Northern Rail Tickets investigation

[Stevinator]

Hello,

These would have been trains into Manchester on the Northern line.

I received an email from drpudigital@northernrailway.co.uk

They stated that I had 28 days to reply to the email. They said there are 40 accounts on my Trainline account for which I purchased tickets which did not cover the full journey. This is within the timeframe of 2 years (Not sure if I'm allowed to put the dates in).
However, I did not see that email, so I have been sent a follow-up. I have 28 days from Today to either respond via email or attend a formal interview.

I am not sure what to do. I think there are definitely fares for which I may have purchased an incorrect ticket due to a lack of funds.

What is strange on the first email had my name on it, and the second email had my mum's name at the top? But it was sent to my email. However, this was definitely meant for me.

Any advice is welcome.

Thanks.

 

[MrJeeves]

Simply do not reply.

Buy the correct tickets going forwards, and it may also be advisable to change to another ticketing retailer.

If you receive further emails, come back for advice before you even think about replying.

They want you to admit wrongdoing, and they will then try to extract a settlement from you. If you do not say anything, they cannot prove anything.

 

[WesternLancer]

Hello,

These would have been trains into Manchester on the Northern line.

I received an email from drpudigital@northernrailway.co.uk

They stated that I had 28 days to reply to the email. They said there are 40 accounts on my Trainline account for which I purchased tickets which did not cover the full journey. This is within the timeframe of 2 years (Not sure if I'm allowed to put the dates in).
However, I did not see that email, so I have been sent a follow-up. I have 28 days from Today to either respond via email or attend a formal interview.

I am not sure what to do. I think there are definitely fares for which I may have purchased an incorrect ticket due to a lack of funds.

What is strange on the first email had my name on it, and the second email had my mum's name at the top? But it was sent to my email. However, this was definitely meant for me.

Any advice is welcome.

Thanks.

Have you been stopped and questioned in person and asked about the validity of your ticket within the last 6 months - eg on a train, or at a railway station? eg caught red handed without the correct ticket whilst travelling?

As suggested, you may be well advised to change who you buy your tickets from on line - but do not delete our existing account - just leave it dormant but ensure you can log into it. It's your only source of evidence available to you personally should they investigate things further and you need access to that info for any reason. If you delete it the railway company would still have access should they want it (no GDPR data restriction if they are investigating a crime and fare evasion is a criminal matter).

 

[Stevinator]

Have you been stopped and questioned in person and asked about the validity of your ticket within the last 6 months - eg on a train, or at a railway station? eg caught red handed without the correct ticket whilst travelling?

As suggested, you may be well advised to change who you buy your tickets from on line - but do not delete our existing account - just leave it dormant but ensure you can log into it. It's your only source of evidence available to you personally should they investigate things further and you need access to that info for any reason. If you delete it the railway company would still have access should they want it (no GDPR data restriction if they are investigating a crime and fare evasion is a criminal matter).

I have already sent an email reply to them. Letting them know I am happy to help with their investigation, but I would like more information on the allegations and records.

It seems like they have my Trainline app transactions?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Sep 2026 ==

Simply do not reply.

Buy the correct tickets going forwards, and it may also be advisable to change to another ticketing retailer.

If you receive further emails, come back for advice before you even think about replying.

They want you to admit wrongdoing, and they will then try to extract a settlement from you. If you do not say anything, they cannot prove anything.

I have already sent an email reply to them. Letting them know I am happy to help with their investigation, but I would like more information on the allegations and records.

It seems like they have my Trainline app transactions?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Sep 2026 ==

Have you been stopped and questioned in person and asked about the validity of your ticket within the last 6 months - eg on a train, or at a railway station? eg caught red handed without the correct ticket whilst travelling?

As suggested, you may be well advised to change who you buy your tickets from on line - but do not delete our existing account - just leave it dormant but ensure you can log into it. It's your only source of evidence available to you personally should they investigate things further and you need access to that info for any reason. If you delete it the railway company would still have access should they want it (no GDPR data restriction if they are investigating a crime and fare evasion is a criminal matter).

I haven't been stopped in the last 6 months.

 

[jfollows]

Trainline transactions show purchase of a ticket, but not by whom it was used or how.
Depending on what you’ve already said to them, you may or may not have admitted anything to them, which as advised is what they are wanting you to do.

 

[Stevinator]

Trainline transactions show purchase of a ticket, but not by whom it was used or how.
Depending on what you’ve already said to them, you may or may not have admitted anything to them, which as advised is what they are wanting you to do.

is it okay to copy and paste my reply in here?

 

[jfollows]

is it okay to copy and paste my reply in here?

Yes, but remove personal information and reference numbers etc. if you do.

 

[Stevinator]

Yes, but remove personal information and reference numbers etc. if you do.

I am writing in response to your letter dated 10 September 2026

I take the matter seriously and wish to cooperate fully with your investigation.

Before providing a substantive response, I would be grateful if you could provide me with the details of the 40 tickets/journeys referred to in your correspondence, including the dates, routes, ticket types and any other information you are relying upon in relation to each journey.

I would like to review these details against my own records so that I can properly understand the allegations and provide an accurate explanation and any relevant evidence.

I would also like to confirm that I am seeking appropriate legal advice regarding this matter.

Please confirm receipt of this email and provide the requested information when possible.

 

[Western Gaffer]

If you've already gone ahead and sent that immediately before asking for advice on here then it's obviously too late to retract it, but you are entitled to change your mind and to decide not to cooperate with them when they respond with their spreadsheet, which is likely to be the strong recommendation...

