Chiltern Railways notice of prosecution

[hsoaoskans]

Hi guys just asking for some advice if anyone can help,

In June I received an email for the notice of prosecution by chiltern railways for being stopped by railway venue protection staff and failing to show a valid ticket in April. I did travel on that day and I regretfully brought a ticket after boarding the train. I know you should do it before, it was not my intention to not buy a ticket as the barrier is always closed at the station anyway so no matter what I would have to buy it. I understand this was wrong, however I am slightly confused because I was not approached by any staff, and my ticket was not checked at any time during the journey. I did buy the ticket late and then scan through the barrier which let me through, so maybe a staff member picked it from there but I was definietly not approached.

Again like I said I know I was in the wrong and apologised for buying a ticket late, but my full name is also not on the email, just the first letter of my initial and last name, which can be gathered by my email. I'm unsure if they have my address or correct details, because obviously no one was there to take my details as no one approached me. Should I email then and ask them? I have already emailed them apologising because they did also say it may show I have done this on multiple occasions, and I know I definietly have brought the ticket after boarding in the past a few times. I have had an automated email saying they can reply within 90 days and so far it has been around 2 and a half months. I am really worried about this and would be happy to settle any fines out of court. I would really appreciate any advice, thank you in advance!

 

[notmyrealname]

Hi.

Could you show us the email please? Make sure you redact anything that could identify you.

See what the pros here think but I'm not sure it's worth emailing again. I expect people will be along later to advise.

 

[hsoaoskans]

Hi.

Could you show us the email please? Make sure you redact anything that could identify you.

See what the pros here think but I'm not sure it's worth emailing again. I expect people will be along later to advise.

Hi yes I will attach it below. Thank you.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Were you 'spoken to by railway revenue protection staff' on that day, and for that journey? Because unless you precisely match what was alleged, I suspect that the railway may have stopped an acquaintance of yours - someone who knew your email address and gave it to them, instead of giving their own details.

But that may not help you very much as it seems that you have told them that you did buy your ticket wrong on that day. That confession would be enough for the railway to chase you for the fare and costs or even take you to court.

As you have emailed the railway already and got their auto-acknowlegement, all you can do now is wait for them to get back in touch with you. In practice if you haven't heard from them in seven months or so from the original incident (so by the middle of November or so) you will be able to stop worrying about this.

Why seven months or so? That is because if the railway wants to prosecute you, they have six months from the incident to tell the court - and then it could take the court a few weeks to tell you. And once the railway can no longer threaten to take you to court, they have no power to demand that you settle out of court instead of prosecuting you

 

[hsoaoskans]

Were you 'spoken to by railway revenue protection staff' on that day, and for that journey? Because unless you precisely match what was alleged, I suspect that the railway may have stopped an acquaintance of yours - someone who knew your email address and gave it to them, instead of giving their own details.

But that may not help you very much as it seems that you have told them that you did buy your ticket wrong on that day. That confession would be enough for the railway to chase you for the fare and costs or even take you to court.

As you have emailed the railway already and got their auto-acknowlegement, all you can do now is wait for them to get back in touch with you. In practice if you haven't heard from them in seven months or so from the original incident (so by the middle of November or so) you will be able to stop worrying about this.

Why seven months or so? That is because if the railway wants to prosecute you, they have six months from the incident to tell the court - and then it could take the court a few weeks to tell you. And once the railway can no longer threaten to take you to court, they have no power to demand that you settle out of court instead of prosecuting you

Hello, no I was not spoken to by anyone that's why I was very confused. I did tell them this when I emailed them back. The reason I did admit I brought the ticket late was because they mentioned I may have done this previously in the past, and I know this is an issue of mine because I am a very forgetful person by nature.

Thanks for your response, I really do not want to be taken to court. I have proof of purchase of a ticket on the date as well, although as I mentioned was brought after.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Aug 2025 ==

Were you 'spoken to by railway revenue protection staff' on that day, and for that journey? Because unless you precisely match what was alleged, I suspect that the railway may have stopped an acquaintance of yours - someone who knew your email address and gave it to them, instead of giving their own details.

But that may not help you very much as it seems that you have told them that you did buy your ticket wrong on that day. That confession would be enough for the railway to chase you for the fare and costs or even take you to court.

As you have emailed the railway already and got their auto-acknowlegement, all you can do now is wait for them to get back in touch with you. In practice if you haven't heard from them in seven months or so from the original incident (so by the middle of November or so) you will be able to stop worrying about this.

Why seven months or so? That is because if the railway wants to prosecute you, they have six months from the incident to tell the court - and then it could take the court a few weeks to tell you. And once the railway can no longer threaten to take you to court, they have no power to demand that you settle out of court instead of prosecuting you

Also if like you said someone else was to get stopped and give my details, wouldn’t they have to show ID? Because then I suspect the email would be written to their full name rather than the one of my email address. I also did travel this day but obviously the email doesn’t clarify the time, so I don’t know whether someone at the barrier might have reported me as I scanned my ticket. I’m worried that I will miss the letters that may be sent to an address I haven’t given. Do you know whether they usually reply via email or post? Thanks for any replies in advanced.

