The Ticket Collector

FCC launches first automated ticket gates at Stevenage

First Capital Connect has launched new automatic ticket gates at Stevenage station.

The ticket gates will help to improve security at the station and on trains by deterring crime and vandalism. The gates ensure that customers who have purchased the correct ticket for travel will no longer be subsidising those who have not.

The automatic ticket gates were officially launched this week (19 December) at Stevenage station by Elaine Holt, Managing Director, First Capital Connect, Willie McCafferty, Chief Superintendent, British Transport Police and Kerry Williamson of Passenger Focus.

Elaine Holt, Managing Director, First Capital Connect, said: “Those who travel on the railway without valid tickets cost the industry £200m every year. Since taking over the franchise in April, we have made real efforts to reduce ticketless travel across our network and have seen some very positive results.

“The introduction of the automatic ticket gates is a natural progression of this work. Stevenage is the first of 14 stations to have automatic ticket gates installed.”

Willie McCafferty, Chief Superintendent, British Transport Police, said: “The British Transport Police is delighted to support First Capital Connect with the introduction of the automatic ticket barriers. Experience demonstrates that ticket gates really have a positive impact of reducing crime and disorder.”

Kerry Williamson of Passenger Focus said: “From a customer perspective, we fully support any improvements to stations that will ensure the train operating companies collect revenue that is due to them and pass this on to customers through improved facilities.”

The new ticket gates at Stevenage include one wide aisle, which allows extra space for customers with bicycles, luggage, pushchairs or extra bags to pass through easily.

No Central Trains Services over Christmas Period

Senior Conductors for Central Trains belonging to the RMT union have announced industrial action for Christmas Eve Sunday 24 December, New Years Eve Sunday 31 December and New Years Day Monday 01 January 2007.

Central Trains have announced that the strikes will go ahead, and no Central Trains services will operate on Christmas Eve, New Years Eve or New Years day. Customers should make alternative arrangements for travel. At the moment no alternative travel has been arranged.

Christmas Strike Action - updated

The RMT union has annouced strike action on two railway companies.

Central Trains
Senior conductors for Central Trains belonging to the RMT union have announced industrial action for Christmas Eve Sunday 24 December, New Years Eve Sunday 31 December and New Years Day Monday 01 January 2007.

Central Trains are continuing to explore options that will enable them to provide a train service on these days.

Midland Mainline Now Cancelled,
Midland Mainline staff belonging to the RMT union have announced industrial action for Christmas Eve Sunday 24 December, New Years Eve Sunday 31 December and New Years Day Monday 01 January 2007.

Midland Mainline are endeavouring to run their planned service for these days.

Great Western
There are rumors that the RMT is planning to have a wildcat strike/walkout on the 24th, 31st of December 2006 and 1st January 2007. This is not confirmed.

GNER issues new fares if you print out a token!!!

London to Leeds £8 one way
Peterborough to York £8 one way
Doncaster to Newcastle £6 one way
York to Glasgow £8 one way
Edinburgh to London £11.50 one way

So its another stupid GNER waste of time offer. You have to print a token from GNER’s website and then search for the cheap tickets of which I bet there will only be a few per train.

In case GNER decides to pull the token at short notice here is a copy of it.

So GNER who have just been told to hand back the keys to their franchise are offering people to travel on the majorty of routes for £8 one way. The real reason they have done this, because there are a lot of empty seats on their trains because in GNER words “the christmas season is a bad period of revenue for GNER”. Obviously no commuters travel so GNER cant rip them off with £300 first class returns.
Bookings open on Sunday 10 December and close on Saturday 30 December 2007. You must book at least two weeks in advance of outward travel. You can travel between Wednesday 3 January and Sunday 11 March 2007, excluding 10 to 25 February 2007. Up to four people can travel on one token.

Book now at http://www.gnertickets.co.uk/promotion_init.asp?spromotion=MALLARD225&sitecode=GNER no booking fee yet!

Problems tonight.

There was a lineside fire tonight in the St Neots area, which resulted in all GNER and First Capital Connect services being cancelled at short notice.

Most services were being stopped short at Stevenage and a replacement bus was operating to all stations to Peterborough. GNER services were not running at all.

For a change this was not GNER’s fault tonight, but they still made a cock up of the services after the lines were re-opened.

At the moment no information is around as to what caused the lineside fire.

Class of guards… How to spot the difference

What is it about Guards, Train Managers, Conductors, Senior Conductors, Service Delivery Assistant, Customer Service Manager, Customer Service Host, RPI, RCO, Ticket Collector. (or whatever the latest name for them is this week).

Some days you have a really really nice and pleasant one that goes beyond the call of of his job and makes sure everyone has a pleasant journey.

Then you get the really evil nazi’s such as Lisa on GNER who are hellbent on making your journey the worst its ever been deliberately. They go and decide your ticket which youve already paid for isnt vaild on this service/expired 2 seconds ago/not validated/wrong time/wrong restriction/wrong time of year/moon not shining/etc and try and charge you upwards of 100quid. Then then when you question them about their jobs they accuse you of verbal abuse. We all know that there is only a few revenue people on GNER who are nazis but they sure as hell make up for it.
GNER needs to sack these nazi’s and not just pretend that they are doing somthing about it and send fobb off letters to any complainants.

Ways to spot the Nazis:
They have to be asked to give you assistance onto the Train.
You get told standard is down there beacuse they assume your a Standard Class passenger.
They charge their own Grandmother £200 because they got on the wrong train with the wrong ticket.
They accuse you of abusing staff when you ask questions which they dont want to answer.
They repeat the Ticket Restrictions every 5 seconds and after every single sodding station.
They check your ticket individally every time they come past, then they make some comment.
Will take your passes, railcards, tickets off you and lie and sate you abused them.
Just Lie generally to get themselves out of a hole.
Continually say “its Head Office orders mate”, as if you belive that bullsh*t.
always have an attitude problem.
Ways to spot the Pleasant Guards:
The way they dress, they look proud to be working on the railway, proud to work for their company.
Will offer assistance on the train without having to be asked.
They also tend to look in their late 30’s and upwards. Prehaps this is somthing to do with them having worked previously for British Railway?
Will say “thats okay” when you offer to show your ticket to them for the second time.
Will not charge you £200 for having the wrong ticket, but will charge you for the cheapest ticket, or give you a warning for the first time.
Will try and answer any questions you have, or find out the answer.
Will work out a timetable plan if your train is late.
Look and act happy.
Think ive only got a few years left for my pension.

If you have any more ways please use the comments system to add them.

South West Trains - The Law? What’s That?

Ok well seeing as this is a London blog I thought I would post about one of my fellow bloggers recent posting. It seems that the Law does not apply to South West Trains or even Stagecoach [slavecoach].

According to the post from BlueSoup (BlueSoup), slavecoach trains carried passengers on a replacement coach. The catch is they allowed them to stand in the gangway of the coach! This is illegal and can be attempted manslaughter.

Ill let you carry on over to bluesoup to read the full story.