Good morning,
Thank you in advance for your help - I have received a letter from Thameslink advising me of their intention to prosecute me for fare evasion. Here is my draft letter - I would appreciate any comments or feedback.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am emailing you today in response to your letter dated 5th March 2025.
I now recognise that I should have bought my ticket before boarding the train rather than buying it once I was on it, and I am truly sorry for this. I assure you that I have learned from this experience and will make sure that in future, I always purchase a ticket before travelling by train.
On 11 November 2025 I was travelling to Wimbledon to visit my niece. This was not a train journey I had previously made and I rarely travel by train. My niece had advised me that there were several options, including train and/or tube, but that there were often disruptions to the journey, so I should check on the day. I therefore needed advice on which route to take. However, the ticket office was closed at Stamford. There are no ticket barriers at Stamford station, so I boarded the 0903 train and purchased a Stamford-Peterborough return ticket on the train (my Trainline receipt gives 0907 as the time of purchase). This was checked on the train and no issue was raised with it having been purchased on the train.
I was used to purchasing my ticket on the train as I had regularly done so when I worked in Ely from 2021-2023 and sometimes travelled from Stamford to Ely by train. The conductors had encouraged this as they had explained to me that they received commission for the tickets they sold via their portable ticket machine.
I therefore had no idea it was an offence not to purchase a ticket on the train, having done this many times with no issue ever having been raised, including on the day in question.
I was still not sure which route option was best, so I boarded a London train at Peterborough, planning to ask the conductor for advice and purchase a ticket depending on which route was recommended.
However, as the conductor entered my coach I overheard him discussing with other passengers that a ticket needed to be purchased before boarding. Unpleasant conversations were ensuing with other passengers and I became very anxious. At this point, I was not sure what to do for the best. I decided that I should purchase a ticket for the leg of the journey to St Pancras to show to the conductor, which I did. I explained all of the above to him at the time.
There was never any intent to evade paying for a train ticket. I had not purchased a ticket before boarding because a) I needed advice on which route was best on the day, but the ticket office at Stamford was closed, and b) I was not aware that it was an offence not to do so, as I had done this many times previously and had never been informed by a conductor that I was committing an offence. Indeed, the ticket I purchased after boarding for the leg of my journey to Peterborough on the same day, 11 November 2025 was checked on the train and no problem was raised.
I am truly sorry for not purchasing a ticket before boarding the Thameslink train on 11 November 2025. I now realise that it was unlawful to do so and of course will never do this again.
As a teacher who is subject to enhanced DBS checks, acquiring a criminal record would seriously affect my future career. I would therefore be extremely grateful if Thameslink would be willing to settle this matter out of court, whether via a financial settlement or however Thameslink deems appropriate. I am willing to pay all outstanding fares plus your administrative costs in dealing with the matter.
I assure you that I have learned from this experience and will ensure I always purchase my train ticket in advance of travel.
Yours faithfully,
Thank you in advance for your help - I have received a letter from Thameslink advising me of their intention to prosecute me for fare evasion. Here is my draft letter - I would appreciate any comments or feedback.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am emailing you today in response to your letter dated 5th March 2025.
I now recognise that I should have bought my ticket before boarding the train rather than buying it once I was on it, and I am truly sorry for this. I assure you that I have learned from this experience and will make sure that in future, I always purchase a ticket before travelling by train.
On 11 November 2025 I was travelling to Wimbledon to visit my niece. This was not a train journey I had previously made and I rarely travel by train. My niece had advised me that there were several options, including train and/or tube, but that there were often disruptions to the journey, so I should check on the day. I therefore needed advice on which route to take. However, the ticket office was closed at Stamford. There are no ticket barriers at Stamford station, so I boarded the 0903 train and purchased a Stamford-Peterborough return ticket on the train (my Trainline receipt gives 0907 as the time of purchase). This was checked on the train and no issue was raised with it having been purchased on the train.
I was used to purchasing my ticket on the train as I had regularly done so when I worked in Ely from 2021-2023 and sometimes travelled from Stamford to Ely by train. The conductors had encouraged this as they had explained to me that they received commission for the tickets they sold via their portable ticket machine.
I therefore had no idea it was an offence not to purchase a ticket on the train, having done this many times with no issue ever having been raised, including on the day in question.
I was still not sure which route option was best, so I boarded a London train at Peterborough, planning to ask the conductor for advice and purchase a ticket depending on which route was recommended.
However, as the conductor entered my coach I overheard him discussing with other passengers that a ticket needed to be purchased before boarding. Unpleasant conversations were ensuing with other passengers and I became very anxious. At this point, I was not sure what to do for the best. I decided that I should purchase a ticket for the leg of the journey to St Pancras to show to the conductor, which I did. I explained all of the above to him at the time.
There was never any intent to evade paying for a train ticket. I had not purchased a ticket before boarding because a) I needed advice on which route was best on the day, but the ticket office at Stamford was closed, and b) I was not aware that it was an offence not to do so, as I had done this many times previously and had never been informed by a conductor that I was committing an offence. Indeed, the ticket I purchased after boarding for the leg of my journey to Peterborough on the same day, 11 November 2025 was checked on the train and no problem was raised.
I am truly sorry for not purchasing a ticket before boarding the Thameslink train on 11 November 2025. I now realise that it was unlawful to do so and of course will never do this again.
As a teacher who is subject to enhanced DBS checks, acquiring a criminal record would seriously affect my future career. I would therefore be extremely grateful if Thameslink would be willing to settle this matter out of court, whether via a financial settlement or however Thameslink deems appropriate. I am willing to pay all outstanding fares plus your administrative costs in dealing with the matter.
I assure you that I have learned from this experience and will ensure I always purchase my train ticket in advance of travel.
Yours faithfully,
