TPE Travel Irregularity Notice after being unable to show a valid Railcard

[monkeyMoron]

On 17 October 2026 (today) I travelled directly from Warrington Central to Liverpool Lime Street on TransPennine Express.

Before boarding, I bought a £5.85 Off-Peak Day Return through Virgin Trains Ticketing, with a 26–30 Railcard discount. I scanned in through the e-gates at warrington Central prior to getting on the train, however once on board around 10 minutes in to the journey I had my inspected where I was asked to produce the railcard - it was only at this point I realsied I could not as my previous Trainline card expired on 21 December 2025, I looked desperately as I have regularly bought Railcards and believed I had renewed, but despite checking emails, accounts and bank records, I currently cannot find evidence of another card valid for this journey. During the inspection I purchased a new Railcard valid until 16 October 2027 but I understand this does not establish that I held a valid card before boarding.

The inspector photographed my ticket and the expired and new card, took my details, and said previous journeys would be investigated. I received a Travel Irregularity Notice. It says TPE will write and no payment is required or possible yet.

I would like to resolve this honestly, pay any properly due fare and reasonable costs, and avoid court and the risk of a criminal record - what should I expect next? This is a real shock for me as its the first time I have ever recived a fine or official caution for anything and genuinely thought I had a card, otherwise I never would have travelled, so as you can imagine I am very worried. Should I send an explanation now, given the 21-day period in TPE’s published Railcard policy, or wait for its letter? Could the review include other operators’ journeys as I am worried as have used this railcard for other journeys since December as I (incorrectly it now seems) thought I had a valid railcard?

Thank you in advance.

 

[AlterEgo]

You should wait to be written to. The company will conduct their investigation into the matter first. What is the 21 day policy you refer to?

 

[Trainman40083]

And for the future, diary a date for the timely renewal of any Railcard you may be entitled to...

 

[monkeyMoron]

You should wait to be written to. The company will conduct their investigation into the matter first. What is the 21 day policy you refer to?

When I looked it up online it seemed to suggest I should respond to the notice in writing within 21 days?

 

[AlterEgo]

When I looked it up online it seemed to suggest I should respond to the notice in writing within 21 days?

You may be thinking of an unpaid fare notice or a penalty fare, neither of which apply here. There is nothing for you to respond to at this stage.

 

[WesternLancer]

You should wait to be written to. The company will conduct their investigation into the matter first. What is the 21 day policy you refer to?

Time in which to invoke the forgotten railcard policy and show a valid railcard maybe?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 00:06 ==

When I looked it up online it seemed to suggest I should respond to the notice in writing within 21 days?

If you can post a link to the page where you found that info we can check exactly what it refers to for you if that would help.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 00:11 ==

On 17 October 2026 (today) I travelled directly from Warrington Central to Liverpool Lime Street on TransPennine Express.

Before boarding, I bought a £5.85 Off-Peak Day Return through Virgin Trains Ticketing, with a 26–30 Railcard discount. I scanned in through the e-gates at warrington Central prior to getting on the train, however once on board around 10 minutes in to the journey I had my inspected where I was asked to produce the railcard - it was only at this point I realsied I could not as my previous Trainline card expired on 21 December 2025, I looked desperately as I have regularly bought Railcards and believed I had renewed, but despite checking emails, accounts and bank records, I currently cannot find evidence of another card valid for this journey. During the inspection I purchased a new Railcard valid until 16 October 2027 but I understand this does not establish that I held a valid card before boarding.

The inspector photographed my ticket and the expired and new card, took my details, and said previous journeys would be investigated. I received a Travel Irregularity Notice. It says TPE will write and no payment is required or possible yet.

I would like to resolve this honestly, pay any properly due fare and reasonable costs, and avoid court and the risk of a criminal record - what should I expect next? This is a real shock for me as its the first time I have ever recived a fine or official caution for anything and genuinely thought I had a card, otherwise I never would have travelled, so as you can imagine I am very worried. Should I send an explanation now, given the 21-day period in TPE’s published Railcard policy, or wait for its letter? Could the review include other operators’ journeys as I am worried as have used this railcard for other journeys since December as I (incorrectly it now seems) thought I had a valid railcard?

Thank you in advance.

We did see a case recently where I think TPE let the person off as they had bought a railcard immediately it was established they didn’t have a valid one.
They may handle your case in that way.
But they might also check your ticket buying history to look for other railcard discounted tickets after the expiration of your last railcard.

Spend some time searching for evidence of previous railcards you have had and keep that info safe in case they ask you about previous railcards.

 

[monkeyMoron]

Time in which to invoke the forgotten railcard policy and show a valid railcard maybe?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 00:06 ==


If you can post a link to the page where you found that info we can check exactly what it refers to for you if that would help.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 00:11 ==


We did see a case recently where I think TPE let the person off as they had bought a railcard immediately it was established they didn’t have a valid one.
They may handle your case in that way.
But they might also check your ticket buying history to look for other railcard discounted tickets after the expiration of your last railcard.

Spend some time searching for evidence of previous railcards you have had and keep that info safe in case they ask you about previous railcards.

