Thameslink Railcard issue.

[Roborally]

Hi all,

I was on a return trip using an open return ticket originally going from Bristol Parkway to Nutbourne, so the journey where the issue occurred was on a journey from Nutbourne to Bristol Parkway on the 22nd March 2026. I bought the ticket thinking I had a 16-25 railcard on my person (the plastic one) but I didn't. The inspector asked to see my railcard which I quickly realised I didn't have on me. He asked to see any confirmation that I had one but I couldn't immediately find the email that says I did have one, so he reported the offence. Not long after I did find the email confirming I had received a railcard and told him so. He looked at the email and pointed out that the railcard would have been out of date anyway. I still haven't found the plastic railcard. Today I received a letter telling me to submit a response at the website contact.gtrailway.com with my reference number and authorisation code. The letter is dated 05 June 2026 and gives me 14 days from then to respond. They say the offence happened at Bedhampton which I can believe, while he reporting the offence I had to change trains. I don't remember which station I changed at with surety but I think it was Fratton. Attached is the last part of the letter that has the details of the offence, and a screenshot of the email confirmation of having a railcard, although as you can see by the date, it would be expired even if I knew where it was.

Mostly I would like to know what I should put into the website to respond.

Thanks for reading my ramble.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Jun 2026 ==

I have definitely used this railcard (without having it) several times before. One time I got asked to pay the difference on a journey but it was a difference of £0 so I forgot about this and never went and searched for it which in hindsight I definitely should have but as far as I know these are the only 2 times I have ever had a railcard issue. I don't know how many times I have bought tickets whilst the railcard was expired though.

 

[SouthernOne]

Bedhampton is the last place the train stopped at, it’s about 10 minutes before Fratton!

 

[Roborally]

Just going to bump this up because I would love some advice and the deadline is very soon.

 

[WesternLancer]

Just going to bump this up because I would love some advice and the deadline is very soon.

Have you seen the standard advice for response content on other threads?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jun 2026 ==

Do you believe your railcard would have been in date and thus valid albeit you can no longer find it?

There is a process for replacing a lost railcard. Does this work for you to actually do?

What do I do if my Railcard is lost or stolen? - Railcard

Lost, stolen or damaged Railcard? Learn how to request a replacement online or at a station, administration fees and crime reference numbers.

www.railcard.co.uk

But that doesn’t make your ticket valid so you still need to reply using the approach regularly advised here.

 

[SECR 65]

What you'll need to say is that:

• You're sorry for what happened and understand why it was wrong
• You will always ensure that you have a correct ticket for your journey in future
• You are wishing to cooperate with their enquiry, hope to keep the matter out of court, and are willing to pay the outstanding fare and GTR's admin fees

Afraid I'm in a massive hurry so I haven't been able to read the full thread or explain everything fully but have a look at draft responses on other threads.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Hello @Roborally

I'm local to the area you mention; and I guess your 22-March journey began with a Southern service to Portsmouth (which explains why you changed for your GWR service at Fratton, as only Southampton bound Southern services enable change at Cosham).

Their 5-June email: "That you on 22 Mar 2026 at Bedhampton ... entered a train"
- I presume you were already on the train and Bedhampton is where your ticket was checked on-train?

A couple of things I'd like to sense-check with you:
1) Your Santander email screenshot was dated to 1-October 2021, so did your 16-25 Railcard expire 30-September 2025? Or on another date?

2) On the 22-March, were you still of an age which you could have legitimately had a valid 16-25 Railcard (as opposed to, say, someone aged 27+ still applying a 16-25 Railcard discount to their ticket purchases)?

To add to Western Lancer's and SECR 65's advice:
- Frame your response around your 22-March journey only.
- Do not make reference to any other journeys (i.e. those you used a railcard discounted ticket but after your railcard had expired) - unless, within the letter, you were specifically asked about those as well.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

A couple of things I'd like to sense-check with you:
1) Your Santander email screenshot was dated to 1-October 2021, so did your 16-25 Railcard expire 30-September 2022? Or on 30-September 2024? Or on another date?

A 'Santander' 16-25 Railcard could perhaps have been for 4 years.

 

[Sun Chariot]

A 'Santander' 16-25 Railcard could perhaps have been for 4 years.

Thanks - yes, I've seen some threads quote 3 years validity and other threads quote 4 years validity. I guess Santander's offer may have varied over time.

 

[Haywain]

The West Coastway is all a compulsory ticket area - I've no idea what the bit I've marked (bold underlined) was trying to say.

I think it is highly unlikely that is is a designated Compulsory Ticket Area, so the letter will be correct.

 

[AlterEgo]

The 5-June email is worded confusingly, to me:
- "That you on 22 Mar 2026 at Bedhampton (BDH) in any area not designated as a compulsory ticket area, entered a train for the purpose of travelling..."

