Railcards rarely checked on Avanti

katejo

I have just been to Glasgow and back. My ticket was checked 4 or 5 times across both journeys but I was only asked to show the Senior Railcard once. In comparison, journeys with the same Railcard on Network South East or Anglia often trap me at the ticket barrier. Anyone else had similar experience on Avanti or other longer distance journeys?

flaneurs_lobster

I'm sure we could find anecdotal examples of every kind of Railcard checking, from enthusiastic over-zealous though to non-existent.

But what point are you trying to make?

That fraudulent use of Railcard discounted tickets is easier the further oop t'north you travel?

katejo

No I am not just referring to northern routes. Maybe it also happens on GW to Cornwall but I haven't done that route since getting a Senior Railcard. I am just comparing long distance routes with local short journeys where I get stopped almost every time.

spenderdave

I keep my paper train ticket and railcard in my wallet. When I present my ticket to the ticket inspector my railcard is usually clearly visible to him as well. I am not sure if he actually looks at it though. On occasion he does ask to see the railcard (poke wallet a little nearer to him…)..

soolin

I rarely ever get my railcard checked and I travel a lot by train. Although strangely I was travelling with my OH earlier this year up in the North of England and he'd forgotten his railcard. As I am a bit of a worrier/stickler about rules, I bought him a full price ticket - and oddly- that journey was the first one where the inspector had asked to see our cards.

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82037635#Comment_82037635

Maybe it's simply that the 'hit' rate for finding fraud is higher on the shorter/commuter/local journeys than the long-haul mainline routes?

The rail companies would concentrate the inspection resource where it is most likely to find (and deter potential) offenders.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6672863/railcards-rarely-checked-on-avanti

Did a 2.5hr each way journey last week, tickets weren't checked in person in either direction. There were barriers at both the start and end though; no idea if all the intermediary stations are gated or not.

There is no legal obligation for them to check tickets at all and it's down to them to balance the cost of checks against the revenue generated with the various methods of revenue protection. Presumably each monitor costs -v- results and adjust their practices to create the appropriate balance. Inevitably with the volume of customers using trains daily patterns won't be too hard to spot.

oldernonethewiser

I've only had my railcard checked once, when travelling between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Done various long distance and many local journeys and never had it checked.

Tickets get checked regularly though.

Spelunthus

Clearly, the Rail companies concentrate checking where most fraud is likely - commuters and expensive long distance journeys. Railcards are a farce - no need to prove you hold one when booking a discounted ticket online. On Chiltern Rail daytime travel I often find open barriers at both ends, and no checks on trains. Makes me wonder why I bother buying a ticket. Also, the nonsense of Split Tickets, and incomprehensible rules around Off-peak travel. Hopefully, when we get GB Rail, this can all be addressed.

flaneurs_lobster

Interesting moral (and off-topic question) - would you buy a ticket if there were no checks or barriers at all?

How about if there were almost no checks but the penalties were much higher (say a £1000 fine and a criminal record) - much like the regime on Italian railways.

Scotrail are moving this month to as close to a no excuse model as you can get - the ONLY reason for not having a valid ticket is no ticket office/working TVM at your boarding station - immediate £10 minimum penalty fare or price of full-fare ticket if greater.

They've also introduced a PAYG app - link up a payment method (and discount card) and activate as you approach a station - shows a QR code for use at barrier or ticket inspector - press again when leaving destination station. Deducts best-available fare.

oldernonethewiser

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82037987#Comment_82037987

You don't need to have a railcard when booking, you need it to travel if you have bought a discounted ticket.

I think your hopes for GB rail may be over-optimistic.