The Ticket Collector

Iraqi serviceman kicked off train by Cross Country Trains.

A soldier returning from Iraq in full combat uniform was thrown off a train after a ticket inspector from Cross Country Trains demanded proof he was eligible for an Armed Forces discount. It seemed that wearing full combat uniform was not good enough proof of being in the Armed Force, and the inspector was more interested in his commission.

Rifleman Zachary Hoyland, 19, had been unable to pick up his Services railcard from barracks and was told the cheaper ticket he had been bought was not valid without it.

But the official refused to show any leniency and thinking of his commission, instead telling him: ‘I don’t know what you are complaining about. The official then said “It’s not as if you’ve taken a bullet or anything.”

With the help of a friendly passenger, Rifleman Hoyland had already managed to find the extra £50.50 he needed to pay the full fare.

But he was understandably outraged by the ‘bullet’ remark and swore at the ticket inspector - who, to the disbelief of other passengers, ordered him off the train at the next station.

After a gruelling three-day journey from the Iraqi front line, Rifleman Hoyland was forced to disembark at Chesterfield and had to wait for another train to take him the final ten miles to his home in Sheffield.

The soldier, who was wearing body armour and carrying his helmet and Army backpack at the time, yesterday admitted he had lost his temper.

But he insisted he did not physically harm the ticket inspector, who he accused of ‘not liking squaddies’.

“People on the train were looking at him and couldn’t believe what he was doing, and after I got off a bloke came over who had been on the train and said it was disgraceful. I admit I was kicking off, but I couldn’t believe he said that. Luckily none of my mates out there were killed, but for all he knew my best friend could have died. He doesn’t know anything and had no right to say something like that.”

He added: “I was nearly home when the ticket was checked and he said I had to pay £50.50 extra. I wasn’t happy, but in the end I offered to pay the difference between a discounted and a normal ticket. With the help of a girl on the train, I scraped together the money, but when he made that “taking a bullet” comment it really wound me up. It had been a long three days from Iraq and I was one stop from home. I said a few things that I shouldn’t have”

“He told me to get off the train. I didn’t want any trouble, I just wanted to get home so I got off and used the ticket to get on the next train.”

Rifleman Hoyland had been serving in Um Quasar in Iraq with 1st Battalion, The Rifles, guarding a naval port, escorting troops and carrying out search and patrol operations.

After flying back from Iraq, he had been unable to pick up his possessions at the barracks in Chepstow because it was closed.

The soldier said he was issued with the discounted ticket at Chepstow Station without a problem.

“I was in full deserts because I had no civilian clothes with me, so obviously I was coming home from duty,’ he added.”

His mother Samantha Wood, 40, said her son had volunteered to go to Iraq and is heading for Afghanistan in October. She commented, “The whole episode is absolutely disgusting, He has been in Iraq fighting and serving his country. He is not asking for any recognition for anything. People were clapping and cheering him when they saw his uniform.”

We have invited Arivia Cross Country Trains for comment, but they have yet failed to respond.

RMT tube strike called off.

The strike which was due to happen at 12:00 Wednesday 20th August 2008 has now been called off pending an increased pay offer.

In 11th hour talks that began this morning, tubelines raised its offer on a two-year deal to 4.99 per cent this year backdated to April 1, and RPI plus 0.85 per cent from April 2009.

The offer includes a minimum £1,000 salary increase for lower paid grades and apprentices, while points technicians will receive an additional increase of £3,000 in their basic salaries in addition to the 4.99 per cent in year one of the deal.

The company also offered to increase travel subsidy from home to place of work from 80 to 90 per cent from April 2009, gave a commitment to pursue with Transport for London the provision of Oyster Cards, and agreed to separate discussions on a range of other issues.

“The union has therefore this evening agreed to suspend tomorrow’s strike to allow a referendum on the offer to take place by the beginning of September.

“If the deal is rejected, strike action will be put back on.

“RMT members at Tubelines are to be congratulated for the unity and commitment they have displayed during this dispute, not least in the face of hostile media coverage,” Bob Crow said.

Grand Central offers Buy One Get One Free tickets.

Grand Central, the little train company that has been plagued with problems ever since they started, sometimes problems which are not their fault, has started to offer BOGOF (buy one get one free) tickets.

Grand Central is offering 2 tickets for the price of 1 on journeys are to or from London Kings Cross. Both passengers will need to travel together.

The number of tickets available for each service on each day is restricted so as to avoid overcrowded trains. So if you are unable to travel on the first train of your choice, please try another.

Promotional tickets are only available to purchase through the Grand Central website.

Tickets will ONLY be valid on the day and train service on your ticket. Please check carefully before travelling.

Tickets will be sent out to mobile phones or are available to print from your home computer. You will need to carry with you either your pre printed ticket or your mobile phone to allow you to travel.

http://www.mobitix.thetrainline.com/gc

Oyster Card contract terminated early.

TranSys, which runs London’s Oyster card system is to have its contract terminated five years early it has been revealed.
The Contract which is worth £100m a year was due to run until 2015 but TfL has decided to exercise a clause in the contract to cancel it five years early in 2010.

A TfL spokesman said “the move is not related to two recent system failures that forced staff to open Tube barriers for several hours.”
He continued and said “there is no financial penalty associated with TfL’s decision to cut short the contract.”

LUL staff to strike in support of unfairly sacked colleague.

100 RMT Tube station staff at Elephant and Castle, Charing Cross and Lambeth North and are to strike for 24 hours from 19:00 tonight to demand the re-instatement of a colleague dismissed after defending himself against a violent assault on New Year’s Eve.

Station assistant Jerome Bowes was sacked for defending himself against the assault from a member of the public who had already been involved in a fight on Elephant and Castle station, even though neither the Metropolitan Police nor the British Transport Police deemed that there was anything to arrest him for.

RMT members at the three Bakerloo Line stations, who voted by a margin of nine to one to strike to demand Jerome’s re-instatement, will not book on for shifts that commence after 19:00 tonight.

“Jerome Bowes was sacked for defending himself against an attack from behind from someone who had already been involved in a fight on the most volatile night of the year, and that is unacceptable,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

“Neither the Met nor the BTP found any cause to arrest Jerome, who was walking away towards a place of safety when he was assaulted, and it beggars belief that LUL has seen fit to dismiss him.

“The message London Underground seems to be sending out is that defending yourself against violent assault is to be regarded as a disciplinary offence, and it is no wonder that our members are angry and disgusted.

“Rather than train up inexperienced office staff in an attempt to undermine our members’ strike, LUL should be asking itself why they voted so overwhelmingly to take action and re-instate Jerome Bowes,” Bob Crow said.