Station Manager Corner

[SMBJones]

Hi

I understand your frustrations, see my posting to James R, I am on the case

Regards

Barry

plimsoul Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> i definitely think that if you have got to the

> station and present yourself at the fares to pay

> kiosk you should not be fined. fair enough if you

> are trying to get through the barrier without at

> ticket but not if you are being honest. that is

> quite incredible that you had to pay ?20 for your

> honesty and to make up for the appalling ticket

> facilities at ed.

>

> when one considers the through traffic of the

> station one ticket machine (often out of order)

> and an ad hoc open ticket office simply is not

> enough. and before anyone suggests making the

> extra time i do!

[plimsoul]

thanks!

[OutOfFocus]

I think it would help if the permit to travel machine was always available.

A few weeks back the ticket machine was not accepting any coins. I would have bought a PTT to show I was intendinf to pay.

[OutOfFocus]

At the ticket office at ED today I got the feeling that talking on his mob

ile was more important

than serving me. Can you give a lesson in customer service.

[SMBJones]

Hi

Apologies for this, the staff member has been spoken to by me personally today

Regards

Barry

OutOfFocus Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> At the ticket office at ED today I got the feeling

> that talking on his mob

> ile was more important

> than serving me. Can you give a lesson in customer

> service.

[sonia]

> Ladygooner Wrote:

One small point, some people seem to think the station proper doesnt start until they get on the platform and light up and smoke their cigarettes at the top of the slope. Any chance a No Smoking sign can be put up at the top of the slope on the back of the shelter?

>SMBJones Wrote:

Already done ;-)

Really appreciate this Barry, thanks, but as a side point it amazes me how many people still stand in front of the sign smoking!!

[lenk]

sonia Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> > Ladygooner Wrote:

> One small point, some people seem to think the

> station proper doesnt start until they get on the

> platform and light up and smoke their cigarettes

> at the top of the slope. Any chance a No Smoking

> sign can be put up at the top of the slope on the

> back of the shelter?

>

> >SMBJones Wrote:

> Already done ;-)

>

> Really appreciate this Barry, thanks, but as a

> side point it amazes me how many people still

> stand in front of the sign smoking!!

If I'm outdoors and I fancy smoking, then I will - unbelievable that people think you should be able to ban smoking outdoors...

[the-e-dealer]

The only place you can smoke indoors other than homes is THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. One Law for us hey. AS for outside yes its silly have there been any convictions?

[the-e-dealer]

Probably because they think it is silly.

[Administrator]

Please stay on topic

[SMBJones]

Hi

Its unfortunate its an unmanned station, however I will be asking our undercover task force to attend the station with the BTP during the morning peaks and see if we can combat this

Bare with me and I will get the ball rollling,

Barry

sonia Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> > Ladygooner Wrote:

> One small point, some people seem to think the

> station proper doesnt start until they get on the

> platform and light up and smoke their cigarettes

> at the top of the slope. Any chance a No Smoking

> sign can be put up at the top of the slope on the

> back of the shelter?

>

> >SMBJones Wrote:

> Already done ;-)

>

> Really appreciate this Barry, thanks, but as a

> side point it amazes me how many people still

> stand in front of the sign smoking!!

[SMBJones]

Hi Lenk

With reference to ED Station , the pathway that leads to the platform is railway property

Barry

ps I did put an ashtray outside the station entrance

lenk Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> sonia Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > > Ladygooner Wrote:

> > One small point, some people seem to think the

> > station proper doesnt start until they get on

> the

> > platform and light up and smoke their

> cigarettes

> > at the top of the slope. Any chance a No

> Smoking

> > sign can be put up at the top of the slope on

> the

> > back of the shelter?

> >

> > >SMBJones Wrote:

> > Already done ;-)

> >

> > Really appreciate this Barry, thanks, but as a

> > side point it amazes me how many people still

> > stand in front of the sign smoking!!

>

> If I'm outdoors and I fancy smoking, then I will -

> unbelievable that people think you should be able

> to ban smoking outdoors...

[Ladymuck]

SMBJones Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Hi

>

> Its unfortunate its an unmanned station, however I

> will be asking our undercover task force to attend

> the station with the BTP during the morning peaks

> and see if we can combat this

>

> Bare with me and I will get the ball rollling,

If anyone thinks that the undercover task force don't exist/attend the station...let me assure/warn everyone that they DO. A while ago, some time after "our Hero Mr. SMBJones" had announced that more benches had been placed on the platforms, along with extra bin rings etc. etc., I found myself taking the train (I usually cycle - hubby is the regular train user and he had told me of the visible improvements). Anyway, I had just missed a train and therefore had plenty of time to play with. I could see immediately that the platform was cleaner and had extra bins/seats...and, given the time I had to spare, I decided to "inspect" by walking along the platform. I was so impressed at how far the benches went that I carried on walking right until the end of the platform and then all the way back again to the other end. I barely had time to reflect on the amount of work that this must have involved when a lady brusquely ushered me aside, flashed some "official looking" badge at me and demanded to see my ticket. After complying with her request, she asked me what I was doing, why I was doing it and that I could be fined ?80 for such behaviour. I explained - rather pathetically - that I was merely admiring Mr. SMBJones' efforts etc. She clearly did not believe me informing me that "they" had been watching me for some time now and that I was acting extremely suspiciously. Well! Me a Lady and all! I got a bit irritated as she didn't seem interested in my explanations but only in telling me off, which culminated in my asking her if she thought I was a thief or a terrorist - to which she replied: "no - just so long as you are not about to commit suicide" - don't behave like that again or it's an ?80 fine".

