Confessions of a north Norfolk train fare dodger

[Trainfan344]

Didn't know where to stick this, so put it in here

The miscreant might have to closely observe the conductor, and move up and down the train to avoid being made to buy a ticket. Or they might nip into the loo and sit tight for a while.

Now, it seems, the bar has been lowered, and we can all avoid paying if we want to - at least on Greater Anglia’s Bittern Line.

On the last four occasions that I have used the service, either I or one of my friends has avoided paying.

Seems interesting that they managed to evade the fare, suppose sometimes was a bit of luck

 

[Qwerty133]

Well I was in sheringham during some of the beer festival and there were 3/4 greater Anglia revenue officers at the gate to the platform during the daytime.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Perhaps the author is being tongue-in-cheek and I missed the point, but would an online guide for, say shoplifters, be acceptable as journalism, even in a blog?

 

[transportphoto]

As far as I know, and could tell, they were only Byelaw Enforcement Officers and didn't have revenue capabilities (other than being PF authorised, but this isn't relevant on this line).

I believe this report presents a good case for a RoRA prosecution for travelling with the intent to avoid payment. In the case of Norwich barriers being open, it is almost certain that the ticket office was open and would have presented him with an opportunity to pay his fare, which despite having a legal obligation to do, he failed to do through his own admission.

 

[Qwerty133]

As far as I know, and could tell, they were only Byelaw Enforcement Officers and didn't have revenue capabilities (other than being PF authorised, but this isn't relevant on this line).

Thought they had avantix machines.

 

[transportphoto]

Thought they had avantix machines.

Certainly from my memories of working a Beer Fest shift last year and both travelling to Shezza with one set of enforcement officer and travelling back with another shift, they didn't have avantix mobile devices on them. Happy to be proven wrong though!

 

[W.Tregurtha]

The thing is about ticket checks is that it tends to be haphazard which encourages people to try it on.
I use the trains a lot in my job travelling around and collecting lease vehicles. I've travelled from Redhill to Victoria and had my ticket looked at twice yet early last year I travelled by three different trains from Reigate to Taunton and the first person who asked to look at my ticket was a ticket inspector at the exit out of Taunton station. Retford to Kings Cross early in December. I wandered on to Retford station - no ticket barrier man - travelled on a train with two or three stops to Kings Cross - no ticket man - and went through an open barrier at Kings Cross. What a waste of buying a ticket - please, don't start quoting bye -laws. If the railway company wants the revenue then they should be protective of it. I always get a ticket, I'm not bothered how much it costs because ultimately the client is paying but at the prices I can understand people trying it on. Don't suggest, "but if you book a week ahead and there's an R in the month and you travel out after 09.30.......". That's no good to me, I don't know where I'm going until after 16.30 at the earliest the day before. A Redhill/Reigate walk-on single fare to Manchester (for instance) is not a good price against a modern 2 litre 45 - 50 to the gallon diesel car.