Buying A Ticket Before You Travel?

[Baxenden Bank]

They boarded at a main station, but as it was a late train, they had limited options to travel, and it would not have been customer-friendly to make them wait an hour late at night for the next train (especially in view of the potential for weather disruption). This was giving the benefit of the doubt, and being flexible in light of conditions. I don't think anybody on here would have slated me for that (but obviously I was wrong).

My reading of the situation given the card declining and subsequent reaction was that by coming to ask me they were doing a double bluff with a dodgy card, especially as they were most insistent on buying a return ticket (meaning they could get through the barriers at the gated station on the return journey). They were not expecting me to ring the bank, and were expecting me to swipe the card as "everybody else does that" (as they repeatedly told me).

I gave them the option to get off at the next station and go to the cash machine there if the account balance was as healthy as claimed, but eventually they produced enough cash to comfortably cover the single fare (but not the return fare).

Fair enough (no pun intended), now we know the circumstances. Still ought to emphasise the no boarding without a ticket though, people have gotten lazy / expect a free ride more often than not.

 

[timbo58]

and for all those who would moan the guard was jobs worth -flamingos experience tells you the reason why some staff stick to the rules -as there are ****** takers about!
Good call though Flamingo.

 

[Flamingo]

and for all those who would moan the guard was jobs worth -flamingos experience tells you the reason why some staff stick to the rules -as there are ****** takers about!
Good call though Flamingo.

My motto is, "If in doubt, follow the official procedure". It means that when the complaint or please explain lands in my maildrop, one has an instant alibi!

 

[scarby]

Many members of the public still believe travelling on a train without a ticket is ok as they can buy one from the guard or at their destination.

I put my hands up and admit I thought until fairly recently that this was the case.

Firstly I grew up in a time when things as I recall were very different - firstly if you had the wrong ticket you were simply issued with an Excess Fare ticket (at least in my experience) and there were even Paytrains for goodness sake. There were also far less open stations and human beings in booths checked the tickets, so it was much harder to pass "Go" without the right ticket anyway.

Secondly it was very rare for me not to buy a ticket before travelling, but if I did (for example, mad dash from late arrival at the airport for an hourly-only train) when the guard came round I simply said "Single to xxx, please, mate" and was gladly issued with that.

Thirdly the introduction of Penalty Fares actually reinforced my belief as I thought these were introduced to discourage people from travelling without a ticket - but it was not illegal for them to do so. Because if they did choose to do so they were simply issued with a ticket - Penalty Fare ticket - albeit one at a far higher price.

Fourthly was also reading information on some trains that you could buy tickets onboard, but with a more limited selection. Or with operators such as Grand Central who sold/sell reasonably priced tickets onboard.

Surely other people must be similarly confused?

 

[PermitToTravel]

I put my hands up and admit I thought until fairly recently that this was the case.

Firstly I grew up in a time when things as I recall were very different - firstly if you had the wrong ticket you were simply issued with an Excess Fare ticket (at least in my experience) and there were even Paytrains for goodness sake. There were also far less open stations and human beings in booths checked the tickets, so it was much harder to pass "Go" without the right ticket anyway.

Secondly it was very rare for me not to buy a ticket before travelling, but if I did (for example, mad dash from late arrival at the airport for an hourly-only train) when the guard came round I simply said "Single to xxx, please, mate" and was gladly issued with that.

Thirdly the introduction of Penalty Fares actually reinforced my belief as I thought these were introduced to discourage people from travelling without a ticket - but it was not illegal for them to do so. Because if they did choose to do so they were simply issued with a ticket - Penalty Fare ticket - albeit one at a far higher price.

Fourthly was also reading information on some trains that you could buy tickets onboard, but with a more limited selection. Or with operators such as Grand Central who sold/sell reasonably priced tickets onboard.

Surely other people must be similarly confused?

I definitely agree, but if one is not sure, then complying with the rules is very, very easy: just buy a ticket at your first opportunity to do so.