Purchased app ticket on train

[pjnathanail]

Interesting query for those more knowledgeable than me! Travelled this morning from Marks Tey to Stratford. Was running a little late for the train, so got on board, and purchased ticket on the LNER app after I boarded. After about five minutes, ticket inspector asked to see ticket and Railcard, which I duly presented, and he scanned. Clearly his scanner has a time stamp showing when the ticket was purchased, and he advised that technically I was liable for a Penalty Fare having not purchased the ticket prior to boarding the train. Would this have been the case? In reality he didn't actually issue the PF (and was perfectly polite about it all etc), but it just seemed a little strong. I can fully understand a PF being issued if somebody clearly only purchases the ticket when the ticket inspector asks for it, but that was not the case in this scenario (I had the ticket fully purchased and downloaded before he even came in to the carriage to check tickets). Curious to know the definitive / legislative position.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes, that's right, you must purchase before boarding the train. The ticket itself isn't (until the new Conditions of Travel are implemented I think) invalid, but even so an offence is committed by boarding without a ticket when there was an opportunity to purchase one beforehand.

Note that running late doesn't mean there wasn't such an opportunity.

 

[John R]

You also run the risk of being reported for prosecution, which will be much more hassle and costly than a penalty fare. You don’t have to browse the Disputes board for too long to find many such cases.

 

[thejuggler]

LNER can be hit and miss whether you get a ticket check at all. I've found this especially on the early legs between Leeds Wakefield and Doncaster and certainly in reverse it is very rare to see inspections after Doncaster.

Buying on board could be seen as a passenger taking a free ride until the point they see the guard, they then move carriage, buy a ticket and present.

 

[Haywain]

A Penalty Fare would not be appropriate if you showed a valid ticket, but it would be a suitable case for a report for prosecution. Buy before you board.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Nov 2025 ==

LNER can be hit and miss whether you get a ticket check at all.

Especially on routes where they don't run any trains. The OP was travelling with Greater Anglia.

 

[Tetchytyke]

he advised that technically I was liable for a Penalty Fare having not purchased the ticket prior to boarding the train. Would this have been the case?

No. You held a valid ticket so he couldn't issue a Penalty Fare.

However, it is an offence to board before buying (unless there are no purchase facilities, etc), so he could have reported you for prosecution.

Make sure you buy before you board.

 

[John R]

No. You held a valid ticket so he couldn't issue a Penalty Fare.

Though just to reinforce the point @Bletchleyite made, once the new Conditions of Travel come in, expected to be Nov 24th, the ticket would be deemed invalid, so either sanction could be used.