgin Trains so really there is no excuse to be boarding a set down only service.
The platform displays also state:
It might make us sound like complete jobsworths but if Virgin catch on to LM staff allowing passengers onto set down services, we'll very swiftly be told to be on our way.... to the job centre. And of course none of us want that, so these rules are enforced.
swt_passenger
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My mistake then, I thought they were Virgin staff, but I guess 3 or 4 years ago they'd have been Silverlink anyway. At least you've confirmed my recollection that efforts are made to enforce the set down only rule.
I had a job application in at Watford for VT - are you sure? And I've got pictures of VT staff dispatching trains at Watford as recently as August.
TomJ93
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I naively got my hopes up upon hoping on one of these pick-up only services at Euston, I thought it was non stop all the way home to Coventry!
I regularly hop on the Pretendo on Fridays at Rugby, staff top and tail the train, i've walked straight into the buffet car without problems before now.
I regularly hop on the Pretendo on Fridays at Rugby, staff top and tail the train, i've walked straight into the buffet car without problems before now.
Yes LM took over at midnight on 14th April 2009.
We don't look any different to Virgin staff. Just a different logo on the jacket.
Have a closer look next time you're in the area :P
With thanks - that'll be Mon evening or Tues morning then!
If it's in the morning, give us a wave
In other slightly more on topic news it seems the set down & pick up rules will be lifted for Virgin Trains at Watford on the 23rd December, during the drivers strike, so if anyone wants a 12 minute 390 ride to London theres your chance.
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