Buckskin
New Member
Hi All,
This is my first post. I have recently moved to the UK. On my first trip using rail when I was still on holiday, visiting my family, who are living in the UK, I got onto the train at Station A. I did not buy a ticket because the gates were open and just walked through and got onto the train. When I arrived at Station B, I went to a ticket office and asked to pay for my journey. I told the person in the ticketing booth that I was on the train that just came from the last stop before station B. Due to my ignorance, I was not aware that the train ticket price varied by distance as in my home country, we do not have public transport of this nature. She proceeded to issue the ticket and I paid.
Immediately after reaching for my ticket and receipt, a transport inspector/officer (not sure of the correct term here) flashed his badge and told me to step aside to speak with him. He was visibly upset with me and informed me of my transgression (short faring). When I tried to explain that it was my first trip using the train and wasn't entirely clued up on the rules and regulations as I was a visitor to the UK at the time, he refused to listen and became quite aggressive. I complied and he proceeded to take my details and said I would receive a letter. I left the UK and applied for my spousal visa and it was issued a few weeks ago. I am now back in the UK. After doing some reading on the forum, I realise how serious this offence is and I regret my ignorance.
The letter arrived and reads as follows:
"We are agents for the rail company Chiltern and have received a report which advises that on X date a person giving your name and details was spoken to by railway revenue protection staff in connection with a journey between A and B for which you failed to produce a valid ticket for the journey that you were making, or had made.
The purpose of this letter is to advise you of the report and of any action that may follow from it, and to provide you with the opportunity to inform us of any mitigation that you may wish to be considered. This can be sent to the address shown above.
We will also accept a scanned copy of a letter through our email address.
The report of this incident indicates that in the absence of a satisfactory explanation, evidence does exist to warrant a prosecution in accordance with current legislation. These considerations may include whether any charge should allege an offence against Railway Byelaws (2005), or The Regulation of Railways Act 1889.
If we do not receive any representation from you within 21 days of the date of this letter, further action will be taken.
Yours Sincerely"
Please advise on how I can best reply to the letter to try to avoid prosecution. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
This is my first post. I have recently moved to the UK. On my first trip using rail when I was still on holiday, visiting my family, who are living in the UK, I got onto the train at Station A. I did not buy a ticket because the gates were open and just walked through and got onto the train. When I arrived at Station B, I went to a ticket office and asked to pay for my journey. I told the person in the ticketing booth that I was on the train that just came from the last stop before station B. Due to my ignorance, I was not aware that the train ticket price varied by distance as in my home country, we do not have public transport of this nature. She proceeded to issue the ticket and I paid.
Immediately after reaching for my ticket and receipt, a transport inspector/officer (not sure of the correct term here) flashed his badge and told me to step aside to speak with him. He was visibly upset with me and informed me of my transgression (short faring). When I tried to explain that it was my first trip using the train and wasn't entirely clued up on the rules and regulations as I was a visitor to the UK at the time, he refused to listen and became quite aggressive. I complied and he proceeded to take my details and said I would receive a letter. I left the UK and applied for my spousal visa and it was issued a few weeks ago. I am now back in the UK. After doing some reading on the forum, I realise how serious this offence is and I regret my ignorance.
The letter arrived and reads as follows:
"We are agents for the rail company Chiltern and have received a report which advises that on X date a person giving your name and details was spoken to by railway revenue protection staff in connection with a journey between A and B for which you failed to produce a valid ticket for the journey that you were making, or had made.
The purpose of this letter is to advise you of the report and of any action that may follow from it, and to provide you with the opportunity to inform us of any mitigation that you may wish to be considered. This can be sent to the address shown above.
We will also accept a scanned copy of a letter through our email address.
The report of this incident indicates that in the absence of a satisfactory explanation, evidence does exist to warrant a prosecution in accordance with current legislation. These considerations may include whether any charge should allege an offence against Railway Byelaws (2005), or The Regulation of Railways Act 1889.
If we do not receive any representation from you within 21 days of the date of this letter, further action will be taken.
Yours Sincerely"
Please advise on how I can best reply to the letter to try to avoid prosecution. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
