SW Trains - treated like a terrorist!

robt_2

northstar23 wrote: »

My point is insert common sense before any of that and don't you end up with a decent outcome for everyone?

I genuinly don't know when you back down though... as you say ignoring the guard and police and such isn't such a great idea... but by the same token it wasn't exactly a fair cop so are you not allowed some form of argument/protest?

Take the reason why the person did not have a ticket out of the equation. You have someone travelling illegally, refusing to move. Why should the police be fair with him/her? They would be quite within their rights to handcuff them and cart them away.

Now lets go back to the reason why they travelled without a ticket. It is because (allegedly) a ticket machine failed. Would it be that much effort to at the very very least explain the situation to the guard before getting on? He would either say yes, no problem, get on, or say no, go to the ticket office and they will issue you a ticket for the next train.

I would also suggest that knowing in advance that you need to purchase (or collect) a ticket, you would arrive at the station with more than two minutes to go, especially as you should leave five to purchase a ticket.

robt_2

Neil_B wrote: »

As far as I've seen so far the Pious are in every thread - until, of course, it happens to them. Then you just would not belieeeeeeeeeeeve how unfair it is!

And I'm sure next time you are on a delayed train you will blame something other than a selfish passenger breaking the law on a service ahead of you.

northstar23

robt wrote: »

Take the reason why the person did not have a ticket out of the equation. You have someone travelling illegally, refusing to move. Why should the police be fair with him/her? They would be quite within their rights to handcuff them and cart them away.

Now lets go back to the reason why they travelled without a ticket. It is because (allegedly) a ticket machine failed. Would it be that much effort to at the very very least explain the situation to the guard before getting on? He would either say yes, no problem, get on, or say no, go to the ticket office and they will issue you a ticket for the next train.

I would also suggest that knowing in advance that you need to purchase (or collect) a ticket, you would arrive at the station with more than two minutes to go, especially as you should leave five to purchase a ticket.

Oh yeah totally... it definatly pays to be at a station early to find your platform and whatnot. But sometimes stuff happens that's outside of your control... earlier this year I had to collect a ticket at Paddington. i was queueing 40mins before the train was due to leave and made it by the skin of my teeth because the old dear in front of me couldn't work the machine.

As to explaining the situation to the guard... again great in theory. On our local trains we have 8 or 12 coaches and no guard's van. If the train stops at a busy platform for 60 seconds how do you find him before then train goes?

And on your first point... you say take the reason why they didn't have a ticket out of the equation. Surely that's the whole root of the debate though. Treat each case on its merits and I do believe that the action taken in this instance didn't reflect those merits. If, for example the someone had just flouted the rules and got on never intending to pay then yeah fair enough clap them in the cells and give them what for.

digp

Timmne wrote: »

Sounds horrendous but you really ought to take the guard's name out of your post, even if he wasn't particularly friendly.

Why? A sensible guard would have let it be. This is simply scandalous.

robt_2

northstar23 wrote: »

Oh yeah totally... it definatly pays to be at a station early to find your platform and whatnot. But sometimes stuff happens that's outside of your control... earlier this year I had to collect a ticket at Paddington. i was queueing 40mins before the train was due to leave and made it by the skin of my teeth because the old dear in front of me couldn't work the machine.

That is not the railways fault (nor is it necessarily yours).

As to explaining the situation to the guard... again great in theory. On our local trains we have 8 or 12 coaches and no guard's van. If the train stops at a busy platform for 60 seconds how do you find him before then train goes?

Not applicable in this case as the OP will have walked past the guard to get on the train! It was London Waterloo, not a through station.

Here is an extract from the conditions of carriage:



There is no ambiguity there whatsoever. Note the words 'ticket or other authority to travel'. The OP had none.

Crabman

robt wrote: »

Take the reason why the person did not have a ticket out of the equation.

Why?

Unless I've misread something, that's the whole point there was a problem in the first place.

robt_2

Crabman wrote: »

Why?

Unless I've misread something, that's the whole point there was a problem in the first place.

It was added back in later on. Try reading the whole post and quoting in context.

Funkadelia

Once again I'll make a point of saying that I respect the opinions offered here.

Although I do sense some quite overly vindictive responses ...along the lines of 'he deserves everything he gets'

Remember I did actually pay for a ticket. This feels like a response worthy of an outright fare evader - which I can assure you I am not and have never been in my life.

I do take the point that I held up the train. That's why I eventually capitulated because I suddenly became aware of the train being delayed. In all honesty (and because of the stress involved) I had actually been oblivious to this. Sorry

robt_2

Funkadelia wrote: »

Once again I'll make a point of saying that I respect the opinions offered here.

Although I do sense some quite overly vindictive responses ...along the lines of 'he deserves everything he gets'

Remember I did actually pay for a ticket. This feels like a response worthy of an outright fare evader - which I can assure you I am not and have never been in my life.

I do take the point that I held up the train. That's why I eventually capitulated because I suddenly became aware of the train being delayed. In all honesty (and because of the stress involved) I had actually been oblivious to this. Sorry

I will say that my first response was a bit over the top

redux

Funkadelia wrote: »

... - but I think still relevant.

Whilst travelling the week before I boarded a train carriage which clearly smelt of smoke.

When I reached my seat I looked back to the front of the carriage to see a very large guy sitting down, puffing away.

Then a guard boarded and passed the chap - hesitated - then told him that he shouldn't be smoking. The guy muttered a few words, then stubbed his cigarette out.
...

I was angry with this hypocrisy - and I decided to stand my ground.

You persistently argued about buying a ticket because you were still upset someone was smoking in a different train a week earlier? It isn't in the least bit relevant, and you'd do well not to mention it in case it implies anger management issues.

There are two common principles in rail travel. You have to have a ticket with you before travelling, and unless it's a special ticket you are not committed to one particular train. The fare mentioned is for an Anytime Day Single, which is valid on any train, so there was plenty of time to have a discussion at the ticket office and go on the next one.