Sit in first class and upgrade?

USM

I travel from Basingstoke to Waterloo a few times a week at rush hour on South West trains and typically the train is completely packed with people crammed into the areas outside the toilets.


If I buy a standard anytime day return with zone 1-6 travel card as normal and find the train too busy, can I sit in first class and pay the difference when the ticket inspector does their rounds?


Would the difference in fare just be the difference between a standard anytime single to Waterloo, and a first class anytime single?

paddyrg

Peak time, standard anytime single vs first class is about £15 difference.

Rail_Staff

I would not advise on doing this without either buying the upgrade in advance or speaking to the guard before taking a seat in first, if revenue inspectors board the train and find you in first class with a standard ticket you can expect a penalty fare at best, at worst you may end up being prosecuted.

Most guards will be happy to sell the upgrade on board but please seek permission first.

USM

Rail_Staff wrote: »

I would not advise on doing this without either buying the upgrade in advance or speaking to the guard before taking a seat in first, if revenue inspectors board the train and find you in first class with a standard ticket you can expect a penalty fare at best, at worst you may end up being prosecuted.

Most guards will be happy to sell the upgrade on board but please seek permission first.

Thanks for the reply - disappointing in a way because the odds of being able to move let alone find the guard in the rush hour 9 coach sardine experience is going to be fairly slim!

wealdroam

USM wrote: »

Thanks for the reply - disappointing in a way because the odds of being able to move let alone find the guard in the rush hour 9 coach sardine experience is going to be fairly slim!

For the same reasons, the chances of the guard checking your ticket are less on a crowded train.
Thus there is the possibility of travelling in 1st on a standard ticket without having to pay the difference... not saying you would even consider that though.

As the trains you are travelling on are almost always packed, why don't you buy a first class ticket instead of a standard one before boarding the train?

USM

It can be really hit and miss - I'm more than happy to sit in standard, and quite often that's possible.


I'm not happy to stand outside the toilet for 50 minutes though on the occasions when it's full

yangptangkipperbang

Suggest you read National Rail Conditions of Carriage. G .39.
"Travelling in first class accommodation with a standard class ticket"

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/documents/content/NRCOC.pdf

Stigy

I'd be careful here, as has been advised already. If you can't physically find the Guard due to crowding, what's to say he will be able to come through and check tickets? That being the case you could, albeit opportunistically to an extent, find yourself fare evading, especially if you get in to this habit. I'd heed the advise given here and buy a Furst Class ticket before boarding like 'most' others in that class of accommodation.

If you must board with a standard class ticket, speak to the Guard on the platform first, this way you're covered as he's given you permission (if you are given permission make sure you take a mental note of his or her name...just in case!). The Guard might even have time to upgrade you before departure, especially if the train begins its journey from Basingstoke! (On most SWT trains you can see where the guard is located by the flashing Amber light near the set of doors s/he is at).

yorkie2

Different Companies have different conditions regarding upgrading to 1st.

SWT operate a Penalty Fare scheme, which means you should buy the right fare before you board. Posters displayed at station entrances should confirm this. You could ask SWT to clarify if you're unsure.

wannabeslim

How about buying a first class ticket a day or so in advance online at a reduced rate if you know when you are travelling, dd does this and sometimes the first class ticket is cheaper than the standard.

yorkie2

wannabeslim wrote: »

How about buying a first class ticket a day or so in advance online at a reduced rate if you know when you are travelling, dd does this and sometimes the first class ticket is cheaper than the standard.

There are no Advance fares available for this flow.