Southeastern Trains Penalty

NBLondon

cat1984 wrote: »

"Rules" haven't applied down here in Margate for many years,

Yes they have - that's why they are rules. Maybe they haven't been enforced as thoroughly as in other areas.


If pay on train is the norm on that service (may vary with time of train and time of ticket office opening) - then it's understandable that people would assume it was always available - particularly if they don't travel often. On the other hand, if it is common for people to take short journeys between the rural stations and not pay if not actually approached buy a SE staff with a ticket machine...


Wonder if the OP's attitude contributed to the Revenue Officer's stance?

bap98189

NBLondon wrote: »

Yes they have - that's why they are rules. Maybe they haven't been enforced as thoroughly as in other areas.

This is very true. In London and the SE, the rules are enforced. Elsewhere in the country they are not. I use trains fairly frequently in the North West and it is quite normal to just jump on the train and buy a ticket from the conductor.

Yet the rules are the same, and they could dish out penalty fares if the TOC decided to do so.

Kite2010

bap98189 wrote: »

This is very true. In London and the SE, the rules are enforced. Elsewhere in the country they are not. I use trains fairly frequently in the North West and it is quite normal to just jump on the train and buy a ticket from the conductor.

Yet the rules are the same, and they could dish out penalty fares if the TOC decided to do so.

Beware as Northern are cracking down on passengers ignoring ticket buying faculties when boarding, otherwise you will be opening a thread saying Northern are charging you £80 plus the fare to avoid court

NBLondon

bap98189 wrote: »

This is very true. In London and the SE, the rules are enforced. Elsewhere in the country they are not. I use trains fairly frequently in the North West and it is quite normal to just jump on the train and buy a ticket from the conductor.

Some years ago I used to do Alderley Edge to Wilmslow quite frequently and there was no alternative but to wait for the person with the ticket machine. On many services, it probably makes more financial sense to employ onboard ticket sellers and accept a small percentage of dodgers than to staff every station - and that might also be the case in rural Kent. But improved ticket machine technology means the TOC can provide more opportunities to buy before boarding and thus have the basis for enforcing the rule that you should pay before travel if you can. If every station on the line has a workable machine that takes cards as well as cash then that's what the customer is expected to use.