Boarding a train without a ticket

[johnny_t]

Just starting a new thread, but it is based on another one, where someone is embroiled in a seconds-critical debate regarding boarding a train without a ticket even though it doesn't seem like it had started moving yet. This brings a few questions to mind....

1) In the past, it used to be a thing that people would help you with your luggage etc., and then there was an announcement on the lines of 'This train will be departing shortly. Please leave the train now if you are not intending to travel with us today'. Were those people committing an offence, or was it OK then but not now ?

2) Once, stood at Llandudno station, the toilets were shut and the train in the platform wasn't leaving for 15 minutes or so. My son got on the train, used the toilet, and got off again. Was this an offence ?

3) Stood at Chester and noticing a 507 on the Liverpool platform, I got on to take a picture of the interior and then got off again. Again, technically speaking, was this an offence ?

 

[methecooldude]

Just starting a new thread, but it is based on another one, where someone is embroiled in a seconds-critical debate regarding boarding a train without a ticket even though it doesn't seem like it had started moving yet. This brings a few questions to mind....

1) In the past, it used to be a thing that people would help you with your luggage etc., and then there was an announcement on the lines of 'This train will be departing shortly. Please leave the train now if you are not intending to travel with us today'. Were those people committing an offence, or was it OK then but not now ?

2) Once, stood at Llandudno station, the toilets were shut and the train in the platform wasn't leaving for 15 minutes or so. My son got on the train, used the toilet, and got off again. Was this an offence ?

3) Stood at Chester and noticing a 507 on the Liverpool platform, I got on to take a picture of the interior and then got off again. Again, technically speaking, was this an offence ?

No, The Railway Bylaws state (with my bold added)

in any area not designated as a compulsory ticket area, no person shall enter any train for the purpose of travelling on the railway unless he has with him a valid ticket entitling him to travel

In all your examples, there's no intention to travel. I'm not sure what thread you are referring to, but if there was intention to travel, thats where the offence is

 

[johnny_t]

No, The Railway Bylaws state (with my bold added)

In all your examples, there's no intention to travel. I'm not sure what thread you are referring to, but if there was intention to travel, thats where the offence is

Thanks. That's pretty clear.

It was this thread - https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/help-please-accused-of-buying-ticket-on-the-train.284223/ - Where the debate is about exactly when the ticket was bought. I didn't want to disrupt it with my random thoughts.

 

[WesternLancer]

1) In the past, it used to be a thing that people would help you with your luggage etc., and then there was an announcement on the lines of 'This train will be departing shortly. Please leave the train now if you are not intending to travel with us today'.

As a point of interest I heard that announcement on an LNER train just before departure form Kings Cross last weekend - where I think at least in theory people might have already had to go through a barrier to get to the train - but I think at the time in question the barriers may not have been fully operational.

In fact 2 people boarded with a baby in a carry cot and sat near me. The mum was helping dad and baby board but mum wasn't travelling. I think she got back onto the platform before that announcement was made.

But it was not used at stops en route (dwell time too short presumably)

and I would not expect to hear it on a local type train / stopper / metro style service

 

[JohnMcL7]

As a point of interest I heard that announcement on an LNER train just before departure form Kings Cross last weekend - where I think at least in theory people might have already had to go through a barrier to get to the train - but I think at the time in question the barriers may not have been fully operational.

In fact 2 people boarded with a baby in a carry cot and sat near me. The mum was helping dad and baby board but mum wasn't travelling. I think she got back onto the platform before that announcement was made.

But it was not used at stops en route (dwell time too short presumably)

and I would not expect to hear it on a local type train / stopper / metro style service

When I was travelling from Inverness to London on the LNER service I heard the same announcement and also pretty sure I heard it on a Scotrail train more recently also when leaving Inverness but the barriers were definitely operational.

 

[Blinkbonny]

It's fairly common practice, at least at my local station, to let a companion through the barriers to "see off" the person travelling.
Personally, I've never been refused.