GTR Prosecution Guidance

[OldTown7]

Hi All,

I was caught avoiding a fare recently I did a ticket from blackfriars to city thameslink but really it was bromley south to city thameslink. During the chat with the officer being scared (and stupid) I said it was from herne hill (where I switch to trains) to city thameslink.

I used my trainline app for this and it wasn't the first time I had done this, including using child tickets to get through the barriers for cheaper. I know it's stupid but like most people with money issues, I thought it would be better.

I understand they always look through trainline history so it appears I will be caught, I'm wondering how much trouble I will be in and whats the best way to respond. I'm happy to pay whatever fine, I'm just hoping to avoid criminal prosecution.

The letter they have sent me only asks about this current one, so that's all I have responded to to not self incriminate

Thanks for any help.

My current letter is below.
--

Dear Fare Evasion Manager:

I am writing this in response to the notice of your intention to prosecute for the relative offence on 6 March 2025.

Firstly I would like to apologise for travelling on a Thameslink service with the incorrect ticket.

From my point of view this is what happened on the day. I travelled from Bromley South switched at Herne Hill to London City Thameslink but knowingly purchased the wrong ticket, London Blackfriars to City Thameslink. I was pulled over by a revenue officer at City Thameslink about my ticket, and received the notice from them.

There is no excuse and am sorry for doing this, which hopefully can be shown in the co-operation I showed with the officer and in this letter, as well as my belief in the train system with my ownership of a railcard for some years.

I take full responsibility and would be grateful if we could settle this matter without the need for court action. I am happy to pay the fine and train company's administrative costs in this dealing with the matter, as I appreciate this is my own doing. Please let me know the next steps.

Thank you and look forward to resolving this matter,

Name

 

[WesternLancer]

Hi All,

I was caught avoiding a fare recently I did a ticket from blackfriars to city thameslink but really it was bromley south to city thameslink. During the chat with the officer being scared (and stupid) I said it was from herne hill (where I switch to trains) to city thameslink.

I used my trainline app for this and it wasn't the first time I had done this, including using child tickets to get through the barriers for cheaper. I know it's stupid but like most people with money issues, I thought it would be better.

I understand they always look through trainline history so it appears I will be caught, I'm wondering how much trouble I will be in and whats the best way to respond. I'm happy to pay whatever fine, I'm just hoping to avoid criminal prosecution.

The letter they have sent me only asks about this current one, so that's all I have responded to to not self incriminate

Thanks for any help.

My current letter is below.
--

Dear Fare Evasion Manager:

I am writing this in response to the notice of your intention to prosecute for the relative offence on 6 March 2025.

Firstly I would like to apologise for travelling on a Thameslink service with the incorrect ticket.

From my point of view this is what happened on the day. I travelled from Bromley South switched at Herne Hill to London City Thameslink but knowingly purchased the wrong ticket, London Blackfriars to City Thameslink. I was pulled over by a revenue officer at City Thameslink about my ticket, and received the notice from them.

There is no excuse and am sorry for doing this, which hopefully can be shown in the co-operation I showed with the officer and in this letter, as well as my belief in the train system with my ownership of a railcard for some years.

I take full responsibility and would be grateful if we could settle this matter without the need for court action. I am happy to pay the fine and train company's administrative costs in this dealing with the matter, as I appreciate this is my own doing. Please let me know the next steps.

Thank you and look forward to resolving this matter,

Name

Don’t use the words happy to pay a fine. Say happy to pay any fare owed instead of fines.

Fines only come after court prosecutions and that’s not what you want.

 

[OldTown7]

Don’t use the words happy to pay a fine. Say happy to pay any fare owed instead of fines.

Fines only come after court prosecutions and that’s not what you want.

That's helpful, thank you. I don't know how many cases you've seen before but would you know the likelihood of this not going to court by chance.

 

[Hadders]

That's helpful, thank you. I don't know how many cases you've seen before but would you know the likelihood of this not going to court by chance.

