Single Justice Procedure Notice received

[CS2000]

I have just received a Single Justice Procedure Notice in the post. The notice is in relation to a journey made on 26 June 2025, from Cambridge to London Kings Cross (the ticket was for London Terminals generally). I purchased an advanced single ticket using the Trainline website, which was due to depart at 08:17am from Cambridge to London Terminals, route AP GRT ANG ONLY. Due to a change of plans, I travelled on a Greater Anglia only ticket on 26 June 2025, from Cambridge to London Kings Cross, when I was stopped by a travel officer mid journey for travelling on the wrong ticket. I was stopped around 17:15pm (on the train). I was travelling on a valid 16-25 Railcard at the time. In the encounter with the rail officer, I explained my mistake and offered to pay both the full fare and the fine on the spot, but was told this would not be possible.

The offence charged is Byelaw 18(1) of the Railway Byelaws 2005, Section 219 of the Transport Act 2000 by the Strategic Rail Authority and confimed under Schedule 20 of the Transport Act 2000, as amended by Section 46 of the Railways 2005.

I was contacted on June 29 by Thameslink, and submitted evidence that I had bought a ticket (albeit the wrong ticket). I have requested a copy of this submission from Thameslink (I did not receive a copy at the time).

I travel regularly and have never had an issue like this before. I do not have any previous convictions.

I am a trainee solicitor so being convicted of a dishonesty offence would be very problematic. It would be good to know if anyone has had an luck with settling out of court and any other options that may be available to me.

 

[WesternLancer]

I have just received a Single Justice Procedure Notice in the post. The notice is in relation to a journey made on 26 June 2025, from Cambridge to London Kings Cross (the ticket was for London Terminals generally). I purchased an advanced single ticket using the Trainline website, which was due to depart at 08:17am from Cambridge to London Terminals, route AP GRT ANG ONLY. Due to a change of plans, I travelled on a Greater Anglia only ticket on 26 June 2025, from Cambridge to London Kings Cross, when I was stopped by a travel officer mid journey for travelling on the wrong ticket. I was stopped around 17:15pm (on the train). I was travelling on a valid 16-25 Railcard at the time. In the encounter with the rail officer, I explained my mistake and offered to pay both the full fare and the fine on the spot, but was told this would not be possible.

The offence charged is Byelaw 18(1) of the Railway Byelaws 2005, Section 219 of the Transport Act 2000 by the Strategic Rail Authority and confimed under Schedule 20 of the Transport Act 2000, as amended by Section 46 of the Railways 2005.

I was contacted on June 29 by Thameslink, and submitted evidence that I had bought a ticket (albeit the wrong ticket). I have requested a copy of this submission from Thameslink (I did not receive a copy at the time).

I travel regularly and have never had an issue like this before. I do not have any previous convictions.

I am a trainee solicitor so being convicted of a dishonesty offence would be very problematic. It would be good to know if anyone has had a luck with settling out of court and any other options that may be available to me.

Welcome @CS2000

Can you upload anonymised copies of paperwork. But especially a copy of whatever you sent them in your reply to their initial communication

How did you send that reply? Do you have proof they received it? They only accept hard copy letters. Did you reply by hard copy and what address did you send it to (hopefully not customer services for example)

Did you ask for an out if court settlement/ use the response formula usually advised on this forum by any chance?

Ie apologise for the mistake made, say you’ll not repeat it and request to settle it without court action? (Or did you try and push back on it which might have provoked them for example).


== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Dec 2025 ==

This case might have some useful info and responses in for you to look at. Some similarities in relation to escalation to prosecution despite engaging. Which is fairly rare for GTR so need to think what the cause may be. See especially from post 8 onwards.

Fare evasion

Hello everyone I am posting seeking for advice as I am getting very anxious by the day. 3 weeks ago I boarded thameslink train and was stopped by the ticket officer to check my travel ticket. I was caught as I got a short distance ticket also used a railcard I do not have. I traveled with a...

www.railforums.co.uk

Is it GTR you are dealing with or Greater Anglia? GTR I assume.

 

[AlterEgo]

What did your reply actually say to them?

 

[John R]

This confuses me:_

I have requested a copy of this submission from Thameslink (I did not receive a copy at the time).

Why are you asking them for something that you sent them? How would you receive a copy of something you had to post to them. (GTR specifically says not to reply by email, and if you do it will be ignored.) Did you not keep a copy yourself?

