Life working on Cheltenham's trains in race week
BBCStaff at Cheltenham Spa Railway Station have the mammoth job of getting thousands of people on and off the trains safely during race week.
It falls to a team of workers to check the tickets and oversee the welfare of racegoers on the busiest week of the horse racing calendar, and it is no easy operation.
"We're here with a smile to welcome customers in. It's their day out, maybe one day of the year where they're actually dressing up, coming on the trains and going out to visit Cheltenham," said Dwain White, from Great Western Railway (GWR).
Friday is the busiest day when 70,000 ticket holders are expected to attend to watch the Gold Cup.
Out of thousands of people using the trains this week only 2% have tried to travel without a ticket, according GWR.
"Some people do make mistakes, and we do help them with the correct ticket because we want to make sure they get home safely," said Mr White, deputy revenue protection manager at GWR.
"They can lose all their money but we don't want them to lose their return ticket."
Michele, a revenue protection inspector from GWR, is in charge of handing out fines to the passengers that have not bought a ticket.
"[One couple had] arrived from Gloucester station where there were ticket purchase facilities and they chose not to purchase their tickets before boarding the train, thereby committing an offence," she said.
"They did admit that they were running late but the gates were open and they didn't purchase before boarding.
"It will cost them the cost of the ticket – I think it was £6.50 plus £50 which is the penalty fare."
Extra trains have been organised this week to cater for the huge crowds, and the train station car park has been shut for coaches and a queuing system.
Laurie Garratt, who works on CrossCountry trains, said despite the chaos, he generally enjoys working race week.
"It's something different and it takes away from the usual business afternoon train, it's a bit more jovial, everyone's in higher spirits.
"There was one [incident] where someone boarded at Cheltenham, he looked sort of merrily asleep but by the time he got off he was pretty much unconscious.
"Me and colleague had to help him."
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