To hate having my ticket checked?

[HaydeeofMonteCristo]

I suspect I am being very unreasonable. I have no objection whatever to buying a ticket BTW.

I travel alot on trains for work, often long/ longish journeys and all different.

My job is quite stressful plus I have dcs 7 and 1. Dh works even longer hours than me so we are always busy. I also suspect I am an introvert by nature.

On trains I really like to just zone out, whether it be into a book, mn, playing a game or just my own thoughts. It really bugs me when the collectors intrude on my thoughts with "tickets please", especially when they shout it as they come into the carriage expecting everyone to wait with their tickets out til they come to you.

The obvious response is, how else will they know if people have paid. There are barriers at every station. But I guess I'm not really saying they shouldn't do it, just wondering if anyone else hates it.

I am never rude about it, just show my ticket in silence quite a lot.

Is it weird to see time on the train as really precious quiet time?

To recap, I'm not really saying they shouldn't do it, just wondering if anyone else hates it.

There are barriers at every station.

No there aren't! None at some platforms at London Euston or Manchester Piccadilly, for a start!

I don't really care if you don't like it as long as you're not one of those rude passengers who holds a ticket in my vague direction without even looking up from your phone/book

I sometimes do this

My morning train is always packed and 90% of the time I have to stand up for the whole journey. Swaying around while trying to dig my ticket out of my handbag with one hand while the conductor shoves through the crowded carriage is the worst

PrivatePike I say hello to every single passenger. I don't mind if you don't verbally respond, I get that it might be early/late/you're tired but if it's pretty dehumanising not to get some acknowledgment, whether that's a smile, a nod or just fleeting eye contact. If you murmur thank you, with or without headphones in, that's plenty for me.

It's not appalling manners to hand over your ticket in silence. It is appalling manners to try and interact with someone who is clearly reading/doing a crossword on a train. The ticket collectors have to do it, so, you know, that's just what it is. But the trolley people, they don't have to interrupt you. But they do. Sometimes several times in a journey. And it's really annoying.

Oldsu- there's no second class carriages in the UK, although it can feel it some days.

Haydee- a Revenue block is where a group of inspectors block all exits, sometimes with a friendly Police officer and they do the job of a gateline, but obviously they can do it anywhere, doorways and bridges are favourites here.

I always say thanks to the guard when they've checked my ticket, just manners innit.

You're not unreasonable, because many countries manage to run their railways without tickets being checked on board, by providing (sufficient numbers) of electronic barriers. Backed up by occasional spot checks with large fines.

pinksquash yes there are I was on a Waterloo to Portsmouth train the other day and there was a first class section, maybe not on some commuter lines but they do exist

www.southwesttrains.co.uk/on-board-our-trains.aspx

You have first class and standard class. Is that a SWT route? They're worse than cattle cars.

My station not only doesn't have a barrier, but doesn't have a ticket office or ticket machine. In fact I don't think that any of the stations have barriers till you get to the first city on the line which is an hour away.

Ok then sitting in FIRST class when you have only purchased a ticket for STANDARD class - same difference

Quite like the journey from London to Pompey but that's only because I know I am going to our holiday place on the Isle of Wight

You can call a carriage standard class but you aren't fooling anyone. If the choice is first and standard, then standard is a synonym for second.

I actually prefer standard class unless I have a lot of luggage or am traveling on an open return after a flight, at a time when the trains are probably jam packed. Then I go first. But it's actually weirdly less nice than standard. Standard is cosier. And you get airline seats. Much better than tables.

YABU. There are many more annoying things about train travel. If it goes well then fine, but if there's someone who won't budge from your reserved seat, or the air conditioning fails, the loos are disgusting, or someone with the world's smelliest food sits next to you, I'd class those as more inconvenient than ticket checking.

There are numerous stations that have no ticket buying facilities or sometimes have card only machines. Sadly, machines which accept cash often get vandalised. Countless more stations don't have barriers although these are increasingly being added. You can't adopt a blanket policy of large on the spot fines until it is possible for every single passenger to buy before boarding.

I always hate it because I worry there will be something wrong. But then I hate it when they don't check and thee isn't a barrier because I think why the fuck did I pay.

I can name half a dozen local stations that have no ticket office, no building, no barriers. Our nearest 'big' station has a ticket office that's manned 9-5 Monday to Friday. There are no barriers, so they're needed. However, I too get peed off when I'm dragged out of my book for the umpteenth time!

The ones I hate are the stations where they want to see your ticket again as you come out. Ffs I am carrying two bags and a coffee and I'm disabled, do I look like I have a hand spare to find it. I wouldn't mind as much if I hadn't just come off the train, where they checked my ticket. On the train is fine because I'm sat down and I have my hands free. Barriers are sort of ok because they're two way and if the exit ones weren't there you could walk in that way. But what is the point of posting inspectors at the exit to meet people who have just come off a train? I hate Manchester picadilly for this reason.

I don't mind it being checked once.

I do mind it being checked 7 or 8 times, e.g. when you are getting a flight.

Naoko, why are you carrying a coffee as you come off the train? Surely that problem is very easily remedied?

It does irritate me. I don't know why because, obviously, they are merely doing their job. I just find it intrusive, I suppose.

I'm not going to smile, nod or talk to Mr or Ms Ticket Inspector, though. You get to check my ticket - that's the extent of our interaction.
I don't care if you say hello, in fact I would prefer it if you didn't as it puts out an expectation that I will respond in kind.