Both a train ticket with a wrong railcard

[fa2000]

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice regarding a situation with South Western Railway.

I recently booked train tickets for myself and my husband, who was visiting from Canada. I have a valid Railcard, but when booking the tickets I accidentally selected two Railcards instead of one. I genuinely didn’t realise this mistake at the time.

When the guard checked our tickets, he asked to see my husband’s Railcard. Since he doesn’t have one, the guard reported the issue. As soon as this was explained to us, we immediately bought a valid full-fare ticket for my husband for the journey.

My husband has now received a letter from the SWR Prosecution Team, asking him to provide an explanation or any mitigating factors within 21 within 21 days.

Has anyone dealt with something similar, or can advise the best way to respond?
Any guidance would be really appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[z444z]

I will let others with more experience help you draft a response, but to hopefully put your mind at ease, as long as your response is reasonably honest and apologetic, SWR are likely to offer an out-of-court settlement as an alternative to prosecution, which will be the fares they think you owe plus an admin fee of usually around £150. If you share what journey you were making (and if this happened on any other occasions or just the one) we can calculate what amount they’re likely to come back to you with.

There are plenty of similar (or even basically identical) cases on here, search for something like “SWR railcard” in this section of the forum and you’ll see loads.

 

[furlong]

Which type of railcard?
In your reply you should enclose copies of the ticket you purchased after the mistake was discovered.
Is there any history of purchasing similar pairs of tickets or can you easily demonstrate to them this was a one-off?

 

[WesternLancer]

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice regarding a situation with South Western Railway.

I recently booked train tickets for myself and my husband, who was visiting from Canada. I have a valid Railcard, but when booking the tickets I accidentally selected two Railcards instead of one. I genuinely didn’t realise this mistake at the time.

When the guard checked our tickets, he asked to see my husband’s Railcard. Since he doesn’t have one, the guard reported the issue. As soon as this was explained to us, we immediately bought a valid full-fare ticket for my husband for the journey.

My husband has now received a letter from the SWR Prosecution Team, asking him to provide an explanation or any mitigating factors within 21 within 21 days.

Has anyone dealt with something similar, or can advise the best way to respond?
Any guidance would be really appreciated.

Thank you.

Hi. Draft a reply up and post it here for checking before sending it if you think that would help.

Keep it brief but basically
explain what happened,
apologise,
Say there was no deliberate intention to avoid paying correctly,
assure them it won’t happen again, state / show you took action to correct things (bought new ticket),
offer to pay any fare that may still be owed ‘in the hope the matter can be resolved without the need for court action’ or some such wording.

 

[Peter749]

I replied to this same post with the same spelling and grammatical errors on a different group - made me think it was AI

 

[AlterEgo]

When the guard checked our tickets, he asked to see my husband’s Railcard. Since he doesn’t have one, the guard reported the issue. As soon as this was explained to us, we immediately bought a valid full-fare ticket for my husband for the journey.

Did you buy this online, or from the member of staff?

 

[WesternLancer]

I replied to this same post with the same spelling and grammatical errors on a different group - made me think it was AI

Sorry, what do you think is AI?

No canadian geezer? (To use a phrase that might confuse a bot)

 

[ChilliSauce]

If the offense was committed by the husband as he was the one travelling on a ticket without the necessary rail card on the basis of him being here for a holiday might it just be prudent to give the TOC his postal address in Canada ... No email address or anything else because as I read this the lack of the correct ticket was actually "made good" by immediate purchase of a new ticket .. So the TOC has actually done very nicely out of the situation ...They have collected a fare and a discounted fare ...so have actually pocketed the discounted fare and delivered nothing ..

 

[Peter749]

Sorry, what do you think is AI?

The same post was on two different groups - on FB Somewhere and there are a number of Spelling mistakes -

"Both a train ticket" - Is that Both had a train ticket or Bought a Train Ticket?
And at the end "factors within 21 within 21 days."

 

[WesternLancer]

The same post was on two different groups - on FB Somewhere and there are a number of Spelling mistakes -

"Both a train ticket" - Is that Both had a train ticket or Bought a Train Ticket?
And at the end "factors within 21 within 21 days."

Thanks. I see your point.

 

[chrisjo]

The same post was on two different groups - on FB Somewhere and there are a number of Spelling mistakes -

"Both a train ticket" - Is that Both had a train ticket or Bought a Train Ticket?
And at the end "factors within 21 within 21 days."

AI doesn't make mistakes like that, but Humans do.

 

[fa2000]

Which type of railcard?
In your reply you should enclose copies of the ticket you purchased after the mistake was discovered.
Is there any history of purchasing similar pairs of tickets or can you easily demonstrate to them this was a one-off?

It was on off. A 26 to 30 railcard was used. I had earlier purchased a return ticket for him from the airport and a valid ticket was purchased in that instance. This mistake was made when I booked tickets for us both

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Nov 2025 ==

Did you buy this online, or from the member of staff?

Online. The guard mentioned he doesn't have his device to issue a new ticket

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Nov 2025 ==

I replied to this same post with the same spelling and grammatical errors on a different group - made me think it was AI

Sorry, it's not AI. realised the mistake in my subject. Should be bought

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Nov 2025 ==

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice regarding a situation with South Western Railway.

