h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Interesting that ignorance of the law is no excuse, but inability to read or translate signs is.

Clive

any news???

None at all.

and since the new rules came into effect, I've yet to seem them enforced, so no fireworks.

someone got nearly got on my train home last night.
Just jumped on the train and asked for a ticket and were told that from Jan 1st they'd end up with a penalty fare and no ability to buy a normal ticket on the train.

Thing is there are a lot of unmanned stations round our way and the ticket machines don;t always work - I can see a lot of problems. I guess I can understand it to some extent on trains from New Street as theoretically the only way onto a train is through the ticket barrier (so you'd have to have one) or by changing from another train.

Thing is though - there is not enough notice being given. I'd have expected big signs in the stations and trains. But no. There's posters telling you about photography and the station. And new building work. And advertising cheap fares but nary a single sign of the new policy.

It is also interesting to note that the 'revenue protection staff' that are employed to just check tickets seem to be senior to the train managers. The one on last night gave the manager a bit of a telling off (in the carriage, in front of everyone - rather unprofessional) because all the loos on the train were inoperative and no announcement had been made.

actually, that's a point.

Before now I have had occasion to buy an extension on my ticket on the train. Say I was going to station 'a' and then got a call (from work or friends) and decided to go to station 'b' further up the line instead.

Presumably, if that is within the penalty fare zone, I would have to get off the train and buy the extension at the station? Seems a little odd.

Well today on the 14:27 from sheffield to St Pancras, calling at Chesterfield, they announced twice over the tannoy that a revenue protectino officer was on board so either have a ticket or get off the train.

I thought that was good, giving people an early warning. I wonder how long they'll keep that up?

Well, maybe there was no revenue protecting officer on board, but a large amount outside waiting to fine all the passengers getting off at that moment

any news clive???

Er... Clive. Is there something you aren't telling us? You don't work for the Tories, do you?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/cameron-spin-doctor-arrested-in-train-fracas-1861393.html

How marvellous a word is "de-arrested"!

No news and no I don't.

*shudder*