All fine so far.

- The West Coastway is all a compulsory ticket area - I've no idea what the bit I've marked (bold underlined) was trying to say. Perhaps, in your reply, you query that?

Eh?? No it isn't, I think you misunderstand what one is.

A CTA is a very strictly defined area of a station which requires signage by law and is mostly found on some urban and metro systems.

The offence is only worded like that because that is actually what the law says, as we see with every letter from the company referencing this offence. There is a difference between Bylaw 17 (about CTAs) and Bylaw 18 (everywhere else). Verbatim:

Bylaw 18 (1):

18. Ticketless travel in non-compulsory ticket areas

(1) In any area not designated as a compulsory ticket area, no person shall enter any train for the purpose of travelling on the railway unless he has with him a valid ticket entitling him to travel.

A couple of things I'd like to sense-check with you:
1) Your Santander email screenshot was dated to 1-October 2021, so did your 16-25 Railcard expire 30-September 2022? Or on 30-September 2024? Or on another date?

Santander promotional Railcards were only for four years. Would have expired October 2025.

 

[Haywain]

Just going to bump this up because I would love some advice and the deadline is very soon.

See post #5. Only address the matter in question, not any previous ticket purchases. The only thing to add to the letter is, if applicable, that you have purchased a new railcard.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Thanks @AlterEgo and @Haywain for your clarifying CTA.

Yes, I misconstrue the signage "You must be in possession of a valid ticket (etc)" on display at my local - Bedhampton - and at West Coastway stations with:
a) ticket vending machine only or
b) ticket office staffed Mon-Fri for only 2 hours (morning peak).

Post 5 duly amended.

 

[Haywain]

Their 5-June email: "That you on 22 Mar 2026 at Bedhampton ... entered a train"
- I presume you were already on the train and Bedhampton is where your ticket was checked on-train?

Nothing really rests on this. If the train was calling at, passing or just near Bedhampton at the time of the ticket check is really not that important - if the OP was on a train and didn't have a valid ticket they would be almost certainly be convicted if it went to court.

 

[WesternLancer]

Just going to bump this up because I would love some advice and the deadline is very soon.

This is the standard advice I mentioned earlier - for your ease of ref - copied below

I have put in the bold the things you need to cover in relation to drafting your response, that people here will be happy to read when you have got this drafted, before you upload your response to their portal or post it to them (if posting use tracked postage and keep a copy of every page you send them). Some of the railcard related questions you are being asked would be helpful if you can answer because they may be relevant in terms of the exact wording you might use in your reply - but if your objective is to secure an out of court settlement it's very likely than generic wording from you will achieve that outcome if you are dealing with GTR Thameslink / Southern railway.

There are lots of other threads involving Thameslink where you can read similar letters people have drafted to get the idea.

--------------------------

Firstly, you committed a criminal offence by travelling with an invalid ticket and railway companies are entitled to prosecute you in the Magistrates Court if they want to. The good news is they will normally offer an out of court settlement to people who co-operate with them and who haven't come to their attention before.

Next, what happens is the railway company will write to you. The letter will go to the address that you gave them / on any of your ID they checked so you need to be able to access hard copy post at that address as they often send things that way (but also check e-mail and spam). It is extremely important that you reply, and you'll only have a limited time to do so (often 14 days from the date on their communication).

When you receive the letter post a redacted copy of it in this thread, along with your draft reply and forum members will proof read it for you. You'll find lots of example letters you can use in this section of the forum but the reply basically needs to mention:

- That you are sorry for what has happened
- What you have learned from the incident and will not do this again
- That you are keen to settle the matter without the need for court action
- Offer to pay the outstanding fare and the railway company’s administrative costs in dealing with the matter

The railway will probably offer you an out of court settlement. Expect to have to pay the cost of the fare for the journey you made at the full Anytime rate with no credit given for the invalid ticket you purchased. In addition they will charge an admin fee, typically £150. They will also audit your online ticket purchase history and if this shows you've purchased other tickets that were not valid (eg railcard discounted tickets when you did not have a valid railcard, or tickets for only part of the journey, or tickets bought after boarding the train you travelled on ) they will probably factor the cost of these journeys into the settlement offer. Depending on how many journeys you've made over the period concerned this could end up being expensive.

Settlements usually have to be paid in full within a few days of them being offered so if money is tight you might want to think about how you will raise the sum required at short notice.

 

[Roborally]

Hello @Roborally

I'm local to the area you mention; and I guess your 22-March journey began with a Southern service to Portsmouth (which explains why you changed for your GWR service at Fratton, as only Southampton bound Southern services enable change at Cosham).

