Armed Forces Railcard

[BlueDude24]

Hi All,

First, I want to be clear that I accept wrongdoing in the following case. Bad personal admin has led me to the following. That is on me.

Second I would appreciate a review of the letter I plan to send to Cross Country via ITAL in the hope of a settlement.

Third, can anyone offer likelihood of a settlement here?

Dear Sir / Madam

Case Ref: xxxx
Thank you for your letter dated xxx and for providing me with the opportunity to respond. I am writing within the required 14-day period.

This letter is fuller response from my short email, sent this morning.
I sincerely apologise for this matter and accept full responsibility for travelling without a valid railcard for my journey on xxx 2026.

I would like to provide a full and honest account. My journey on that day was from Wolverhampton to Stoke-on-Trent. I did purchase a rail ticket, as evidenced by the enclosed ticket, however it was discounted for a rail card. This was a genuine mistake, and in trying to explain the situation at the time, I may not have provided a fully accurate account as to why I did not have my rail card with me.

I would also like to clarify the circumstances further. On that day, I was dealing with significant stress. As a result, I did not respond to the member of staff who questioned me about my train ticket as clearly as I should have at the time, and I regret this.

This was an error on my part and I deeply regret not purchasing the correct ticket for my journey and I will ensure that I always have a valid ticket for my full journey moving forward.

Since the stop I have booked all of my tickets at full price as I have been unable to locate my rail card. The last evidence I can provide of purchasing said rail card is in 2020 (attached). I fully accept and apologise for not checking my rail cards validity since then, and would like to offer the following as mitigation.

My 2020 rail card would have been valid until 2021 and I loaded it on to my Trainline app. In 2021, I was preparing to deploy to Iraq, which I did and returned in 2023 (orders attached). In the chaos caused by the deployment I must have forgotten to renew it and then lost it. I didn’t think about this nor that it was still on the app. I accept my mistake here and I take this matter extremely seriously and can assure you that it will not happen again. To ensure it never happens again I will not be renewing or using a rail card in future.

I would be grateful if you would allow me to pay any outstanding fare(s) along with any reasonable administrative costs incurred, in the hope that this matter can be resolved without the need for court action.

Yours Faithfully

 

[AlterEgo]

Hi All,

First, I want to be clear that I accept wrongdoing in the following case. Bad personal admin has led me to the following. That is on me.

Second I would appreciate a review of the letter I plan to send to Cross Country via ITAL in the hope of a settlement.

Third, can anyone offer likelihood of a settlement here?

Dear Sir / Madam

Case Ref: xxxx
Thank you for your letter dated xxx and for providing me with the opportunity to respond. I am writing within the required 14-day period.

What are you responding to? Please show us the original letter with your details removed.

This letter is fuller response from my short email, sent this morning.

What did you send in your initial email? Please post the whole email into the thread.

This was a genuine mistake, and in trying to explain the situation at the time, I may not have provided a fully accurate account as to why I did not have my rail card with me.

What did you say at the time?

Since the stop I have booked all of my tickets at full price as I have been unable to locate my rail card.

Well, as you say later, you don't actually have one. How many times have you claimed the discount since your railcard expired five years ago? The company may well audit your ticket purchasing accounts and leave you with a hefty bill if you've done it a lot.

The last evidence I can provide of purchasing said rail card is in 2020 (attached). I fully accept and apologise for not checking my rail cards validity since then, and would like to offer the following as mitigation.

My 2020 rail card would have been valid until 2021 and I loaded it on to my Trainline app.

How would you load a HM Forces Railcard onto the Trainline app? These are physical railcards issued by your unit admin staff, they cannot be "loaded onto" an app. Do you mean that you claimed the discount when searching?

Do you have proof of purchase or receipt of that railcard? (It usually comes out of your pay if you are a serving member of HM Forces)

=To ensure it never happens again I will not be renewing or using a rail card in future.

Why not? HM Forces Railcard is £21 and comes out of your pay, extremely easy and cheap way to discount your travel.

Note that if you are serving you may have an obligation to inform your chain of command about this investigation; it is a criminal matter.

 

[ruraltravel222]

I think you're missing some details here, OP - what is it you've been stopped for, an expired Armed Forces Railcard?

 

[BlueDude24]

Hi,

Thank you to your reply. In the moment I said I had lost my railcard.

I have sent a short email to a letter asking me to supply my railcard saying I cannot find it.

I have not had a notification of prosecution yet but have drafted the above after looking for my railcard and realising how long ago it expired.

