I have received a letter from thameslink threatening prosecution due to me travelling without a ticket. It has been extremely upsetting, as I did not mean to! I would really appreciate some advice.
I bought a ticket on the app Trainline when I arrived at King’s Cross. I found the app confusing, as it wouldn’t let me buy a ticket with a QR code like I usually did. I assumed it was the rail companies trying to stop me using the app. I bought a weekly return from London to Cambridge, but for some reason it didn’t let me download the ticket in the app. I therefore went to the ticket desk at King’s Cross and they printed the ticket for me. On the train I was told that the ticket was for the Liverpool Street train and not valid for that service.
I feel very stupid. I remember feeling very confused navigating the Trainline app. When I bought the ticket I was in a huge rush as I had a meeting in Cambridge I didn’t want to miss. I totally forgot that you could buy tickets that were London to Cambridge but not via Kings Cross. I’m a regular commuter on that line, which makes me feel particularly dumb.
Relevant info:
The stations* where you actually started & finished your journey
Start: Kings Cross
End: Cambridge
The stations* where you changed trains (if applicable);
N/A
If you presented a ticket(s), the information* stated under "Ticket type", "From", "To", "Route", and any other relevant details;
Weekly Season
London Terminus to Cambridge
Greater Anglia only
Details of any Railcard(s) held;
N/A
When and where ticket(s) were purchased, including whether this was prior to the journey commencing;
Ticket bought on Monday 24 February on Trainline, collected at Kings Cross ticket office from someone at the ticket desk.
What happened in any encounter with railway staff;
I was asked for my ticket by a ticket inspector on the train. He informed me it wasn’t valid for that train. I explained that I’d got it from the ticket desk at Kings Cross.
This happened in the morning of Wednesday 26th Feb.
Upload copies of any paperwork (with personal details redacted) with your post.
I’ll upload these if people think they are needed.
We need to know what outcome(s) you would consider satisfactory
I don’t mind paying for the proper ticket and a fee, but I really don’t want to go to court.
Ok, so here’s my draft letter:
I am very sorry to have bought the incorrect ticket on the occasion mentioned. I bought my ticket on Trainline for the train from London to Cambridge and I did not realise that the ticket was restricted to trains from Liverpool St. I collected the ticket from the desk at Kings Cross and it let me through the barriers at Kings Cross, therefore it was not until I showed the ticket to the inspector that I realised it was not valid for my train.
Please, would it be possible to pay the correct fare and any additional fees?
I will certainly be more careful in the future to ensure I have the correct ticket for my journey.
I bought a ticket on the app Trainline when I arrived at King’s Cross. I found the app confusing, as it wouldn’t let me buy a ticket with a QR code like I usually did. I assumed it was the rail companies trying to stop me using the app. I bought a weekly return from London to Cambridge, but for some reason it didn’t let me download the ticket in the app. I therefore went to the ticket desk at King’s Cross and they printed the ticket for me. On the train I was told that the ticket was for the Liverpool Street train and not valid for that service.
I feel very stupid. I remember feeling very confused navigating the Trainline app. When I bought the ticket I was in a huge rush as I had a meeting in Cambridge I didn’t want to miss. I totally forgot that you could buy tickets that were London to Cambridge but not via Kings Cross. I’m a regular commuter on that line, which makes me feel particularly dumb.
Relevant info:
The stations* where you actually started & finished your journey
Start: Kings Cross
End: Cambridge
The stations* where you changed trains (if applicable);
N/A
If you presented a ticket(s), the information* stated under "Ticket type", "From", "To", "Route", and any other relevant details;
Weekly Season
London Terminus to Cambridge
Greater Anglia only
Details of any Railcard(s) held;
N/A
When and where ticket(s) were purchased, including whether this was prior to the journey commencing;
Ticket bought on Monday 24 February on Trainline, collected at Kings Cross ticket office from someone at the ticket desk.
What happened in any encounter with railway staff;
I was asked for my ticket by a ticket inspector on the train. He informed me it wasn’t valid for that train. I explained that I’d got it from the ticket desk at Kings Cross.
This happened in the morning of Wednesday 26th Feb.
Upload copies of any paperwork (with personal details redacted) with your post.
I’ll upload these if people think they are needed.
We need to know what outcome(s) you would consider satisfactory
I don’t mind paying for the proper ticket and a fee, but I really don’t want to go to court.
Ok, so here’s my draft letter:
I am very sorry to have bought the incorrect ticket on the occasion mentioned. I bought my ticket on Trainline for the train from London to Cambridge and I did not realise that the ticket was restricted to trains from Liverpool St. I collected the ticket from the desk at Kings Cross and it let me through the barriers at Kings Cross, therefore it was not until I showed the ticket to the inspector that I realised it was not valid for my train.
Please, would it be possible to pay the correct fare and any additional fees?
I will certainly be more careful in the future to ensure I have the correct ticket for my journey.
