Traveling on correct train

[gobbybobby]

Me and my partner had 2 rail sale advanced singles to Gatwick airport from Southampton with Southern (change at Havant as Southern no longer go direct) £3.50 each very cheap it was booked on the 11am departure from Southampton
I knew I could only travel on the train I was booked on and the connecting train specifically listed.

We arrived early just before 1030 and the 1030 train was there, the gaurd approached us (i was happy to wait) and I explained my tickets for the next train and he just said don't matter get on, I asked would the gaurd on the connecting train mind he said probably not just ask him, I could have just waited at Havant 30 mins but the first gaurd sounded confident so we went for it

We couldn't find the gaurd on the platform at Havant to ask and the train was a few mins late running so it didnt stick around so we got on anyway, I found the gaurd and explained the situation. He explained if revenue protection got on we are screwed and should not have boarded this train or the one from Southampton as revenue protection won't care and just fine us.

So why did the gaurd in the 1030 tell me to get on and risk us being fined, if i had been fined would i have a case to dispute, I apriciate I didn't but am curious why a gaurd would put me in a position where I could be fined.

 

[JordR]

You would have had to argue that you had been given permission to travel by an authorised person. It would have been fairly easy to identify the guard in question by the time and place of the train, it might then be a case of whether they remembered you depending on how much time passed.

 

[Belperpete]

You were given permission to travel on the first train by its guard. so you did nothing wrong by travelling on that train. If revenue protection had taken action against you for travelling on that train, you would have good grounds to challenge it. The only problem is how you might prove that you had permission, especially days or weeks afterwards.

However, that guard did not give you permission to board the second early train, and in fact specifically warned you to speak to its guard. Despite that, you still boarded the second train without permission, so you were lucky that its guard let you off. And he was right that had you been challenged by revenue protection on that train, they may have taken action.

I will leave it to others to discuss how likely it would be that they would take action, and what that action would actually be, in your particular case. "Fine" is a much misused word.

 

[AlterEgo]

Another problem with verbal permission being given. You’ve no proof of permission and you can’t rely on someone remembering you when your penalty fare appeal hits the desk weeks later.

 

[Watershed]

Another problem with verbal permission being given. You’ve no proof of permission and you can’t rely on someone remembering you when your penalty fare appeal hits the desk weeks later.

Indeed. This is why you have to protect yourself with written permission, or more practically, a discreet audio recording.