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Quote: Originally posted by marg6 on 07/12/2023

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yesterday i travelled on our local line to do some shopping into the nearest town, this was 4 stops away, only the final stop had any rail people on it. the train i got, the driver had to get up and put the ramp out for me (mobility scooter user) so i was sat there with my pass in hand and debit card ready, and not one person came to take my fare. the same happened on my return. there are no barriers at all at any of these stations on my route

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Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 08/12/2023

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Quote: Originally posted by marg6 on 07/12/2023

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yesterday i travelled on our local line to do some shopping into the nearest town, this was 4 stops away, only the final stop had any rail people on it. the train i got, the driver had to get up and put the ramp out for me (mobility scooter user) so i was sat there with my pass in hand and debit card ready, and not one person came to take my fare. the same happened on my return. there are no barriers at all at any of these stations on my route

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With a moblity scooter or wheelchair you would really have problems on our branch line unless you had phoned ahead first. You would not be able to get off the train, even at the terminus. The only staff is the booking clerk in the ticket office, and they are only there until 2pm. The driver couldn't help much, even if you caught him as he went by on his way to the rear cab, as he would have no key for the ramp.

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Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 15/12/2023

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Pleased to report that all went well, no problem with the QR codes on my phone (much to my surprise), but had to pay £1 each way on the bus, which was quick and even quicker coming back. At least St Paul's and the Tower are good landmarks.

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Quote: Originally posted by marg6 on 08/12/2023

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Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 08/12/2023

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Quote: Originally posted by marg6 on 07/12/2023

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yesterday i travelled on our local line to do some shopping into the nearest town, this was 4 stops away, only the final stop had any rail people on it. the train i got, the driver had to get up and put the ramp out for me (mobility scooter user) so i was sat there with my pass in hand and debit card ready, and not one person came to take my fare. the same happened on my return. there are no barriers at all at any of these stations on my route

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With a moblity scooter or wheelchair you would really have problems on our branch line unless you had phoned ahead first. You would not be able to get off the train, even at the terminus. The only staff is the booking clerk in the ticket office, and they are only there until 2pm. The driver couldn't help much, even if you caught him as he went by on his way to the rear cab, as he would have no key for the ramp.

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which station is that from Colin? so i can make sure i dont ever have need to use it

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Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 15/12/2023

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Pleased to report that all went well, no problem with the QR codes on my phone (much to my surprise), but had to pay £1 each way on the bus, which was quick and even quicker coming back. At least St Paul's and the Tower are good landmarks.

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Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 15/12/2023

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No idea! Was just told that all passes, including Oyster, were not valid. And the conductor looked more like a student, but he did have a card reader. Think I will Google it.

Because it's what's called a heritage route apparently. No 15 St Paul's to the Tower and back.

Post last edited on 15/12/2023 10:35:25

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Quote: Originally posted by Mick S. on 15/12/2023

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We once traveled up to and around the Lake District for nowt. Got on the train at Skipton intending to buy the tickets on the train, went right up without anyone coming round. Got off. Got on again, went a bit further. Train stopped, and we had to get a mini-bus to continue - thinking 'surely someone will want to see a ticket now'....nope. Carried on. Returned to Skipton without seeing a rail operative. We cant have been the only ones that day.

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Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 15/12/2023

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Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 15/12/2023

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No idea! Was just told that all passes, including Oyster, were not valid. And the conductor looked more like a student, but he did have a card reader. Think I will Google it.

Because it's what's called a heritage route apparently. No 15 St Paul's to the Tower and back.

Post last edited on 15/12/2023 10:35:25

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That would explain it. Passes, Oyster cards, etc can only be used on ordinary routes. A bit like Heritage Railways, my retired-staff pass is not normally valid on those although some do offer concessions. It is only valid on normal train services.

Is the Route 15 operated by Heritage 1950s & 1960s buses? I thought they had stopped those but they could have restarted them, particularly as you mentioned a conductor.

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Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 15/12/2023

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Quote: Originally posted by Mick S. on 15/12/2023

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We once traveled up to and around the Lake District for nowt. Got on the train at Skipton intending to buy the tickets on the train, went right up without anyone coming round. Got off. Got on again, went a bit further. Train stopped, and we had to get a mini-bus to continue - thinking 'surely someone will want to see a ticket now'....nope. Carried on. Returned to Skipton without seeing a rail operative. We cant have been the only ones that day.

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It's like that all the time around here, except that you can't buy tickets on the train as there's nobody to buy them from. In theory if you are caught on a train without a ticket you will be charged a penalty fare, but the chances of getting caught are probably about 1%. I regularly make short local journeys by train and I have only been asked for my ticket/pass once this year so far, and I must have made dozens of journeys. If I can just wander on and off, so can anyone. I'm surprised anyone bothers paying at all unless they are going into the London terminus where they do have barriers.

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Quote: Originally posted by Mick S. on 15/12/2023

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We could buy on the train at that time. It was before train Apps. or even buying online. Some stations only had ticket offices open at the very busiest time. The rest of the time you got them them onboard.

Saw a funny situation once. The conductor came round and asked a youth to see his ticket. He had a childs ticket, despite him obviously coming from work, covered in plaster etc. Then he asked for his ID, which he showed, but was of him maybe 5 years previous - in a school uniform. When asked to pay the rest of the money for an adult ticket, the lad refused. So the conductor literally threw him off the train at the next station. The thing is; this lad had a long way to go, so i cannot understand his stance or logic for the sake of a couple of quid. Which he did not claim not to have as an excuse. Just flatly refusing to pay the extra.

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