Yes these railcards are physical, I put it into the app searching at some point and then never thought about it again. This is my mistake and I am very keen to resolve this.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Hi All,

First, I want to be clear that I accept wrongdoing in the following case. Bad personal admin has led me to the following. That is on me.

Second I would appreciate a review of the letter I plan to send to Cross Country via ITAL in the hope of a settlement.

Third, can anyone offer likelihood of a settlement here?

Dear Sir / Madam

Case Ref: xxxx
Thank you for your letter dated xxx and for providing me with the opportunity to respond. I am writing within the required 14-day period.

This letter is fuller response from my short email, sent this morning.
I sincerely apologise for this matter and accept full responsibility for travelling without a valid railcard for my journey on xxx 2026.

I would like to provide a full and honest account. My journey on that day was from Wolverhampton to Stoke-on-Trent. I did purchase a rail ticket, as evidenced by the enclosed ticket, however it was discounted for a rail card. This was a genuine mistake, and in trying to explain the situation at the time, I may not have provided a fully accurate account as to why I did not have my rail card with me.

I would also like to clarify the circumstances further. On that day, I was dealing with significant stress. As a result, I did not respond to the member of staff who questioned me about my train ticket as clearly as I should have at the time, and I regret this.

This was an error on my part and I deeply regret not purchasing the correct ticket for my journey and I will ensure that I always have a valid ticket for my full journey moving forward.

Since the stop I have booked all of my tickets at full price as I have been unable to locate my rail card. The last evidence I can provide of purchasing said rail card is in 2020 (attached). I fully accept and apologise for not checking my rail cards validity since then, and would like to offer the following as mitigation.

My 2020 rail card would have been valid until 2021 and I loaded it on to my Trainline app. In 2021, I was preparing to deploy to Iraq, which I did and returned in 2023 (orders attached). In the chaos caused by the deployment I must have forgotten to renew it and then lost it. I didn’t think about this nor that it was still on the app. I accept my mistake here and I take this matter extremely seriously and can assure you that it will not happen again. To ensure it never happens again I will not be renewing or using a rail card in future.

I would be grateful if you would allow me to pay any outstanding fare(s) along with any reasonable administrative costs incurred, in the hope that this matter can be resolved without the need for court action.

Yours Faithfully

As well as the good points made above, when you come to respond to the railway you will probably want to look further for a letter to model yours on: the one you've worked from was a first draft which we didn't think would be as effective as it could be (although my personal view was that it was good enough, I'm happy to go with the consensus on that point!).

 

[BlueDude24]

Thank you for your reply, I appreciate it

 

[WesternLancer]

Hi All,

First, I want to be clear that I accept wrongdoing in the following case. Bad personal admin has led me to the following. That is on me.

Second I would appreciate a review of the letter I plan to send to Cross Country via ITAL in the hope of a settlement.

Third, can anyone offer likelihood of a settlement here?

Dear Sir / Madam

Case Ref: xxxx
Thank you for your letter dated xxx and for providing me with the opportunity to respond. I am writing within the required 14-day period.

This letter is fuller response from my short email, sent this morning.
I sincerely apologise for this matter and accept full responsibility for travelling without a valid railcard for my journey on xxx 2026.

I would like to provide a full and honest account. My journey on that day was from Wolverhampton to Stoke-on-Trent. I did purchase a rail ticket, as evidenced by the enclosed ticket, however it was discounted for a rail card. This was a genuine mistake, and in trying to explain the situation at the time, I may not have provided a fully accurate account as to why I did not have my rail card with me.

I would also like to clarify the circumstances further. On that day, I was dealing with significant stress. As a result, I did not respond to the member of staff who questioned me about my train ticket as clearly as I should have at the time, and I regret this.

This was an error on my part and I deeply regret not purchasing the correct ticket for my journey and I will ensure that I always have a valid ticket for my full journey moving forward.

Since the stop I have booked all of my tickets at full price as I have been unable to locate my rail card. The last evidence I can provide of purchasing said rail card is in 2020 (attached). I fully accept and apologise for not checking my rail cards validity since then, and would like to offer the following as mitigation.

My 2020 rail card would have been valid until 2021 and I loaded it on to my Trainline app. In 2021, I was preparing to deploy to Iraq, which I did and returned in 2023 (orders attached). In the chaos caused by the deployment I must have forgotten to renew it and then lost it. I didn’t think about this nor that it was still on the app. I accept my mistake here and I take this matter extremely seriously and can assure you that it will not happen again. To ensure it never happens again I will not be renewing or using a rail card in future.

