Anonymous54678
Member
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some advice regarding a settlement offer I’ve received from GWR after travelling with what they say was an invalid ticket. I’ve never been in trouble before, so this has been very stressful.
Here’s what happened.
On 15 July 2026, I travelled from Preston to Bristol Parkway for one of my closest friend’s graduation ceremonies. I had to wake up at around 5:00 a.m. to make the journey.
I booked my ticket around 2–3 weeks beforehand using TrainPal. This was my first time ever using the app. I normally use Trainline, where I also keep my digital 16–25 Railcard.
Before searching for tickets on TrainPal, I selected my valid 16–25 Railcard. My Railcard is genuine and valid until 2029. Because I selected it before searching, I genuinely believed the ticket I bought was using that Railcard.
I had absolutely no idea that the ticket had been issued with a 16–17 Saver discount. In fact, until the Revenue Protection Inspector told me, I didn’t even know that ticket type existed.
Since I was new to TrainPal, I didn’t inspect the ticket in detail after purchasing it. Looking back, I realise I should have, but I genuinely assumed the correct discount had been applied because I had already selected my valid Railcard before booking.
During the journey, my ticket was checked on the train between Crewe and Birmingham New Street. The inspector accepted it without saying anything, which made me believe everything was fine.
When I arrived at Bristol Parkway, the ticket wouldn’t open the exit barrier. I didn’t try to leave or avoid staff. I went directly to the inspector and asked why it wasn’t working. I immediately showed my ticket and, when asked, my valid 16–25 Railcard.
The inspector then told me that my ticket had been purchased with a 16–17 Saver discount rather than a 16–25 Railcard discount. I was genuinely shocked because I honestly believed I had bought the correct ticket.
The conversation took quite a while, and because of the delay I ended up missing my friend’s graduation ceremony entirely, which was the only reason I’d travelled from Preston.
The inspector also recorded the interaction on a body-worn camera. I understand this may be standard procedure, but I found it quite upsetting and embarrassing.
A few days later I received a settlement offer from GWR asking me to pay £137.50, made up of £87.50 outstanding fare plus administrative costs, otherwise they may consider prosecution.
I completely accept that passengers are responsible for checking their tickets before travelling, and I appreciate that I should have checked mine more carefully. However, I genuinely believed I had purchased the correct ticket because I had selected my valid 16–25 Railcard before booking. I never intended to avoid paying my fare, and I fully cooperated throughout.
I’m planning to write to GWR asking whether they would consider allowing me to pay the correct fare (or fare difference) instead of the £137.50 settlement, given that this appears to have been an honest first-time mistake and I do hold a valid 16–25 Railcard.
I also have a few legal questions:
1. Will this be treated as a criminal offence and what records of me will be kept with them and for how long ?
2. If GWR accepts payment of the settlement, does that mean there will be no criminal conviction or criminal record?
3. Is this incident itself recorded as a crime anywhere, or is it simply an internal revenue protection matter unless they prosecute?
4. Will this affect my credit score in any way if I pay the settlement?
5. How long are body-worn camera recordings normally retained by train operating companies, and can I request deletion once the case is closed?
6. What personal information is GWR likely to retain about this incident, and for how long?
7. Is it realistic to ask them to reduce the settlement to the correct fare (or fare difference), or do train operating companies rarely agree to that?
I’d really appreciate any advice, particularly from anyone familiar with railway prosecutions or revenue protection matters in England.
Thank you.
I’m looking for some advice regarding a settlement offer I’ve received from GWR after travelling with what they say was an invalid ticket. I’ve never been in trouble before, so this has been very stressful.
Here’s what happened.
On 15 July 2026, I travelled from Preston to Bristol Parkway for one of my closest friend’s graduation ceremonies. I had to wake up at around 5:00 a.m. to make the journey.
I booked my ticket around 2–3 weeks beforehand using TrainPal. This was my first time ever using the app. I normally use Trainline, where I also keep my digital 16–25 Railcard.
Before searching for tickets on TrainPal, I selected my valid 16–25 Railcard. My Railcard is genuine and valid until 2029. Because I selected it before searching, I genuinely believed the ticket I bought was using that Railcard.
I had absolutely no idea that the ticket had been issued with a 16–17 Saver discount. In fact, until the Revenue Protection Inspector told me, I didn’t even know that ticket type existed.
Since I was new to TrainPal, I didn’t inspect the ticket in detail after purchasing it. Looking back, I realise I should have, but I genuinely assumed the correct discount had been applied because I had already selected my valid Railcard before booking.
During the journey, my ticket was checked on the train between Crewe and Birmingham New Street. The inspector accepted it without saying anything, which made me believe everything was fine.
When I arrived at Bristol Parkway, the ticket wouldn’t open the exit barrier. I didn’t try to leave or avoid staff. I went directly to the inspector and asked why it wasn’t working. I immediately showed my ticket and, when asked, my valid 16–25 Railcard.
The inspector then told me that my ticket had been purchased with a 16–17 Saver discount rather than a 16–25 Railcard discount. I was genuinely shocked because I honestly believed I had bought the correct ticket.
The conversation took quite a while, and because of the delay I ended up missing my friend’s graduation ceremony entirely, which was the only reason I’d travelled from Preston.
The inspector also recorded the interaction on a body-worn camera. I understand this may be standard procedure, but I found it quite upsetting and embarrassing.
A few days later I received a settlement offer from GWR asking me to pay £137.50, made up of £87.50 outstanding fare plus administrative costs, otherwise they may consider prosecution.
I completely accept that passengers are responsible for checking their tickets before travelling, and I appreciate that I should have checked mine more carefully. However, I genuinely believed I had purchased the correct ticket because I had selected my valid 16–25 Railcard before booking. I never intended to avoid paying my fare, and I fully cooperated throughout.
I’m planning to write to GWR asking whether they would consider allowing me to pay the correct fare (or fare difference) instead of the £137.50 settlement, given that this appears to have been an honest first-time mistake and I do hold a valid 16–25 Railcard.
I also have a few legal questions:
1. Will this be treated as a criminal offence and what records of me will be kept with them and for how long ?
2. If GWR accepts payment of the settlement, does that mean there will be no criminal conviction or criminal record?
3. Is this incident itself recorded as a crime anywhere, or is it simply an internal revenue protection matter unless they prosecute?
4. Will this affect my credit score in any way if I pay the settlement?
5. How long are body-worn camera recordings normally retained by train operating companies, and can I request deletion once the case is closed?
6. What personal information is GWR likely to retain about this incident, and for how long?
7. Is it realistic to ask them to reduce the settlement to the correct fare (or fare difference), or do train operating companies rarely agree to that?
I’d really appreciate any advice, particularly from anyone familiar with railway prosecutions or revenue protection matters in England.
Thank you.
