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Post by superteacher on Nov 29, 2017 21:10:25 GMT
The lost revenue is probably less than some might think. The vast majority of travellers use Oyster / Contactless, and faced with an open gate at the start of their journey, they would likely still touch in as otherwise touching out at the other end would cost 2 maximum cash fares.
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Post by Jerome H on Nov 29, 2017 21:13:49 GMT
I'd love the know how much extra revenue they are losing having to leave ticket barriers open for a sustained period of time. It must be the case that any lost revenue has a $ value less than that of any pay station staff might've received. Otherwise I'm sure there would be much more haste at staffing stations.
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Post by theblackferret on Nov 29, 2017 21:30:11 GMT
The lost revenue is probably less than some might think. The vast majority of travellers use Oyster / Contactless, and faced with an open gate at the start of their journey, they would likely still touch in as otherwise touching out at the other end would cost 2 maximum cash fares. You are sadly spot on. The vast majority of passengers also just get on with it/put up with it and don't ask awkward questions that need staff to answer. And the majority of those for whom 'time is money' doubtless have enough millions of apps on their i-pads/Blackberries that can not only tell them where the trains actually are, but what the T/Op has had for dinner, so they can avoid delays and just float to work or wherever on an enormous inflated bubble of their own self-importance.
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Post by holborncentral on Nov 30, 2017 23:20:17 GMT
I currently live in Galway, it's where I go to university. People are generally friendly. I must admit I don't know much about the drink prices though as I don't drink! Did you use the trains here? Odd as it may seem, I rarely use trains anywhere now. I've used trains in Barcelona and my local station in Lincolnshire perhaps 5 or 6 times in 30 years and it's only when I go to London a few times per year that I use TfL (due to the crippling gridlock on the roads). In Ireland, using a train would be impractical for me for business reasons. On the subject of unattended stations, I'm lucky enough not to have to worry about it on the odd occasions I need to use public transport, being confident and able enough to battle through the machinery unassisted. For those who aren't I can imagine it could become quite a daunting prospect. I haven't been on a train in the UK for several years (but I plan to go visit a steam railway in North Wales next summer if that counts). Why would it be impractical in Ireland?
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Post by whistlekiller2000 on Dec 1, 2017 6:49:50 GMT
Odd as it may seem, I rarely use trains anywhere now. I've used trains in Barcelona and my local station in Lincolnshire perhaps 5 or 6 times in 30 years and it's only when I go to London a few times per year that I use TfL (due to the crippling gridlock on the roads). In Ireland, using a train would be impractical for me for business reasons. On the subject of unattended stations, I'm lucky enough not to have to worry about it on the odd occasions I need to use public transport, being confident and able enough to battle through the machinery unassisted. For those who aren't I can imagine it could become quite a daunting prospect. I haven't been on a train in the UK for several years (but I plan to go visit a steam railway in North Wales next summer if that counts). Why would it be impractical in Ireland? Because I wouldn't be able to carry the equipment and stock I need to trade. Same goes for anywhere else I suppose. Regardless of that, it's also uneconomical when there's more than one of us.
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Post by dmncf on Dec 1, 2017 11:20:59 GMT
In the 1980's Royal Oak station was sometimes left unattended at off peak hours and Weekends when staff were short. I sometimes use Westbourne Park which I believe is in the same group of stations. I think Westbourne Park is often unattended with ticket barriers open during off-peak periods. Am I right, or are staff just very well hidden?
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Post by aslefshrugged on Dec 1, 2017 12:06:27 GMT
In the 1980's Royal Oak station was sometimes left unattended at off peak hours and Weekends when staff were short. I sometimes use Westbourne Park which I believe is in the same group of stations. I think Westbourne Park is often unattended with ticket barriers open during off-peak periods. Am I right, or are staff just very well hidden? If the staff are in the ticket hall then they can't monitor the platforms and the rest of the station on CCTV or do paperwork, its much more practical to sit in the control room and pop out when neccessary
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Post by holborncentral on Dec 1, 2017 21:49:06 GMT
I haven't been on a train in the UK for several years (but I plan to go visit a steam railway in North Wales next summer if that counts). Why would it be impractical in Ireland? Because I wouldn't be able to carry the equipment and stock I need to trade. Same goes for anywhere else I suppose. Regardless of that, it's also uneconomical when there's more than one of us. That makes sense. It's easier to carry stuff in your own car than on public transport. There isn't really space on the Irish Rail trains for carrying things, but I had to manage once. I went down to Limerick in 2015 to see a friend and I had a lot of stuff with me on the way back as I had done some shopping.They allowed my friend to carry my stuff onto the train. The Dublin commuter trains can be quite packed, especially in the mornings.
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rincew1nd
Administrator
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Post by rincew1nd on Dec 1, 2017 22:22:14 GMT
Regardless of that, it's also uneconomical when there's more than one of us. Get a TwoTogether railcard, HWMBO and I have one and it has saved us more than it cost.
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Post by whistlekiller2000 on Dec 1, 2017 22:36:54 GMT
Regardless of that, it's also uneconomical when there's more than one of us. Get a TwoTogether railcard, HWMBO and I have one and it has saved us more than it cost. I know what you mean but we rarely go anywhere without a load of stuff in tow. Added to which, very few, if any of the venues we fish or visit are anywhere near a train station and it's not easy to carry inflatable boats, landing nets, waders, divers fins, fishing rods, reels and all the other paraphernalia, let alone the big tent, that way. The van deals with all that, door to door and does 60mpg with the company also picking up the tab for the ownership, tax and insurance. I like a nice train and used them regularly in London when I worked there with a briefcase but sadly the railway's next to useless for my way of life nowadays.
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