I would be grateful if you would allow me to pay any outstanding fare(s) along with any reasonable administrative costs incurred, in the hope that this matter can be resolved without the need for court action.

Yours Faithfully

ITAL are bad news. You might need o going help from here dealing with them.

 

[BlueDude24]

Thank you @WesternLancer I fully understand how serious this is and am hoping this forum can help me.

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you @WesternLancer I fully understand how serious this is and am hoping this forum can help me.

It’s just that ital can be really intransigent when rail companies in house enforcement us never like that. We’ve seen needing two or three attempts to get settlements. That is not usual for train companies themselves. With them it’s just necessary to properly and respectfully engage with them.

Apols my reply is spliced into your post above. I can’t easily move it whilst on my phone.

You’ll get the help you need here.

 

[BlueDude24]

Apols my reply is spliced into your post above. I can’t easily move it whilst on my phone.

You’ll get the help you need here.

Thank you. I am terrified by this (which feels odd to say given my service but it is true!) so that doesn’t fill me with a huge amount of confidence.

The letter was via email from crosscountry-no-reply@ital-uk.com so I have assumed this is not in house to Cross Country.

I will take all of the advice I can get and really hope I can move this to a settlement as a conviction would potentially destroy my life. I know that is on me, it just feels heavy to bear.

Thank you all for listening and advising

 

[Undiscovered]

From what I read, if you're still in the armed forces, you need to get on top of this with your CO, lest you get into further trouble. They may be able to dig you out of the hole, however you will be asked a lot of questions.

 

[BlueDude24]

Thank you. My Chain of Command are aware

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you. I am terrified by this (which feels odd to say given my service but it is true!) so that doesn’t fill me with a huge amount of confidence.

The letter was via email from crosscountry-no-reply@ital-uk.com so I have assumed this is not in house to Cross Country.

I will take all of the advice I can get and really hope I can move this to a settlement as a conviction would potentially destroy my life. I know that is on me, it just feels heavy to bear.

Thank you all for listening and advising

I wonder if your draft reply should be simplified a bit. Given it’s often necessary to go back to iTAL more than once perhaps some of the content can be saved up for the next bite of the cherry?

Not sure what others might think.

There’s also the route of engaging a specialist solicitor to help though that would cost at least c£600 in solicitors fees plus the settlement costs. But if this could really be career changing you might consider that a sum worth spending. We can list firms that get mentioned on here with a proven track record. Though they presumably can’t totally guarantee success even at those prices.

 

[MrJeeves]

I wonder if your draft reply should be simplified a bit. Given it’s often necessary to go back to iTAL more than once perhaps some of the content can be saved up for the next bite of the cherry?

I think this is a sensible choice, while making sure not to water it down too much.

Perhaps @BlueDude24 should remove the detail about their deployment to Iraq and subsequent return, for now, and simply state that the last evidence of a Railcard they can find is for 2020-21 (perhaps adding specific dates too), and that they now believe they do not hold a valid Railcard for the journey they made on CrossCountry despite originally being under the impression that they did have one at the time of travel. A later reply can always re-add these details, if necessary.

I think it is likely that ITAL will look at ticket purchase history, but there's no need to incriminate yourself and state that you made other journeys without the Railcard at this stage. They may email back and ask for your comment on other journeys, at which point you will have the opportunity to comment on those.

There’s also the route of engaging a specialist solicitor to help though that would cost at least c£600 in solicitors fees plus the settlement costs. But if this could really be career changing you might consider that a sum worth spending. We can list firms that get mentioned on here with a proven track record. Though they presumably can’t totally guarantee success even at those prices.

I don't think OP should engage with a solicitor yet. It's don't think it is likely for this to end with anything other than a settlement for the journeys made without a valid Railcard provided they engage with the process. I'd keep it in my back pocket if they decide to proceed with legal action.

It's worth also stating that, as well as your previous comment about needing to go back and forth, ITAL's response may come across as dismissive and threatening (with regard to taking legal action), but typically if you keep replying and grovelling to them they will settle.

 

[WesternLancer]

I think this is a sensible choice, while making sure not to water it down too much.