I am a trainee solicitor

Given you were written to regarding a criminal offence, it's surprising if you didn't think to keep a copy of your response. And also that you travelled on the wrong company to the wrong terminal at the wrong time of day without considering the implications of doing so. I would suggest you will have to be much more diligent and organised than you have shown here if you are to be a success in your chosen profession.

 

[WesternLancer]

Also when is the deadline for the return of your SJPN papers? This is the window you have to try and secure an out of court settlement.

You’re going to need to get a letter to GTR prosecutions team ready to post on Monday morning gauranteed next day delivery I would think. I’m sure people here can help with that

Though given consequences for your future career choice you may also want to consider using a specialist solicitor to help with this. If so we can advise names of firms that get mentioned on here that people have used successfully in these circumstances.

 

[Haywain]

I am a trainee solicitor so being convicted of a dishonesty offence would be very problematic.

Now that you have been formally charged with an offence, you should ensure that you declare this if you are required to do so.

 

[MotCO]

And also that you travelled on the wrong company to the wrong terminal at the wrong time of day without considering the implications of doing so.

I read it that it was the right train company and day, but the wrong time.

 

[Haywain]

I read it that it was the right train company

The ticket was for Greater Anglia only, and the train travelled on was operated by Great Northern/Thameslink.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Dec 2025 ==

I read it that it was the right ... day, but the wrong time.

The line you quoted said "wrong time of day".

 

[WesternLancer]

The deadline is that of ”laying information before the courts”, not in contacting the alleged miscreant. The existence of the SJPN proves that this was done in time.
See https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/43/section/127, for example:

Yes. That looming deadline for this may explain why SJPN been issued now.

We need the op to return and urgently
- explain what response they originally sent
- what GTR may have said and if any evidence they received this.

To try to understand why an out of court settlement has not been offered earlier and tell them what their best courses of action are over next few days.

Though given their career plan and the time of year I’d be seriously considering getting the help of a railway fares specialist solicitor if that’s affordable to the op. But there’s a reasonable DIY alternative as we know.

 

[MotCO]

The ticket was for Greater Anglia only, and the train travelled on was operated by Great Northern/Thameslink.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Dec 2025 ==

Are you sure?

route AP GRT ANG ONLY. Due to a change of plans, I travelled on a Greater Anglia only

 

[z444z]

Are you sure?

Given that the journey made was Cambridge to King’s Cross, and the communication was from Thameslink (more likely GTR), I think it’s clear the OP travelled on a Great Northern or Thameslink train with a Greater Anglia only ticket.

 

[Kilopylae]

It says on a Greater Anglia only ticket, to Kings Cross

 

[Haywain]

Are you sure?

Yes, certain.

 

[MotCO]

Yes, certain.

Apols - I hadn't realised that the train the OP travelled on had to be GTR. Everything else said GA.

 

[CyrusWuff]

It says on a Greater Anglia only ticket, to Kings Cross

Which doesn't exist, given Greater Anglia only run to Liverpool Street.

 

[Kilopylae]

Which doesn't exist, given Greater Anglia only run to Liverpool Street.

That's my point

 

[30907]

Which doesn't exist, given Greater Anglia only run to Liverpool Street.

The ticket was to London Terminals.

 

[Haywain]

The ticket was to London Terminals.

The OP stated very clearly that they used a GA only ticket on a train to King's Cross and acknowledged the 'mistake', so I can't see what the argument offers in help to the OP which is what we're supposed to be giving.

 

[KirkstallOne]

The offence charged is Byelaw 18(1) of the Railway Byelaws 2005

I am a trainee solicitor so being convicted of a dishonesty offence would be very problematic.

Given byelaw 18 is a strict liability offence I don’t think it can be classed as an offence of dishonesty.

It does seem that communication with Thameslink must have broken down if this is the first thing you have seen since your response in June, they would typically be happy to settle unless there is more to this than you are telling us.

 

[WesternLancer]

OP doesn’t seem to have been back to thread since original post.

Depending on when the SJPN papers return deadline is indicates the timescale available to secure a settlement and presumably there is an option to plead not guilty and opt to have it heard in person which would extend the time period to try to get an out of court settlement and the prosecution withdrawn whilst the court date was set some time later?