Thanks, that's really helpful - I've re-read where I thought it said about contacting them in 21 days but now realise I said they will try and contact me within 21 days of being handed the notice so I'll sit tight for now.
Like I say I bought one immediately when I realised that I didn't have one that was valid, I have a history stretching back to when I was 18 (12 years ago) of all the railcards which have been continually renewed, for some reason when it expired this time I have forgotten to. The worst thing is I get a free railcard with monzo (available form April) and was planning to use that this December for when (I thought) this one expired to renew so it's not a money thing.
I've since worked out I must've been buying tickets without a valid railcard for around 17 journeys from December 2025, but with differing rail operators, not just TPE. I normally scan them in at Warrington's e-gates and yesterday was the first time I have been asked to present the railcard during the inspection on the train. The inspector took a pretty dim view of me buying a railcard there and then, also was pretty annoyed she had to wait for me to search for it as like I say I was sure I had one so was surprised when it didn't show on my app, and was generally pretty aggressive from the get-go.
I'll be honest this has all really upset me, it's the first time anything like this has ever happened to me, I realise it was through a stupid mistake on my part, by I am really worried about a criminal conviction, and I'll be honest as silly as it sounds police showing up at my door. I will happily pay a fine as I realise I have left them out of pocket but finding the waiting and the worry quite hard.

 

[jfollows]

You won’t pay a fine, the police will not show up at your door, you committed a criminal offence of travelling without a valid ticket but they’ll setle out of court rather than prosecute you as long as you cooperate.

An out of court settlement is not a “fine”, it’s a mutually agreed amount of money to put an end to this and to avoid a prosecution.

Wait until they write to you and you’ll get advice here on how best to respond.

Any review of your online purchase history will include tickets bought from other operators.

Reading and following https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/please-read-before-posting-in-disputes-prosecutions.77759/ will help.

Their settlement will be on the basis of what they believe to be true. They can only prosecute on the basis of what they know to be true, that’s to say cases when you were stopped and found to have an invalid ticket. You have to decide whether to accept their settlement offer or to let them take you to court.

 

[WesternLancer]

Thanks, that's really helpful - I've re-read where I thought it said about contacting them in 21 days but now realise I said they will try and contact me within 21 days of being handed the notice so I'll sit tight for now.
Like I say I bought one immediately when I realised that I didn't have one that was valid, I have a history stretching back to when I was 18 (12 years ago) of all the railcards which have been continually renewed, for some reason when it expired this time I have forgotten to. The worst thing is I get a free railcard with monzo (available form April) and was planning to use that this December for when (I thought) this one expired to renew so it's not a money thing.
I've since worked out I must've been buying tickets without a valid railcard for around 17 journeys from December 2025, but with differing rail operators, not just TPE. I normally scan them in at Warrington's e-gates and yesterday was the first time I have been asked to present the railcard during the inspection on the train. The inspector took a pretty dim view of me buying a railcard there and then, also was pretty annoyed she had to wait for me to search for it as like I say I was sure I had one so was surprised when it didn't show on my app, and was generally pretty aggressive from the get-go.
I'll be honest this has all really upset me, it's the first time anything like this has ever happened to me, I realise it was through a stupid mistake on my part, by I am really worried about a criminal conviction, and I'll be honest as silly as it sounds police showing up at my door. I will happily pay a fine as I realise I have left them out of pocket but finding the waiting and the worry quite hard.

Don’t worry about the police coming to see you. As mentioned it won’t happen.

Have a read of this thread. It shows the sort of letter they will probably send and what you can expect.

Travel Irregularity Notice - Transpennine Express

Me and my girlfriend travelling Newcastle to Manchester Victoria. She bought the tickets and got the 26-30 railcard discounts, her 26-30 railcard is valid and she believed that mine was too, as did I. We are both 31. When on the train, the inspector came by asking for tickets. We showed ours...

www.railforums.co.uk

By way of preparation make your own private list of the wrongly discounted fares since your last railcard expired with any train operator. They could potentially ask for new tickets for all of those trips. TPE will act on behalf of all other rail companies in respect of this issue. That also in your interests too as all of this can then get resolved in one process.

Also trawl through your records if past railcards and try to find supporting evidence for them that you may still have. Just in case they ask for that.

This is useful prep you can do now whilst you wait for them to contact you.

Head back here for advice when you hear anything. Don’t reply to them in haste. Take time to get advice here.

 

[monkeyMoron]

Don’t worry about the police coming to see you. As mentioned it won’t happen.

Have a read of this thread. It shows the sort of letter they will probably send and what you can expect.

Travel Irregularity Notice - Transpennine Express

Me and my girlfriend travelling Newcastle to Manchester Victoria. She bought the tickets and got the 26-30 railcard discounts, her 26-30 railcard is valid and she believed that mine was too, as did I. We are both 31. When on the train, the inspector came by asking for tickets. We showed ours...

www.railforums.co.uk

By way of preparation make your own private list of the wrongly discounted fares since your last railcard expired with any train operator. They could potentially ask for new tickets for all of those trips. TPE will act on behalf of all other rail companies in respect of this issue. That also in your interests too as all of this can then get resolved in one process.

Also trawl through your records if past railcards and try to find supporting evidence for them that you may still have. Just in case they ask for that.

This is useful prep you can do now whilst you wait for them to contact you.

Head back here for advice when you hear anything. Don’t reply to them in haste. Take time to get advice here.

That's great, thank you it has really put my mind at ease. I will post on here once I have recived their letter.