If you look at this secton of the forum, you'll see that we have given advice in thousands of cases over the years.

We cannot guarantee anything, because ultimately the decision whether to prosecute or not rests with GTR, but people who co-operate with their investigation and who haven't come to their attention before almost always get offered out of court settlements.

 

[WesternLancer]

That's helpful, thank you. I don't know how many cases you've seen before but would you know the likelihood of this not going to court by chance.

Almost all avoid court with GTR from what we see. If advice from here is followed.

Biggest risk seems to be lost post (doesn’t happen often though). So do send your reply by tracked postage from a post office - but not necessarily the more expensive gauranteed next day delivery unless deadline imminent.

Having proof it was delivered to them could help if things went wrong.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Jun 2025 ==

Meanwhile if there is something you can do to legitimately reduce your farescegbusecacrailcardbir buy a season or flexi season ticket it would be a good idea to do that. If so you could mention it in your reply to show something you have actively done to change your actions.

Tho if that doesn’t work for you financially then it’s not vital to do.

I note you already have a railcard

 

[OldTown7]

I see thanks both for your replies, it’s very appreciated. Yes I do have 26-30 railcard, unfortunately I’m travelling twice a week from Bromley to City Thameslink so it would actually cost more getting a season ticket.

However in comparison to this being taken further as a show of good faith I am open to paying this for a few months, would this help my case in any way?

 

[WesternLancer]

I see thanks both for your replies, it’s very appreciated. Yes I do have 26-30 railcard, unfortunately I’m travelling twice a week from Bromley to City Thameslink so it would actually cost more getting a season ticket.

However in comparison to this being taken further as a show of good faith I am open to paying this for a few months, would this help my case in any way?

Would a flexi season work out to give a saving? As opposed to a season for every day use

I doubt buying seasons if it doesn’t stack up is a deal breaker on this. But going forward your ticket buying needs to be scrupulous as you are in their radar so if they find you with ticket errors in future. Even genuine mistake, I would assume the chances of prosecution increase in future as they will conclude lessons weren’t learned.

 

[OldTown7]

Would a flexi season work out to give a saving? As opposed to a season for every day use

I doubt buying seasons if it doesn’t stack up is a deal breaker on this. But going forward your ticket buying needs to be scrupulous as you are in their radar so if they find you with ticket errors in future. Even genuine mistake, I would assume the chances of prosecution increase in future as they will conclude lessons weren’t learned.

I can’t get flexi season as my trip is entirely in London zone 1-6 unfortunately.

I’ve just switched to contactless instead now, should I note that instead to them?

 

[WesternLancer]

I can’t get flexi season as my trip is entirely in London zone 1-6 unfortunately.

Understood

I’ve just switched to contactless instead now, should I note that instead to them?

There’s no harm in mentioning it I’d have thought

 

[Haywain]

I’ve just switched to contactless instead now, should I note that instead to them?

I would stick to saying you are paying the correct fare. If you are travelling both ways at peak times your best option is to buy a day return with the railcard minimum fare at £12.00.

 

[OldTown7]

I would stick to saying you are paying the correct fare. If you are travelling both ways at peak times your best option is to buy a day return with the railcard minimum fare at £12.00.

Thanks for your advice too, I’ve started to do contactless since I get a bus too so with the cap it becomes £13.90.
However if putting a ticket on my Trainline account to show I’m paying direct is better for my case, I would be happy to do that if reccomended.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Jun 2025 ==

Understood

There’s no harm in mentioning it I’d have thought

Great thanks, I might add in saying this after I speak about owning a railcard. Thanks for your advice.

 

[Haywain]

However if putting a ticket on my Trainline account to show I’m paying direct is better for my case, I would be happy to do that if reccomended.

No, just paying for the whole journey is what we recommend.

 

[OldTown7]

No, just paying for the whole journey is what we recommend.

Fair enough, thanks for the guidance.