London Lines, which I think is the name used by National Express for
Wagn, Silverlink and c2c were seemingly sharing staff when checking
tickets at Kings Cross this week. Now, I'm all for proper ticket checks
(not as good as barriers, but it's a start) at Kings Cross, but thought
it looked odd that someone wearing a c2c badge would want to check Wagn
customers! I wonder if anyone even went as far to say 'but you don't
even work for Wagn' as an excuse for not showing a ticket?

I once thought about questioning an RPO about why someone apparently
working for Wagn (wearing both the uniform and badge) would be asking
for my ticket on a One train, but thought it was petty and would make
me look like a prat!

Nevertheless, it must have serious implications. How do the franchises
operate with regards to staffing? Could National Express share staff
around from the offices in Cambridge, and go right down to station
staff, drivers and RPOs?

And if they do, does this mean that if they have all the RPOs working
on Silverlink one day, there will be none on Wagn (and so on?).

Jonathan

jonmorris wrote:

> London Lines, which I think is the name used by National Express for
> Wagn, Silverlink and c2c were seemingly sharing staff when checking
> tickets at Kings Cross this week. Now, I'm all for proper ticket checks
> (not as good as barriers, but it's a start) at Kings Cross, but thought
> it looked odd that someone wearing a c2c badge would want to check Wagn
> customers!


It's odd that someone wearing a c2c badge check's tickets of c2c's
customers! (Unless of course you're at a gated station)

"jonmorris" wrote:


> London Lines, which I think is the name used by National Express for
> Wagn, Silverlink and c2c were seemingly sharing staff when checking
> tickets at Kings Cross this week. Now, I'm all for proper ticket checks
> (not as good as barriers, but it's a start) at Kings Cross, but thought
> it looked odd that someone wearing a c2c badge would want to check Wagn
> customers!


Most ticket inspectors in this situation will check ALL tickets

RPI: Tickets please

Customer: I don't have a ticket, but if I did it would be for another 
company

RPI: never mind then

-=# Amos E Wolfe #=-

"jonmorris"  wrote in message
news:1124901204.065047.189310@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

> I once thought about questioning an RPO about why someone apparently
> working for Wagn (wearing both the uniform and badge) would be asking
> for my ticket on a One train, but thought it was petty and would make
> me look like a prat!


Yes, yes it would.

Cru

>> (I) thought it was petty and would make me look like a prat!

>Yes, yes it would. 


Just as well that I didn't then!

Jonathan

> Nevertheless, it must have serious implications. How do the
> franchises operate with regards to staffing? Could National
> Express share staff around from the offices in Cambridge,
> and go right down to station staff, drivers and RPOs?


In terms of RPIs, I seem to recall from a news report about
a team of RPIs from various companies working with the BTP
on a revenue operation that each company just authorises
the other company's RPI as their 'agent', thus making them
an 'authorised person' for ticket checking. I would imagine,
though, that they'd have some documentary evidence on
them to prove that they were an agent of the company on
whose train you were travelling.


Matt Ashby