Why the HELL is it wrong to pay ON the Train???

geordie_taxi

JethroUK wrote: »

But for anyone thinking of scamming the railways:

You might be interested that I saw a close-circuit video of a guy taking a daily compute from Midlands to London (it was broadcast on TV couple years back)

Rail company suspected him for a while and needed to build evidence

It showed him getting on a train in the Midlands - travelling to London

He gets off one stop before his destination - buys a ticket on the platform for just the last leg of the journey

gets back on the train and completes his journey

He was obviously charged for the deception which they proved satisfactorily had been going on for a year or more - and if I recall he actually did jail time

yawn. is that honestly a true story or something youve made up
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

please if yore going to spread railway propaganda then atleast you could provide links

geordie_taxi

rdwarr wrote: »

This is how it works:

1) You buy a ticket
2) You make your journey

Why does it matter if you get checked or not? You have got what you paid for.

wot a great self righteous statement to make. wot happens if theres no way of buying a ticket at you start or end station. other than having a FREE journey what is the OP to do

geordie_taxi

Stigy wrote: »

Out of curiosity, how long is your criminal record at present? It's quite simple why you're not allowed to pay on board in most cases....To make it less easy for chancers of your ilk to fare evade....

I wont whine about fines, assuming you mean Penalty Fares, because they're not issued to fare evaders...The only fine you'll be getting is at court.

Happy New Year.

:think:scare tactics and you know it. the OP has already stated the intent he will buy a ticket

geordie_taxi

LimeLight wrote: »

1) having a ticket means you've got a right to compensation should anything untoward happen like the train derailing and hurtling off onto the M1.

really. im sure an ambulance chasing lawyer would disagree

Cknocker

I have some sympathy with the OP, mainly due to the brain dead manner in which the train companies operate.

Down here in deepest darkest Cornwall, despite living in one of the largest towns in the County our train station ticket office is only open limited hours, after these hours you have to buy a ticket on the train - no problem!

However due to the fact that so many people have to buy a ticket on the train, the guard (Or is that train manager now!) can't possibly get to everyone before they get off the train - wonderful you got a free ride.

Well to combat this what did the train company do? Did they install ticket machines on the stations that don't have ticket offices open? NO, they installed barriers at the main station in the county so you can't get out without having a ticket - again no problem.

Anyway I've now gone from Camborne to Truro and had no opportunity to get a ticket, I get off the train to have some brain dead moron trying to fine me for "travelling without a valid ticket" and after politely (its a struggle) explaining why not, he then says okay no problem, I'll sell you a ticket now. I have no problem with that, the problem is being treated as a criminal, when the failing is 100% on the train company.

Again I have no problem buying a ticket and always buy a ticket before getting on the train if this is possible and will not try to hide from the guard on the train - at the end of the day its a good service and reasonably priced - a damn site cheaper than the busses down here. A return to Truro by bus is nearly £7 and takes nearly 45 mins, where the train costs £3.60 return and takes 15 mins - so it is in my interest to pay as I want the service to continue!

rockchick113

geordie_taxi wrote: »

wot a great self righteous statement to make. wot happens if theres no way of buying a ticket at you start or end station. other than having a FREE journey what is the OP to do

This happens to me regularly
No ticket office open on my station,so get on train ready to pay the ticket guy,no one comes and checks,over the years I must have done 20+journeys and not paid,
I have to say they are usely late night trains this happens on.

michael243

I once got fined £20 for not buying a ticket but the office was closed and the train never had a ticket inspector /seller on board and I tried to tell the person at the station where I got off this and that I had only been on the train for 15 minutes but he never believed me or even check to see if I was it must of been because I was 17 and getting off to go college!

I also sent a letter to challenge this and guess what they rejected it :mad:

Since then I always brought a ticket before boarding even if it meant I was late for college but I went London 7 times over the course I last year and only ever had my tickets checked on the way but never once on the way back.

Emma_N

On Virgin trains I nearly always have my ticket checked either on the train (going from Brum New Street to Euston) or before I board the train (Euston).

On London Midland land of the penalty fare scheme I very rarely have my ticket checked, probably 1 journey in 10. There are nearly always fare dodgers on these trains and it annoys me that they seemingly get away with it.

Why should we have to subsidise free travel for the fare dodgers? I don't understand why there aren't ticket barriers such as they have at Marylebone/on the London Underground at more stations.

kerby_crawler

Emma_N wrote: »

On London Midland land of the penalty fare scheme I very rarely have my ticket checked, probably 1 journey in 10. There are nearly always fare dodgers on these trains and it annoys me that they seemingly get away with it

How do you know that there are 'nearly always' fare-dodgers on the train? How do you know when there are 'no' fare-dodgers on the train?

I ask because I too travel on London Midland and rarely have my ticket checked, but I have never been able to calculate how many of my fellow travellers are fare-dodgers.

Cknocker

How do you differentiate between a "fare dodger" and someone who genuinely has been given no opportunity to purchase a ticket?