Maybe train companies can focus on running trains rather than privately prosecuting (the same system used by the post office in their scandal) their passengers
Real-Fortune9041 on
The attitudes shown by train companies to passengers and their data is shocking.
There are instances of “fishing” – where they look through previous bookings and journeys and if they deem anything to be “irregular”, they pursue prosecution and land you with a hefty fine.
If they really want to crack down on fare avoidance they need to ensure staff are on trains and platforms to check tickets and there are barriers everywhere.
Operating what’s essentially an honour system – and then retroactively coming for those who have cut corners – just isn’t on.
AcademicIncrease8080 on
The issue is a lack of government subsidies for our railways, most train networks are loss-making but we should subsidise them as a public good (they facilitate travel for work and leisure, and take cars off the road).
Problem is we subsidise out network the least in Europe in terms of funding per passenger mile, and the result is eye watering prices (I regularly fly to Glasgow simply because it’s cheaper than the trains, which is absurd).
However I cannot see Labour doing anything brave about subsidies (really needs to be an extra £5-10bn a year), so the status quo will continue. Nationalisation won’t make fares cheaper, it’ll just all have the same branding. It’s the subsidies, stupid.
Ok-Charge-6998 on
How about making train systems not so outrageously priced and also not confusing? Better yet, deprivatise them.
Nothing more irritating than being in a rush, buying a ticket and then seeing something like, “must go via such and such,” when it’s all completely pointless and only because someone else owns that network.
Make it simple: if I buy a ticket from let’s London to Brighton, then I should be able to take any route I want to reach my destination. No more silly games.
zebra1923 on
It’s a real concern we’ve had two massive instances of either miscarriages of justice or misuse of the justice system recently. The Post Office scandal troubles me that firstly a private company can bring a criminal prosecution, but also what went wrong with the system that flawed information was wholly relied on?
And here again we have private companies bringing criminal prosecutions, but using a terrible process where the defendant cannot challenge evidence or make any oral argument.
I hope Labour get a grip on this, and get a grip soon.
yani205 on
Tickets are over-priced and the rail company are poor-managed all-for-profit. Surprised! They are a business after all. Just as phones are overpriced these days as well, and if people uses iPhone they are rich, so it is justified to mug them for it?
6 Comments
Maybe train companies can focus on running trains rather than privately prosecuting (the same system used by the post office in their scandal) their passengers
The attitudes shown by train companies to passengers and their data is shocking.
There are instances of “fishing” – where they look through previous bookings and journeys and if they deem anything to be “irregular”, they pursue prosecution and land you with a hefty fine.
If they really want to crack down on fare avoidance they need to ensure staff are on trains and platforms to check tickets and there are barriers everywhere.
Operating what’s essentially an honour system – and then retroactively coming for those who have cut corners – just isn’t on.
The issue is a lack of government subsidies for our railways, most train networks are loss-making but we should subsidise them as a public good (they facilitate travel for work and leisure, and take cars off the road).
Problem is we subsidise out network the least in Europe in terms of funding per passenger mile, and the result is eye watering prices (I regularly fly to Glasgow simply because it’s cheaper than the trains, which is absurd).
However I cannot see Labour doing anything brave about subsidies (really needs to be an extra £5-10bn a year), so the status quo will continue. Nationalisation won’t make fares cheaper, it’ll just all have the same branding. It’s the subsidies, stupid.
How about making train systems not so outrageously priced and also not confusing? Better yet, deprivatise them.
Nothing more irritating than being in a rush, buying a ticket and then seeing something like, “must go via such and such,” when it’s all completely pointless and only because someone else owns that network.
Make it simple: if I buy a ticket from let’s London to Brighton, then I should be able to take any route I want to reach my destination. No more silly games.
It’s a real concern we’ve had two massive instances of either miscarriages of justice or misuse of the justice system recently. The Post Office scandal troubles me that firstly a private company can bring a criminal prosecution, but also what went wrong with the system that flawed information was wholly relied on?
And here again we have private companies bringing criminal prosecutions, but using a terrible process where the defendant cannot challenge evidence or make any oral argument.
I hope Labour get a grip on this, and get a grip soon.
Tickets are over-priced and the rail company are poor-managed all-for-profit. Surprised! They are a business after all. Just as phones are overpriced these days as well, and if people uses iPhone they are rich, so it is justified to mug them for it?