asked to leave train with split ticket

AHAR

ben_james_1984 wrote: »

Moonrakerz - not sure what point you are making. I'm sure its very helpful though.

I believe moonrakerz is sensing a murine odour.

ben_james_1984

Oh I see now, I'm Scotsman as well apparently. Well, I'm not, though have since looked at his post. This would indicate maybe that inspectors and ticket offices are being instructed to do something to discourage split ticketing....maybe. Seeing as I've done this journey for over 18 months and never had a problem until now.

I guess the main thing I wanted to find out was can they do this.
The answer to that is no, they cannot.

Secondly, I wanted to know whether anyone else had come across the 'validation explained' stamp at the ticket office. I guess not. I would guess that this stamp on the ticket is so you cannot just show a ticket for part of your journey, and have to produce both sections together at the same time.

Wig

Write to the train operator quoting the conditions of carriage as shown above, and ask them why you are being hassled and having your tickets stamped....

Then if you get an apologetic reply saying you are within your rights, take the letter with you and show it to them at the ticket office.

You didn't say which one of you capitulated, you or the inspector?

AirlieBird

I would write to First Great Western Head Office and ask them. A friend of mine did that when his local station refused to sell him a ticket he asked for claiming it was not valid or did not exist. He got a reply from Head Office saying that he was indeed correct and the station staff was wrong and would be instructed to sell him that ticket in future.

As has already been mentioned I would post your query over at RailUK forums where there are many ticketing experts and some who will usually offer to check over any letter you send off to ensure you get the right answer.

lindsayg_2

AirlieBird wrote: »

Is there a training issue at Reading, or something specific with these tickets?

Considering human nature being what it is... there's probably a new manager, or an old manager with a bee in his bonnet, or a ticket seller got fed up with what she sees as 'cheeky' split-ticketing, and they've taken it on themselves to run a bit of a campaign against them.

If this were me I would get in touch with head office forthwith, and do it in writing, to get a written confirmation it's okay by the rules.
Clearly the train company are in the wrong, you just need to have proof to hand.

bb21

ben_james_1984 wrote: »

The tickets were 2 standard peak time tickets.

There is no such thing as peak tickets. What does it say on your ticket under 'Ticket Type'?

At a guess I would say that you bought the ticket below:

Reading Stations - Banbury
Anytime Day Return
Route Not London
£13.20 Y-P

Is that correct? What ticket did you buy for the Banbury - Coventry section?

ben_james_1984 wrote: »

However they had each been stamped with a 'validation explained' stamp, something I had never seen before, thus had to show both tickets. normally i would just show the one corresponding to that section of the route.

The 'validation explained' stamp is merely to advise staff such as guards, RPIs that the passenger cannot use excuses such as 'but I thought it was valid on this train' or 'no one has ever told me that' when they are caught doing something they shouldn't. It does not change anything otherwise. It is something more commonly seen where you have two TOCs operating the same journey, not necessarily over the same route, but for different prices with different restrictions attached to the tickets.

bb21

ben_james_1984 wrote: »

This would indicate maybe that inspectors and ticket offices are being instructed to do something to discourage split ticketing....maybe.

They are not allowed to do that. The passenger's right to split-ticketing is included in the NRCoC. Ticket office staff must sell you the exact tickets asked for at a passenger's request. However if not specifically demanded, they do not have to advise the passenger if a cheap split is available, only sell the cheapest through ticket.

ben_james_1984 wrote: »

I would guess that this stamp on the ticket is so you cannot just show a ticket for part of your journey, and have to produce both sections together at the same time.

It has nothing to do with it.

Wig wrote: »

Write to the train operator quoting the conditions of carriage as shown above, and ask them why you are being hassled and having your tickets stamped....

I agree. This is appalling from the train manager. It needs to be brought to management's attention before it gets any worse. Write to the operator and demand an assurance that relevant staff would be reminded of the rules and that similar things shall not happen again.

Btw who's train were you on when this happened? First Great Western or Arriva Cross Country?

AirlieBird wrote: »

A friend of mine did that when his local station refused to sell him a ticket he asked for claiming it was not valid or did not exist.

Ticket office staff cannot refuse to sell you a ticket or ticket combination even if it is not valid. They can advise that it is invalid, however they must sell the ticket if the passenger insists.

If they suspect fraudulent use, they need to alert revenue staff such as gateline staff or train managers but still have to sell the ticket that the passenger asks for.

lindsayg wrote: »

Considering human nature being what it is... there's probably a new manager, or an old manager with a bee in his bonnet, or a ticket seller got fed up with what she sees as 'cheeky' split-ticketing, and they've taken it on themselves to run a bit of a campaign against them.

A classic case of someone making up the rules as they go along I'm afraid.