Hi! I have recently been fined £104 for getting on a train without a ticket: only a ticket code. The ticket code was valid from Kirkby station, though I got on at the station before, Headbolt Lane, hoping to buy a new ticket there for reasons stated later (Headbolt Lane is only a one minute and a half journey to Kirkby, btw). I am hoping to appeal this fine, as though I have been told Headbolt was open, it really didn't look it, and quite a few people got fined! Below is the statement for my appeal. Any advise as to making it a successful appeal would be greatly appreciated! Some context: you cannot use E-Tickets in Liverpool. Only paper tickets are valid.
The train I paid for online from Kirkby to Manchester Victoria (changing from Liverpool Central to Liverpool Lime Street on the way) was cancelled, so I instead walked to Headbolt Lane to get a new ticket from Headbolt to Lime Street; Lime Street to Victoria. Upon arriving, however, the ticket office didn't appear to be open.
A group of people ahead of me walked up to the doors, but turned away and got on a train when the doors wouldn't open, as I did. There were also no lights on in the station that I could see.
The last four times I have travelled between Manchester and Headbolt Lane, Headbolt's station has been closed with scaffolding blocking the entrance. Previously, there had been staff telling people to just get your ticket where you get off, and inform staff there the ticket office was closed. Though there were no staff at all on any platforms at Headbolt, I assumed it would be the same, given how recent that procedure was. I almost always get asked by a conductor on the train itself for my ticket, but this never happened on this journey, and I couldn't find a conductor walking through the train. I presume this was because of how packed full the train was, with a football match happening in Liverpool.
When I arrived at Liverpool Central to exchange to Lime Street, I showed a member of staff my original ticket's collection code from Kirkby, and told her I wanted to buy a new one from Headbolt - but was instead issued a fine. The staff member phoned Headbolt Lane, who told her that the station was able to print tickets, and that you just had to knock on a window behind the platform where two members of staff were. There was nobody and no sign to direct me to this window. While being fined, there were a group of people behind me who were also being fined, having made the same mistake, and routinely got on the train assuming it could still be paid for at the destination - as had been the case prior.
While I understand that Headbolt Lane's current condition is temporary, it was in no way advertised, and I don't believe I should be paying a fine because of that.
Other information: I have a 16-25 railcard, which my original ticket was paid for with. This happened today: 25th Aug.
The train I paid for online from Kirkby to Manchester Victoria (changing from Liverpool Central to Liverpool Lime Street on the way) was cancelled, so I instead walked to Headbolt Lane to get a new ticket from Headbolt to Lime Street; Lime Street to Victoria. Upon arriving, however, the ticket office didn't appear to be open.
A group of people ahead of me walked up to the doors, but turned away and got on a train when the doors wouldn't open, as I did. There were also no lights on in the station that I could see.
The last four times I have travelled between Manchester and Headbolt Lane, Headbolt's station has been closed with scaffolding blocking the entrance. Previously, there had been staff telling people to just get your ticket where you get off, and inform staff there the ticket office was closed. Though there were no staff at all on any platforms at Headbolt, I assumed it would be the same, given how recent that procedure was. I almost always get asked by a conductor on the train itself for my ticket, but this never happened on this journey, and I couldn't find a conductor walking through the train. I presume this was because of how packed full the train was, with a football match happening in Liverpool.
When I arrived at Liverpool Central to exchange to Lime Street, I showed a member of staff my original ticket's collection code from Kirkby, and told her I wanted to buy a new one from Headbolt - but was instead issued a fine. The staff member phoned Headbolt Lane, who told her that the station was able to print tickets, and that you just had to knock on a window behind the platform where two members of staff were. There was nobody and no sign to direct me to this window. While being fined, there were a group of people behind me who were also being fined, having made the same mistake, and routinely got on the train assuming it could still be paid for at the destination - as had been the case prior.
While I understand that Headbolt Lane's current condition is temporary, it was in no way advertised, and I don't believe I should be paying a fine because of that.
Other information: I have a 16-25 railcard, which my original ticket was paid for with. This happened today: 25th Aug.