Perhaps @BlueDude24 should remove the detail about their deployment to Iraq and subsequent return, for now, and simply state that the last evidence of a Railcard they can find is for 2020-21 (perhaps adding specific dates too), and that they now believe they do not hold a valid Railcard for the journey they made on CrossCountry despite originally being under the impression that they did have one at the time of travel. A later reply can always re-add these details, if necessary.

I think it is likely that ITAL will look at ticket purchase history, but there's no need to incriminate yourself and state that you made other journeys without the Railcard at this stage. They may email back and ask for your comment on other journeys, at which point you will have the opportunity to comment on those.


I don't think OP should engage with a solicitor yet. It's don't think it is likely for this to end with anything other than a settlement for the journeys made without a valid Railcard provided they engage with the process. I'd keep it in my back pocket if they decide to proceed with legal action.

It's worth also stating that, as well as your previous comment about needing to go back and forth, ITAL's response may come across as dismissive and threatening (with regard to taking legal action), but typically if you keep replying and grovelling to them they will settle.

I think all this is sound advice. Including ref a solicitor and when it might be a time to consider using one. Which might well be not at all.

Mainly just wanted to advise that such specialist solicitors do exist if there gets to be a point that the op might want to consider using one.

But I agree with the approach you suggest here. Makes good sense.

 

[BlueDude24]

I think this is a sensible choice, while making sure not to water it down too much.

Perhaps @BlueDude24 should remove the detail about their deployment to Iraq and subsequent return, for now, and simply state that the last evidence of a Railcard they can find is for 2020-21 (perhaps adding specific dates too), and that they now believe they do not hold a valid Railcard for the journey they made on CrossCountry despite originally being under the impression that they did have one at the time of travel. A later reply can always re-add these details, if necessary.

I think it is likely that ITAL will look at ticket purchase history, but there's no need to incriminate yourself and state that you made other journeys without the Railcard at this stage. They may email back and ask for your comment on other journeys, at which point you will have the opportunity to comment on those.


I don't think OP should engage with a solicitor yet. It's don't think it is likely for this to end with anything other than a settlement for the journeys made without a valid Railcard provided they engage with the process. I'd keep it in my back pocket if they decide to proceed with legal action.

It's worth also stating that, as well as your previous comment about needing to go back and forth, ITAL's response may come across as dismissive and threatening (with regard to taking legal action), but typically if you keep replying and grovelling to them they will settle.

thank you. When I have time tomorrow, I will draft a simplified letter and post it here for advice.

I understand not incriminating myself but I want to be fully honest, transparent and do the right thing.

I also accept your point that I’ll likely have further opportunities to expand on my side of things.

Thanks again all, you are helping me stay calm.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Mar 2026 ==

Hi All,

Simplified letter for your comments;

Dear Sir / Madam

Case Ref: xxxx

Thank you for your letter dated xxx and for providing me with the opportunity to respond. I am writing within the required 14-day period.

This letter is fuller response from my short email, sent on XXX. I sincerely apologise for this matter and accept full responsibility for travelling without a valid railcard for my journey on xxx 2026.

I would like to provide a full and honest account. My journey on that day was from Wolverhampton to Stoke-on-Trent. I did purchase a rail ticket, as evidenced by the enclosed ticket, however it was discounted for a rail card.

This was a genuine mistake, and one I will not repeat. I have since looked for my railcard or proof of purchase and the last such proof I can provide (attached) is for a railcard purchased in February 2020 that would have been valid until February 2021.

I am very sorry for this error, and would appreciate the opportunity to pay any outstanding fare, associated penalty and administrative costs so as to avoid going to court.

Yours Faithfully

 

[WesternLancer]

thank you. When I have time tomorrow, I will draft a simplified letter and post it here for advice.

I understand not incriminating myself but I want to be fully honest, transparent and do the right thing.

I also accept your point that I’ll likely have further opportunities to expand on my side of things.

Thanks again all, you are helping me stay calm.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Mar 2026 ==

Hi All,

Simplified letter for your comments;

Dear Sir / Madam

Case Ref: xxxx

Thank you for your letter dated xxx and for providing me with the opportunity to respond. I am writing within the required 14-day period.

This letter is fuller response from my short email, sent on XXX. I sincerely apologise for this matter and accept full responsibility for travelling without a valid railcard for my journey on xxx 2026.

I would like to provide a full and honest account. My journey on that day was from Wolverhampton to Stoke-on-Trent. I did purchase a rail ticket, as evidenced by the enclosed ticket, however it was discounted for a rail card.