So there you go! "THEY" DO EXIST AND ATTEND!

LM

[lenk]

Indeed. But by the time you've noticed I'm smoking on the cameras, I've finished my cig and got on a train.

SMBJones Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Hi Lenk

>

> With reference to ED Station , the pathway that

> leads to the platform is railway property

>

> Barry

>

> ps I did put an ashtray outside the station

> entrance

>

>

> lenk Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > sonia Wrote:

> >

> --------------------------------------------------

>

> > -----

> > > > Ladygooner Wrote:

> > > One small point, some people seem to think

> the

> > > station proper doesnt start until they get on

> > the

> > > platform and light up and smoke their

> > cigarettes

> > > at the top of the slope. Any chance a No

> > Smoking

> > > sign can be put up at the top of the slope on

> > the

> > > back of the shelter?

> > >

> > > >SMBJones Wrote:

> > > Already done ;-)

> > >

> > > Really appreciate this Barry, thanks, but as

> a

> > > side point it amazes me how many people still

> > > stand in front of the sign smoking!!

> >

> > If I'm outdoors and I fancy smoking, then I will

> -

> > unbelievable that people think you should be

> able

> > to ban smoking outdoors...

[Izodia]

Ladymuck...what exactly were they going to fine you for? You might have been acting suspiciously but I can't see that you actually did anything wrong.

[Strawbs]

Just to give you an update the oyster readers are a little better at PR but still quite often there are a lot of people who cant get their oysters read.. When the place is backed up with people it is quite frustrating..

Also quick question do you think we will ever be able to top up our oyster i.e. season ticket pass etc at the station, I know that pay as you go oyster is being brought it but Im assuming we will probably have to always go back to the tube station to do our oyster?

thanks!

[Ladymuck]

Izodia Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Ladymuck...what exactly were they going to fine

> you for? You might have been acting suspiciously

> but I can't see that you actually did anything

> wrong.

I am not entirely sure...she DID mention that I was not allowed to walk up "that far" (note I don't believe that I walked beyond the sign prohibiting further access)...but I THINK, given her comments on suicide, that she thought I was going to throw myself in front of the train. (ssshhhudder). She was quite aggressive...and, dear Mr. SMBJones, if you are reading this, she was white, about 5' 3", mousy hair, slim, and had an accent (possibly German?). Needless to say, I was relieved when the train arrived.

[Michael Palaeologus]

I often stroll up and down the platform in my boredom waiting for a train.

Not been stopped yet and am looking forward to it as I shall set Barry on them and there's no mistakin'

[SMBJones]

Hi

PAYG will be available from the ticket machines at the rail stations, so no need to go to London Underground

Barry

Strawbs Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Just to give you an update the oyster readers are

> a little better at PR but still quite often there

> are a lot of people who cant get their oysters

> read.. When the place is backed up with people it

> is quite frustrating..

>

> Also quick question do you think we will ever be

> able to top up our oyster i.e. season ticket pass

> etc at the station, I know that pay as you go

> oyster is being brought it but Im assuming we will

> probably have to always go back to the tube

> station to do our oyster?

>

> thanks!

[Mark]

SMBJones Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> PAYG will be available from the ticket machines at the rail stations

Hello

Have you any more news on when Oyster pay as you go be available at East Dulwich? It was going to be this September and then delays mean it's now 2010, do you have any more specifics you can share with us?

Thanks

[SMBJones]

Hi Mark, apologies there have been delays rolling this out, it is now scheduled to go live in January 2010

Barry

Mark Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> SMBJones Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

>

> > PAYG will be available from the ticket machines

> at the rail stations

>

>

> Hello

>

> Have you any more news on when Oyster pay as you

> go be available at East Dulwich? It was going to

> be this September and then delays mean it's now

> 2010, do you have any more specifics you can share

> with us?

>

> Thanks

[david_carnell]

Barry,

This morning at Peckham Rye only one window was open. Signs placed outside said this was due to a technical fault and an engineer had been "adviced" [sic]. The queue for the machine was a three length snake whilst the queue for the desk went out of the door and half way down towards Rye Lane.

Whilst I appreciate the nature of technical faults and that investment in an extra machine is a false economy in the long term due to oyster switch over, please could you consider opening the barriers and allowing customers to purchase tickets at their destinations on these rare occasions? It would make life much easier. These are not "fare dodgers" but rush hour commuters in a hurry. Could discretion not be used?

Thanks.

[Timster]

David, you should be grateful you don't have that option - you will only get fined ?20 at the other end (whether you are an honest commuter in a hurry or not) - I know from bitter experience before the barriers were installed. The ?20 fine is for travelling without a ticket - in theory, if you are suspected of fare dodging then they will take you to Court.

Of course, this would apply to all those people who slip through the ticket machines at London Bridge without a ticket (often aggressively pushing through the person in front of them). I have never seen any staff at London Bridge ever do anything about this (not sure if this is within your remit Barry?).

On the subject of tickets / Oyster cards, it would be helpful for those of us with Oyster cards (and who get to the station not realising it has run out..) if there was a sign up at Peckham Rye with details of any local shops that have Oyster top-up facilities etc. I did ask a member of staff last week who tried to be helpful but only knew of one shop round the corner which was shut.

[the-e-dealer]

Auto Topup is GREAT!

[paragon]

When I got there the barriers were open and they were letting people through saying buy your tickets at your destination and all stations had been informed. That was about 9ish.