 

[AlterEgo]

Hello, no I was not spoken to by anyone that's why I was very confused.

Also if like you said someone else was to get stopped and give my details, wouldn’t they have to show ID?

No.

What has happened here is the staff member has reported your ticket rather than you. All they know is who purchased the ticket. Make no reply and say nothing. They actually don't know who was travelling. Only who bought the ticket. They don't even have any interview evidence from the event.

 

[hsoaoskans]

No.

What has happened here is the staff member has reported your ticket rather than you. All they know is who purchased the ticket. Make no reply and say nothing. They actually don't know who was travelling. Only who bought the ticket. They don't even have any interview evidence from the event.

Hello, I have already replied as this was more than 2 months ago, and the email they first sent says they have evidence I may have avoided at multiple occasions, so I'm guessing they have my trainline app information, which contains my name and billing address right? I'm worried if I do ignore they can take me to court.

 

[SussexMan]

So, all that they are going on is that the ticket was scanned at a time when it was impossible to have held the ticket when the journey started. It is possible (but exceedingly unlikely) that there is CCTV evidence of who scanned the ticket. But now, they have an admission (via email) of who was travelling and that the ticket was purchased after the journey began. But you presumably have not admitted anything else.

I would suggest that the letter is very misleading to suggest that they have sufficient evidence for a prosecution. Can anything be done about letters being issued like this?

 

[AlterEgo]

Hello, I have already replied as this was more than 2 months ago, and the email they first sent says they have evidence I may have avoided at multiple occasions, so I'm guessing they have my trainline app information, which contains my name and billing address right? I'm worried if I do ignore they can take me to court.

Oh dear, you've incriminated yourself. That might be a very expensive email.

You will now have to engage with the company and they will likely settle out of court for the Anytime fare for every single instance.

 

[hsoaoskans]

So, all that they are going on is that the ticket was scanned at a time when it was impossible to have held the ticket when the journey started. It is possible (but exceedingly unlikely) that there is CCTV evidence of who scanned the ticket. But now, they have an admission (via email) of who was travelling and that the ticket was purchased after the journey began. But you presumably have not admitted anything else.

I would suggest that the letter is very misleading to suggest that they have sufficient evidence for a prosecution. Can anything be done about letters being issued like this?

Hi, I havent given them any other details like my full name, address etc because I thought maybe they have them already. But I did admit it because they did say there may be evidence of this on multiple occasions. If they did have CCTV footage wouldn't they be able to see that I wasn't stopped in that train station at least, but I guess they can probably argue I was stopped on the train which I definietly wasnt. I also wasn't travelling alone, I was with 2 friends who can also confirm I wasn't stopped on the journey there.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Aug 2025 ==

Oh dear, you've incriminated yourself. That might be a very expensive email.

You will now have to engage with the company and they will likely settle out of court for the Anytime fare for every single instance.

Hi thanks for your response, I did also mention that I have ADHD and DCD both contributing to my forgetful tendencies, but I obviously can't use that to completely excuse my actions. I'm definietly worried I have rashly replied, but I thought they already had the evidence I have done this on 'multiple occasions'.

 

[AlterEgo]

Hi, I havent given them any other details like my full name, address etc because I thought maybe they have them already. But I did admit it because they did say there may be evidence of this on multiple occasions. If they did have CCTV footage wouldn't they be able to see that I wasn't stopped in that train station at least, but I guess they can probably argue I was stopped on the train which I definietly wasnt. I also wasn't travelling alone, I was with 2 friends who can also confirm I wasn't stopped on the journey there.

None of this is relevant. You've admitted to the offence. The correspondence sent to you is just a boilerplate letter they send to everyone and it doesn't matter if you were stopped or not.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Aug 2025 ==


Hi thanks for your response, I did also mention that I have ADHD and DCD both contributing to my forgetful tendencies, but I obviously can't use that to completely excuse my actions. I'm definietly worried I have rashly replied, but I thought they already had the evidence I have done this on 'multiple occasions'.

They didn"t have any evidence you did anything at all until you admitted to being the person travelling. They'd actually never identified who the person *travelling* was. Buying the tickets isn't the issue here.

 

[hsoaoskans]

None of this is relevant. You've admitted to the offence. The correspondence sent to you is just a boilerplate letter they send to everyone and it doesn't matter if you were stopped or not.


They didn"t have any evidence you did anything at all until you admitted to being the person travelling. They'd actually never identified who the person *travelling* was. Buying the tickets isn't the issue here.

I definitely should have commented it here beforehand before replying, but I guess I just panicked and thought being honest was the right option. Do you know what I should do if they don't reply within 90 days? Should I follow up? Any advice would be appreciated.