ivorytoast28
Member
Tonight I decided to stop off at Burgess Hill (circa 7pm) on an off peak return ticket valid through the station. I'd never been there before and as I got to the platform 1 gateline I saw 2 girls pushing their way through, I admit I thought the worst of them and that they must be travelling ticketless.
I arrived myself and put my ticket through. "Seek assistance" nothing new there, often happens especially as using a Railcard and at a stop off en-route.. however upon looking around I saw no rail staff. There are just 2 small gates, 1 guy was on his phone but didn't appear to be staff, and a few passengers behind me exited successfully.
I looked around and saw noone, so on the final passenger, pushed my way through the gate with them. This started some minor alarm to which I flashed my ticket openly in all directors and yelled "I have a valid ticket" at any cameras. Perhaps I was supposed to use the call for assistance. I do feel guilty but also, feel I'm not sure I should have been delayed. I felt calling the assistance would have been a long delay when I had a correct ticket and could exit. Maybe those here will say the rules state I should have waited.
Anyway, 2 hours (circa 9pm) later I returned to continue my journey, from the town I realised there was another entrance more major and so I went there. Again my ticket failed and I thought "oh here we go". There was a guy sitting there this time.. though he didn't seem very interested as i notioned to him. I had to insert the ticket twice more to prove my point. He then let me through with a grunt, but he did not check my ticket and was on the phone throughout. I suspect he was left there all night and was the reason for my initial issue. All round very poor
I arrived myself and put my ticket through. "Seek assistance" nothing new there, often happens especially as using a Railcard and at a stop off en-route.. however upon looking around I saw no rail staff. There are just 2 small gates, 1 guy was on his phone but didn't appear to be staff, and a few passengers behind me exited successfully.
I looked around and saw noone, so on the final passenger, pushed my way through the gate with them. This started some minor alarm to which I flashed my ticket openly in all directors and yelled "I have a valid ticket" at any cameras. Perhaps I was supposed to use the call for assistance. I do feel guilty but also, feel I'm not sure I should have been delayed. I felt calling the assistance would have been a long delay when I had a correct ticket and could exit. Maybe those here will say the rules state I should have waited.
Anyway, 2 hours (circa 9pm) later I returned to continue my journey, from the town I realised there was another entrance more major and so I went there. Again my ticket failed and I thought "oh here we go". There was a guy sitting there this time.. though he didn't seem very interested as i notioned to him. I had to insert the ticket twice more to prove my point. He then let me through with a grunt, but he did not check my ticket and was on the phone throughout. I suspect he was left there all night and was the reason for my initial issue. All round very poor