First Class on First Capital Connect/Thameslink

explanationmark

Got on a FCC train this morning. In the timetable it wasnt supposed to have a first class area and the announcement didnt mention it.

Does this mean that anyone can sit in first class?

Cheers

chuckley

nah its a risk u take if u have a standard ticket.

robt_2

Only if it has been declassified by the guard/conductor.

ticketcollector

Hmm
This is a grey area.

Now if you are on a GN route train which is advertised as NOT having first class in the timetable (i.e. Class 313) and you get a newer train (class 365/317/321) which does have first class, you should not be penalty fared.
Now of course it is hard to explain that fact to some inspectors.

You will win your appeal. I have heard of an inspector who PF'd the whole of the First Class carriage on a train which was advertised as no first class. All of those PF's were successfully appealed.

Now of course, there are other documents that say you must not be in a first class carriage with a standard ticket.

Prob best not going in there at all.

Zoee

Hi All

Can anyone advise how to deal with this child penalty fare issue?

I gave my daughter cash to purchase the standard ticket to travel on a First Capital Connect train

She met with her friend at the station, purchased their standard fare tickets and boarded the train both sitting in a standard carriage

The friend decides to go into the 1st class carriage and beckons my daughter to join her

My daughter states “Mummy I didn’t even sit down for one minute when the inspector comes in”

They were told they have to pay the £20 penalty fare and letters would be sent to the addresses given

A letter has arrived stating £32.70 is now payable.

Speaking with her friend, I learned that her penalty fare is £35.00

My questions for the forum is:
1) how can penalty fares differ for the same offence, same location, same time?
2) is it legal for me to pay £20 as the Inspector said and ignore the added £12.70?
3) is it legal to issue children with penalty fares?

Thanks for reading and any helpful advice appreciated!!

Zoee

ticketcollector

In addition to my PM.
Penalty Fares are twice the full applicable single fare for the jounrey made.
So the PF should be 2 times the first class single fare.
The letter you got seems to be an admin fee plus cost of ticket jobbie.

shefstudentboi

Should FCC charge an admin fee? Seems a bit underhand for them to charge that on top of the penalty fare.

Zoee

Thank you for your replies