Their 5-June email: "That you on 22 Mar 2026 at Bedhampton ... entered a train"
- I presume you were already on the train and Bedhampton is where your ticket was checked on-train?

A couple of things I'd like to sense-check with you:
1) Your Santander email screenshot was dated to 1-October 2021, so did your 16-25 Railcard expire 30-September 2025? Or on another date?

2) On the 22-March, were you still of an age which you could have legitimately had a valid 16-25 Railcard (as opposed to, say, someone aged 27+ still applying a 16-25 Railcard discount to their ticket purchases)?

To add to Western Lancer's and SECR 65's advice:
- Frame your response around your 22-March journey only.
- Do not make reference to any other journeys (i.e. those you used a railcard discounted ticket but after your railcard had expired) - unless, within the letter, you were specifically asked about those as well.

1) I don't have the card so I don't know what the expiration date is but I'm certain it was a 4 year railcard.

2) Yes I'm 23

Thank you all for the advice on what to write. I will post here what I plan to send once I have drafted it.

 

[soccermad]

Please don't forget your response deadline which from reading the thread seems to be the !9th ? This Friday !!

 

[Roborally]

Dear Prosecutions Department.

I am so sorry that I boarded a train using a ticket and railcard without a railcard on me, therefore making my ticket invalid. I am not going to repeat this mistake and I will make sure this does not happen again. I would love to cooperate fully with your inquiry and I hope to keep this out of court. I am fully willing to pay the outstanding fare and the fees associated with this error.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Jun 2026 ==

I will send this later today with no attachments with your guys' blessing.

 

[WesternLancer]

Dear Prosecutions Department.

I am so sorry that I boarded a train using a ticket and railcard without a railcard on me, therefore making my ticket invalid. I am not going to repeat this mistake and I will make sure this does not happen again. I would love to cooperate fully with your inquiry and I hope to keep this out of court. I am fully willing to pay the outstanding fare and the fees associated with this error.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Jun 2026 ==

I will send this later today with no attachments with your guys' blessing.

we do usually encourage replies being succinct but I wonder if this is a bit too much on the brief side

eg something about now recognising the serious consequences of travel without a valid ticket which have been a wake up call for you

see some other threads

eg post 8 and 6 on this thread for some ideas

GTR - Witness statement received (Letchworth Garden City to Finsbury Park) - Settlement advice?

Hi everyone, I am writing this with an immense amount of embarrassment and anxiety. I recently received a witness statement from Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) and am currently waiting for the official Notice of Intended Prosecution. A criminal record would have severe implications for my...

www.railforums.co.uk

it may be that you don't need to add much and you might get an idea from that draft

 

[Roborally]

Dear Prosecutions Department.

First of all I am so sorry that I boarded a train using a ticket and railcard without a railcard on me, therefore making my ticket invalid. This happened on 22nd March 2026 after Bedhampton as was mentioned in the letter sent to me.

I had bought a ticket that I thought was valid but because I did not have a valid railcard on me, when the inspector asked to see my railcard, I realised that I did not have one on me and so we both realised that this makes my ticket invalid. It was not my intention to avoid the fare and as such I am not going to repeat this mistake and I will make sure this does not happen again. I will continue to buy valid tickets as I have done since this incident.

I understand the severity of this offence, and do not take this infraction lightly. As such I would love to cooperate fully with your inquiry and I hope to keep this out of court. I am fully willing to pay the outstanding fare and the fees associated with this error.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Jun 2026 ==

Is this an improved response?

 

[WesternLancer]

Dear Prosecutions Department.

First of all I am so sorry that I boarded a train using a ticket and railcard without a railcard on me, therefore making my ticket invalid. This happened on 22nd March 2026 after Bedhampton as was mentioned in the letter sent to me.

I had bought a ticket that I thought was valid but because I did not have a valid railcard on me, when the inspector asked to see my railcard, I realised that I did not have one on me and so we both realised that this makes my ticket invalid. It was not my intention to avoid the fare and as such I am not going to repeat this mistake and I will make sure this does not happen again. I will continue to buy valid tickets as I have done since this incident.

I understand the severity of this offence, and do not take this infraction lightly. As such I would love to cooperate fully with your inquiry and I hope to keep this out of court. I am fully willing to pay the outstanding fare and the fees associated with this error.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Jun 2026 ==

Is this an improved response?

Suitably formal. Though the word ‘love’ thus seems out of place. Change that.
Add your case ref clearly at the top.

Otherwise looks good.

 

[Roborally]

Thank you so much!! I will replace that with "As such I want to...". Thank you guys so much for the help this has been a lot less stressful than it could have been (still plenty stressful though).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Jun 2026 ==

Seems like they only want me to pay £112.80. The top of the letter I just received says "WITHOUT PREJUDICE" so overall I am very pleased with the result! Thank you all for helping me out!