Unmanned stations without a working TVM?

[Chrius56000]

. . .I haven't used the trains for some months now (I usually travel by train to collect eBay purchases, so the journey could be anywhere) – but I do have one question – if I was to arrive at a station with a faulty TVM and the station was otherwise unmanned, could a TOC take the line that "I should have bought a ticket online!" and still possibly prosecute, or are you legally permitted to board and see the Train Conductor?

. . .In such a case what sort of evidence should I provide?

. . .One station where I could fall foul of this is my Sister's local station, Newport, in Essex, which is only manned peak morning hours M–F, this line is D.O.O., so normally there isn't a Guard or Train Conductor to buy on board – could G.A. kick up a stink If I found Newport T.V.M. out of order and insist I should have bought online?

 

[hexagon789]

. . .I haven't used the trains for some months now (I usually travel by train to collect eBay purchases, so the journey could be anywhere) – but I do have one question – if I was to arrive at a station with a faulty TVM and the station was otherwise unmanned, could a TOC take the line that "I should have bought a ticket online!" and still possibly prosecute, or are you legally permitted to board and see the Train Conductor?

. . .In such a case what sort of evidence should I provide?

You are entitled to purchase on board where there are no ticketing facilities (or no functioning ticketing facilities) at the station you board at. There is no outright necessity to buy online.

If you have a smartphone, you could take a photo of the broken TVM as 'proof' but there is no absolute requirement to do this.

 

[Haywain]

You are entitled to purchase on board where there are no ticketing facilities (or no functioning ticketing facilities) at the station you board at.

Yes and no. You are not then entitled to buy online when on board but you are entitled to buy from staff or TVM at the next available opportunity. If you are buying online you still need to purchase before boarding.

 

[hexagon789]

Yes and no. You are not then entitled to buy online when on board but you are entitled to buy from staff or TVM at the next available opportunity. If you are buying online you still need to purchase before boarding.

I assumed the OP was enquiring whether they were obliged to buy online full stop, but I agree that an online purchase must be before boarding of course

 

[Hadders]

There is no requirement to purchase a ticket online but there is a requirement to use a ticket purchasing facility at the station where you start your journey. This could be an open ticket office or working ticket vending machine. If the TVM is broken then it doesn't constitute an opportunity to purchase a ticket.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Assuming e-tickets to be issued for journeys from the station, then the least hassle option might be to buy a ticket on your phone before boarding.

I accept that there's no requirement to do so, but having a valid ticket bought at a valid time almost guarantees that there will be no problem if/when the tickets are checked. Standing on your rights is much more likely to lead to a difficult conversation, even if it is ultimately resolved in your favour.

 

[Watershed]

Standing on your rights is much more likely to lead to a difficult conversation

It's hardly "standing on your rights" to buy a ticket at the first available opportunity.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

It's hardly "standing on your rights" to buy a ticket at the first available opportunity.

It is if you could have chosen to avoid the whole problem by doing something easy, even if there's no requirement to do the easy thing.

 

[Watershed]

It is if you could have chosen to avoid the whole problem by doing something easy, even if there's no requirement to do the easy thing.

I would have to strongly disagree with you there. There is no risk, it is a longstanding established procedure.

 

[AlterEgo]

Yes and no. You are not then entitled to buy online when on board but you are entitled to buy from staff or TVM at the next available opportunity. If you are buying online you still need to purchase before boarding.

That’s not correct. Where is this requirement stated? Clearly, no bylaw is being broken here.

I assumed the OP was enquiring whether they were obliged to buy online full stop, but I agree that an online purchase must be before boarding of course

Not at all. We are dealing with a case where there were no ticketing facilities available before departure. This is clearly permitted, both in law and the passenger contract.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

I would have to strongly disagree with you there. There is no risk, it is a longstanding established procedure.

Then we must agree to disagree.

 

[wagnaga]

If the TVM isn’t working then is the next available option the station you plan to alight at or the next station the train calls at with working facilities?

 

[cool110]

If the TVM isn’t working then is the next available option the station you plan to alight at or the next station the train calls at with working facilities?

The station you alight at, or even later if you have a tight connection.