Trains/Rail Network

StriderX · 6 Dec 2019 at 15:08

Moley said:
I was on a train last night returning from Waterloo to Portsmouth (the 16:30 service) and the train was rammed - standing room only. I was standing next to a copper and we got chatting, he told me that the Police no longer get free travel with a warrant card - they have to pay into a fund and get a reduced fair.

It used to be the case there was a covenant between the Police and Railways - coppers got to ride for free and in return they would assist the guard with any issues that came up.

Now they are expected to assist the guard and still pay - with the threat of losing their jobs if they don't.

Beyond disgusting imho.

Russiafied Britain is a gleeful thing, innit?

VincentHanna · 6 Dec 2019 at 15:17

That is bad, my sisters ex was a police officer with the MET and travelled in free with his warrant card from Essex.

One day he did a 12 hour shift and then had to tackle and subdue somebody at the station whilst off duty and then deal with the aftermath of that. Ended up being an 18 hour day for him. Least they can do is give them free transport.

A2Z · 6 Dec 2019 at 16:40

Scam said:
Surely if they have to go on the tube as part of their job they can for free? I dunno. Maybe "normal" policemen don't go on the tube? Only BTP?

Met Police, City of London Police, as well as the BTP, have their own Police Oyster card which they can use to travel on the tube. Police from Essex, Kent, Hertfordshire, Surrey and Thames Valley can travel on production of their warrant cards. In return they are all expected to assist with any incident if it happens while they are travelling. No idea how it works on trains, I only work for the Underground.

Scam · 6 Dec 2019 at 17:30

A2Z said:
Met Police, City of London Police, as well as the BTP, have their own Police Oyster card which they can use to travel on the tube. Police from Essex, Kent, Hertfordshire, Surrey and Thames Valley can travel on production of their warrant cards. In return they are all expected to assist with any incident if it happens while they are travelling. No idea how it works on trains, I only work for the Underground.

Wow. How bizarre. I would have thought any police can travel free any time..

A2Z · 6 Dec 2019 at 18:02

Scam said:
Wow. How bizarre. I would have thought any police can travel free any time..

Why is it bizarre? They can, any police in London and surrounding areas... seems very very very generous to me. What did you expect? Police from up North to be able to travel for free when they come down for the weekend as well?

Ninco! · 6 Dec 2019 at 18:50

Would also mention car parking, its £9.40 per day around here. Whilst there are discounts for parking season tickets; it adds up!

I can now walk to the station, during December its great to walk home and not join a 90 minute queue for a taxi (can be avoided if you are organised

).

100% agree if trains were reliable and tickets reasonable, many people would happily commute from afar. Only the thought of train issues and trying to get back to say, Peterborough / Birmingham / Manchester - must be a nightmare for those who do. It's bad enough in the South East. With this current SW Trains strike, virtually given up even attempting to go in.

Fortunately work has embraced working from home and actively encouraged - so thankfully, I don't have to commute on a daily basis. Even then; the times when I go into the office and trains are cancelled/delayed or if you get on one, only to be turfed off again half way home due to a fault/rogue tree!

It seems such a lottery now and a fault free week is seemingly a rarer occurrence.