This was a genuine mistake, and one I will not repeat. I have since looked for my railcard or proof of purchase and the last such proof I can provide (attached) is for a railcard purchased in February 2020 that would have been valid until February 2021.

I am very sorry for this error, and would appreciate the opportunity to pay any outstanding fare, associated penalty and administrative costs so as to avoid going to court.

Yours Faithfully

Looks ok.

Interested to know what others think as to worth specifically saying it was an armed forces railcard that was involved?

 

[BlueDude24]

I’ll send it once anyone weighs in on mentioning the armed forces rail card.

 

[WesternLancer]

I’ll send it once anyone weighs in on mentioning the armed forces rail card.

The amend would be in para 2 ‘…without a valid Armed Forces Railcard’

No more than that as it were.

 

[BlueDude24]

The amend would be in para 2 ‘…without a valid Armed Forces Railcard’

No more than that as it were.

Thanks! Sending now

 

[WesternLancer]

Thanks! Sending now

Ok. Good luck with next steps. Be prepared for an unhelpful reply at this stage. That’s not final stage by any means.

 

[BlueDude24]

Hi All,

Have had a holding email back stating my case is being compiled and they will be in touch.

In the meantime, I am financially planning to enable me to pay any fares, fines and admin fees.

Are penalty fares applied per journey found to be without the railcard as part of the investigation in these cases or for the one journey?

Thank you

 

[AlterEgo]

Do you mean admin fees? There will be no Penalty Fares here, they can only be given at the time if you are stopped without a valid ticket.

Admin fees are per case not per journey.

 

[BlueDude24]

Do you mean admin fees? There will be no Penalty Fares here, they can only be given at the time if you are stopped without a valid ticket.

Admin fees are per case not per journey.

You, sir, are a legend!

Thank you for your quick reply. I was going slightly into melt down believing ever single journey I did after my rail card expired would be subject to both a penalty fare and an admin fee.

You have calmed me right down.

So I should plan on the basis of a full priced ticket for each journey plus an admin fee? Anyone know, roughly, what the admin fees are?

 

[z444z]

So I should plan on the basis of a full priced ticket for each journey plus an admin fee?

Yes - that full priced ticket will be the Anytime Single fare, a return will be charged as 2x singles.

Anyone know, roughly, what the admin fees are?

We have seen some outrageous ones from ITAL, I recall one in the £400s. But I’d imagine £150-£300 is more typical. They aren’t supposed to charge more than their actual costs incurred following a recent update to the National Rail Conditions of Travel, but train companies don’t seem to have changed things at all admin fee wise following these changes, and it’s difficult to challenge them as they have you over a barrel with threat of prosecution.

 

[John R]

, but train companies don’t seem to have changed things at all admin fee wise following these changes, and it’s difficult to challenge them as they have you over a barrel with threat of prosecution.

GTR appeared to reduce its fee to a much lower amount a few months ago, maybe seeing which way the wind was blowing and pre-empting the change to the CoT.

 

[z444z]

GTR appeared to reduce its fee to a much lower amount a few months ago, maybe seeing which way the wind was blowing and pre-empting the change to the CoT.

I thought this but a few people with far longer on the forum than myself said GTR have been charging lower fees for a long time!

 

[WesternLancer]

Sadly if it’s ital it won’t be at the lower end of the price spectrum admin fee wise.

Probably possible to find a recent thread involving them / cross country where a sum can be seen maybe.

 

[BlueDude24]

Sadly if it’s ital it won’t be at the lower end of the price spectrum admin fee wise.

Probably possible to find a recent thread involving them / cross country where a sum can be seen maybe.

Thanks for the heads up.

I’ll accept whatever admin fee they apply as it’s my mistake. TBH, I’m just grateful it’s not for every journey as that would have been eye wateringly expensive.

At this point, I still don’t have a notice to prosecute, or the first letter, I’ve seen you all call it. It is coming though, I am sure.

 

[WesternLancer]

Thanks for the heads up.

I’ll accept whatever admin fee they apply as it’s my mistake. TBH, I’m just grateful it’s not for every journey as that would have been eye wateringly expensive.

At this point, I still don’t have a notice to prosecute, or the first letter, I’ve seen you all call it. It is coming though, I am sure.

here's an ITAL cross country thread that may give you an idea of things if you want to look over it for background info - also a new thread just been posted a short while ago ref ITAL - seems to involve an incident from I think Sept 2025 - so that may give you some idea on timescales of things if so. I thought usually ITAL were faster off the blocks than that but maybe not always the case.

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