Train Drivers and Engineers Checking Tickets?
 

I've been told that all managers across Irish Rail have been asked to get volunteers from their staff to go out and check tickets on a nightly basis by the new CEO, what are the reasons behind this does anyone know?
Surely all this will do is cause friction between the ticket checkers/RPU and the rest of the staff? Does thsi mean the Ticket Checkers will be driving trains!!!

Good idea you often see the security on the Luas checking tickets from people they know won't have them and kick them off.

Don't see how it will as they can't be on every service everyday, random checkes are the way to go.

This is not a new idea per say. It was looked at previously. For a long time we have held the view that fare evasion was rampant off peak.

There are a few managers and engineers who are trained to drive DART trains...

The RPU accompanied by the Stasi were at Hazelhatch station on Wed. evening all 15 of them, talk about overkill. Of couse every passenger had their ticket. The funny thing about it was that there were two drunks causing trouble on the train and they failed to spot them - A bit like the Kitcat advert with the Panda's.:eek:

Nasty, and vindictive.

There have been numerous incidents of passengers assaulting ticket checking staff so they tend to move around in largish groups.

Also more staff means faster checking

Maybe on late night trains, in ALL the years I have been commuting I had NEVER seen that. Transport police would be more suitable instead of a private army.

well they only target the scum which is great.

It depends what you mean by 'scum', you need to widen your vocabulary.

Manily people who are off thier heads.

I'm wondering are driver + ticket checker really need on services like Ennis-Athenry, especially as stations have ticket machines.

Yes, otherwise people won't buy a ticket!

But surely one driver can check 5 tickets in the space of two hours? :)

Have checked with Irish Rail about this, new CEO has adopted a zero tolerance high impact policy towards fare evasion

Management including CEO have been out checking tickets.

The Broombridge sting operation is doing well...

We have long argued that passengers are the only source of revenue and there should be a firm and highly visible focus on fare evasion which in turn brings significant benefits to the bottom line, discourages anti-social behavour and strengthens customer confidence

Is this a modern management style - surely the cost of this operation greatly outweighs the benefit. I'm a regular commuter, only rarely do I see a fare evader.

Happens most off peak so its worth doing it even if did does cost more.

I've seen the RPU doing checks on my way home last Friday, Monday and Tuesday...

Logical, I suppose, that why our transport system is in the state it is. Most stations (on the Kildare Route) are not manned at weekends. ie they won't pay the staff. Do they count those passengers who can't get a ticket then as fare evaders.

.....and how many fare evaders did they catch.

There are TMV's no excuse...