Northern Travel Incident Report - Incorrect Information

[aridle12]

Hi all,

This Saturday the 27/09/2025 I received a Travel Incident Report for travelling with an out of date railcard from Barnsley to Meadowhall. I offered to purchase a new railcard as I did not realise my mistake but the ticket officer said I ran out of time and issued me with this TIR. I did manage to purchase a new railcard just before I was issued with this but understand that appealing this wouldn't make a difference.

I did not notice at the time but my date of birth is incorrect, it's 8 days off and it was copied directly from my driving licence which is correct. Also the address is my old home address and I didn't think twice when they were copying it over, I wasn't asked to clarify anything.

I've been reading up and I've seen you need to reply to the letter within 14 days, I have the email address [drpu@northernrailway.co.uk]. Question is if none of my information is right how will this come across, only my birth name is recorded. I happy to just pay the fine and be done with it but I have no idea what is going to happen with not being able to receive anything.

Any support or advice would be really appreciated as it's such a stressful situation from a £2 mistake.

Thank you

 

[notmyrealname]

Hi, welcome to the forum.

I expect the pros will be here to advise later but it the meantime you could show us the TIR that you received. Be sure to cover up your personal details and any reference number.

You should also change the address on your driving licence, which you can do online and I think it's free. Not having an up to date address can result in a fine of up to £1000.

 

[30907]

Your DOB won't make a difference (unless it makes you just over 18).

You can contact Northern giving the TIR reference to advise the correct address.

If the address on your driving licence is wrong, it needs changing anyway as it is an offence not to do so.

 

[aridle12]

This is the incident report, I also know now that I need to update my licence. I didn't know you could do it for free or that you could also get fined!!

 

[WesternLancer]

View attachment 189271

This is the incident report, I also know now that I need to update my licence. I didn't know you could do it for free or that you could also get fined!!

You could e-mail Northern quoting the ref number on this and ask them to correct your postal address

their e mail is DRPU@Northernrailway.co.uk

If the old address is one you have access to post at by any chance then it is worth making sure whoever is there looks out for it, just in case they don't action your change of address notification or some such

Getting and responding to their letter about this is vital to avoid it automatically escalating to prosecution

Be aware they may check on line records to see if other tickets were bought after the Railcard expired but with the discount, and they are likely to seek to charge for new tickets for those trips - so have a check of your own ticket buying records to prepare for that eventuality.

It's usually advised that you don't say anything else to them at this stage just tell them to correct the address (it's important you do not get into why you were stopped etc until you hear from them)

eg

Dear Sir/ Madam

Reference number (insert this from receipt slip you have)

I was stopped on x date at y location and questioned about the validity of my railcard.

I note the paperwork I was given has my old address recorded on it.

My correct address as of x date is:

My e-mail address is:

Please can any letters be sent to my new address so that I can respond to them

Yours faithfully

 

[Haywain]

I offered to purchase a new railcard as I did not realise my mistake but the ticket officer said I ran out of time and issued me with this TIR. I did manage to purchase a new railcard just before I was issued with this but understand that appealing this wouldn't make a difference.

You are right in saying this wouldn't make a difference. It was correct to buy a new railcard to make sure you were valid from then on, but it doesn't affect the fact that you boarded the train without a valid ticket.

 

[aridle12]

You could e-mail Northern quoting the ref number on this and ask them to correct your postal address

I have sent an email with my most up to date address. Is it in there best interest to update this? Like I said previously I understand the actions have an associated fine and and happy to pay but just worried that this will exceed the 14 day window and result in further action from them

 

[WesternLancer]

I have sent an email with my most up to date address. Is it in there best interest to update this? Like I said previously I understand the actions have an associated fine and and happy to pay but just worried that this will exceed the 14 day window and result in further action from them

what 14 day window are you referring to? can you clarify

Its very much in your best interests for them to update the address.

are you perhaps confusing this with the posters you see at stations talking about Penalty Fares? (a sum of £100 and £50 if paid promptly)

This is not a Penalty fare notice however, and will not be dealt with like a Penalty Fare.

There will not a be a 'fine' associated with this unless it escalates to court.

What has happened is you have been reported for investigation (TIR) for not having a valid ticket by virtue of the railcard now being valid - this is so the back office can investigate this and how many times it may have happened. They will write to you and ask you for your version of event or that may wrote to you asking you for a sum of money (new ticket plus an admin fee) - this is essentially an offer of an out of court settlement for them to prosecute you for travel without a valid ticket. Obviously that will feel a bit like a fine but it's not the same thing. Their letter might look like a threat of prosecution so be prepared to read it carefully - it might be a few weeks before you get sent it.

When you get this letter (but also watch out for e-mail and spam) you should head back here for advice on anything to do with it you are not clear about and how to best respond to it.

 

[aridle12]

Thank you, this really helps clarify everything. I'll will keep any updates in this thread

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@aridle12. Welcome to the forum. Just how out of date was the previous (expired) railcard, and have you bought/used any other (discounted) tickets online since whenever it was that it expired?

 

[aridle12]

@aridle12. Welcome to the forum. Just how out of date was the previous (expired) railcard, and have you bought/used any other (discounted) tickets online since whenever it was that it expired?

It was 29 days out of date. This is the first journey with Northern in that time, 30th Aug - 27th Sept.

I did make one other return journey from Leamington spa to Birmingham with Chiltern on 25th Sept without realising this as when the inspector asked for my railcard there was no signal and didn’t show as expired on the app.

One of these tickets was bought through Uber Travel the other through Trainline.

 

[WesternLancer]

It was 29 days out of date. This is the first journey with Northern in that time, 30th Aug - 27th Sept.

I did make one other return journey from Leamington spa to Birmingham with Chiltern on 25th Sept without realising this as when the inspector asked for my railcard there was no signal and didn’t show as expired on the app.

One of these tickets was bought through Uber Travel the other through Trainline.

They can access all online retailers if they wish to - not just Northern trains info and data - but that is not a long / expensive trip if they request payment for that too I don't imagine. This is standard procedure for many train companies to do and esp with Trainline so you should anticipate this might happen and budget for it.
Keep a copy of your existing railcard just in case they want any further proof you had one that was valid up until it's expiry date.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@aridle12. If those are the only two instances, then reckon you're looking af having to pay £5.40 for an Anytime Day Single from Barnsley to Meadowhall and maybe 2 x £9.50 for the there and back journeys between Leamington Spa and Birmingham Stns, with Chiltern. Unfortunately, you won't get any credit for whatever you've already paid/underpaid, and Northern Trains will likely add on a (low) three figure administration fee for their bother. Not brilliant, but could have been a lot worse. Good luck in sorting!