 

[Stevinator]

If you've already gone ahead and sent that immediately before asking for advice on here then it's obviously too late to retract it, but you are entitled to change your mind and to decide not to cooperate with them when they respond with their spreadsheet, which is likely to be the strong recommendation...

Yes, I panicked as I have never been in the situation! That's why I asked if they could provide more information.

Do you think ignoring or refusing to cooperate at this point is going to be worse for me? Because they are threatening to take me to court in both emails.

 

[jfollows]

They can't take you to court based only on Trainline records, as I already explained. They can take you to court if they stop you when you are travelling, or if you admit to something in response to their emails. They can suspect something from your Trainline history, but that isn't enough to be evidence for a prosecution.

They normally threaten court when they have evidence, and agree to settle for ££ instead.

You have to decide what you will do now that you have engaged with them.

 

[WesternLancer]

Yes, I panicked as I have never been in the situation! That's why I asked if they could provide more information.

Do you think ignoring or refusing to cooperate at this point is going to be worse for me? Because they are threatening to take me to court in both emails.

Just to add to the other good advice given you now need to see what they say.

Privately look at your own Trainline account and try to work out the amount you’ve evaded. See what that totals.
Along with their reply you’ll know what’s at stake.

Don’t reply further without advice from here or a solicitor experienced in rail fare evasion. Since you’ve indicated to them you’re seeking legal advice. Tho at this stage I’m not sure I’d want to pay a solicitor what they would typically charge, at least not yet.

 

[Stevinator]

They can't take you to court based only on Trainline records, as I already explained. They can take you to court if they stop you when you are travelling, or if you admit to something in response to their emails. They can suspect something from your Trainline history, but that isn't enough to be evidence for a prosecution.

They normally threaten court when they have evidence, and agree to settle for ££ instead.

You have to decide what you will do now that you have engaged with them.

Just to add to the other good advice given you now need to see what they say.

Privately look at your own Trainline account and try to work out the amount you’ve evaded. See what that totals.
Along with their reply you’ll know what’s at stake.

Don’t reply further without advice from here or a solicitor experienced in rail fare evasion. Since you’ve indicated to them you’re seeking legal advice. Tho at this stage I’m not sure I’d want to pay a solicitor what they would typically charge, at least not yet.

Ok, I will wait to see what they reply. I will post here once they have responded.

I really appreciate the advice.

 

[MarlowDonkey]

I have 28 days from Today to either respond via email or attend a formal interview.

What they haven't told you is that they don't have any legal powers to compel you to do either. Had you been stopped and presented a dubious ticket their legal power to compel you to do something would be the threat of prosecution if you didn't. For that matter in those circumstances it is an offence not to reveal your name.

 

[Blaine]

It's very simple - stop replying, buy your tickets correctly in future, and use a different retailer.

 

[323235]

I agree with Blaine (and others who said the same) you’ve not admitted anything so stop responding. They can only take it to court if you admit to it.

 

[Stevinator]

Hello again,

I have received an email from them.

They are requesting my date of birth and address so they can proceed.

 

[MrJeeves]

Just ignore them.

 

[johnny_t]

I know it can be difficult when you are the one in the firing line, but the advice to ignore them is still good.

From where you are at the moment, you can either have some worry but no cost, or no worry but potentially high cost, so it depends on which of those is more appealing

 

[tomoufc]

Sounds like they’re fishing. Move on and don’t let it worry you. Even the worst case scenario is unlikely to be life changing, but that worst case scenario is probably only going to happen if you engage further voluntarily.

 

[Stevinator]

Hey guys they sent me another email last week as a Final warning.
They said I have an extra 14 days from that letter to get on touch before they escalate things.

I am worried because I am a primary school teacher and I love my job. And I don't want anything potentially on my DBS.

I am not sure what to do.

 

[tomoufc]

Hey guys they sent me another email last week as a Final warning.
They said I have an extra 14 days from that letter to get on touch before they escalate things.

I am worried because I am a primary school teacher and I love my job. And I don't want anything potentially on my DBS.

I am not sure what to do.

You’ve already been advised to ignore them and to contact a specialist solicitor. If you can’t do the former, why not the latter?

 

[MrJeeves]

I am not sure what to do.

Keep ignoring them.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

I am worried because I am a primary school teacher and I love my job. And I don't want anything potentially on my DBS.

For this concern, talk to your union rep. They should be able to tell you whether this is an issue where you work.

 

[Haywain]

I am worried because I am a primary school teacher and I love my job. And I don't want anything potentially on my DBS.

If they had the evidence to prosecute you for a criminal offence they wouldn't be asking you to provide more information. You have nothing to worry about in that regard.

I am not sure what to do.

Ignore, ignore and ignore again. And if you consult a union rep as suggested above and they say that you should respond, ignore them as well. You have a right to silence in law and this is the time to exercise that right and continue to do so.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

And if you consult a union rep as suggested above and they say that you should respond, ignore them as well. Y

To clarify, my advice to consult a union rep was over the specific work related question of the impact of a conviction for fare dodging on a teaching career.

It's probably also worth adding that it seems that Northern are trying to look at incidents more than six months old: typically these would be dealt with through the civil courts rather than the criminal ones. And while the civil court process could end up with County Court judgements (CCJs) or similar, my understanding is that nothing would go on a DBS from this.