I recently booked train tickets for myself and my husband, who was visiting from Canada. I have a valid Railcard, but when booking the tickets I accidentally selected two Railcards instead of one. I genuinely didn’t realise this mistake at the time.

When the guard checked our tickets, he asked to see my husband’s Railcard. Since he doesn’t have one, the guard reported the issue. As soon as this was explained to us, we immediately bought a valid full-fare ticket for my husband for the journey.

My husband has now received a letter from the SWR Prosecution Team, asking him to provide an explanation or any mitigating factors within 21 within 21 days.

Has anyone dealt with something similar, or can advise the best way to respond?
Any guidance would be really appreciated.

Thank you.

Here is the specific letter received: On xx, a person giving the above name and address was questioned by member of rail staff about an incident that occurred whilst on South Western Railway Limited property: Did travel on a Railway and failed to produce a vallid ticket when requested to do so by an Officer. Subsequently the matter has been reported to this offce for further investigation. Allthe evidence available is being considered as to whether legal proceedings are appropriate. If you consider that there are any mitigating factors or explanations that may influence any decision that may be made about this matter you are invited to respond, in writing or to prosecutions@swrailway.com, within 21 days of the date of this letter. Please ensure that ALL details below are completed and returned to ensure our records are correct
THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PAYMENI Failure to respond to this letter will lead to the matter being progressed without further notification. If we do write to you again, we may seek a contribution to our costs of recovering the amount owed

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Nov 2025 ==

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice regarding a situation with South Western Railway.

I recently booked train tickets for myself and my husband, who was visiting from Canada. I have a valid Railcard, but when booking the tickets I accidentally selected two Railcards instead of one. I genuinely didn’t realise this mistake at the time.

When the guard checked our tickets, he asked to see my husband’s Railcard. Since he doesn’t have one, the guard reported the issue. As soon as this was explained to us, we immediately bought a valid full-fare ticket for my husband for the journey.

My husband has now received a letter from the SWR Prosecution Team, asking him to provide an explanation or any mitigating factors within 21 within 21 days.

Has anyone dealt with something similar, or can advise the best way to respond?
Any guidance would be really appreciated.

Thank you.

Could you also advise if it's best to send a mail or post the letter. Also, on the flip page, we are required to provide contact numbers, email address and house address. Should I retail my uk house address or notify them.of his canada address?

 

[WesternLancer]

It was on off. A 26 to 30 railcard was used. I had earlier purchased a return ticket for him from the airport and a valid ticket was purchased in that instance. This mistake was made when I booked tickets for us both

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Nov 2025 ==


Online. The guard mentioned he doesn't have his device to issue a new ticket

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Nov 2025 ==


Sorry, it's not AI. realised the mistake in my subject. Should be bought

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Nov 2025 ==


Here is the specific letter received: On xx, a person giving the above name and address was questioned by member of rail staff about an incident that occurred whilst on South Western Railway Limited property: Did travel on a Railway and failed to produce a vallid ticket when requested to do so by an Officer. Subsequently the matter has been reported to this offce for further investigation. Allthe evidence available is being considered as to whether legal proceedings are appropriate. If you consider that there are any mitigating factors or explanations that may influence any decision that may be made about this matter you are invited to respond, in writing or to prosecutions@swrailway.com, within 21 days of the date of this letter. Please ensure that ALL details below are completed and returned to ensure our records are correct
THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PAYMENI Failure to respond to this letter will lead to the matter being progressed without further notification. If we do write to you again, we may seek a contribution to our costs of recovering the amount owed

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Nov 2025 ==


Could you also advise if it's best to send a mail or post the letter. Also, on the flip page, we are required to provide contact numbers, email address and house address. Should I retail my uk house address or notify them.of his canada address?

If it says you can reply by e mail reply that should be ok but you may want to print and post the e mail as a backup.

I assume they want the address details confirming in the unlikely event they need to escalate a case. Ultimately that means court (unlikely in this case from what we see if you are engaging with them but it’s a standard format letter).

Maybe you put the Canadian address but also a ‘care of’ uk address. It’s in your interest s to make it easy for them to contact you / your partner as that helps resolve things more swiftly in my view.

Keep a copy of everything they’ve sent you and everything you reply with. Every page.

Put their ref number on every page.

 

[fa2000]

If it says you can reply by e mail reply that should be ok but you may want to print and post the e mail as a backup.

I assume they want the address details confirming in the unlikely event they need to escalate a case. Ultimately that means court (unlikely in this case from what we see if you are engaging with them but it’s a standard format letter).

Maybe you put the Canadian address but also a ‘care of’ uk address. It’s in your interest s to make it easy for them to contact you / your partner as that helps resolve things more swiftly in my view.

Keep a copy of everything they’ve sent you and everything you reply with. Every page.

Put their ref number on every page.

Thank you so much.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Nov 2025 ==

Hi all, tha know you for your contribution and assurance. Opted for an out of court payment of 140£

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you so much.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Nov 2025 ==

Hi all, tha know you for your contribution and assurance. Opted for an out of court payment of 140£

Thanks for the update - presumably a chunk of this is their admin costs - SWR are not the cheapest in regards to that - but hope this resolved things.

 

[fa2000]

Thanks for the update - presumably a chunk of this is their admin costs - SWR are not the cheapest in regards to that - but hope this resolved things.

I am glad everything is resolved now.