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Is it okay to get on a train without a ticket?

12

I recently missed a train because the ticket office (and even the automatic ticket machines) had long queues - by the time I got my ticket the train had just left. Would I have faced any penalty for just getting on the train and buying my ticket from the ticket inspector? (the station didn't have any ticket barriers).

Reply 1

psiren

no

Reply 2

thegman89

9

You could have done yes. Its your responsibility to arrive BEFORE the train is due to leave to buy tickets. Having said that if you had goen straight to the ticket dude I'm sure he / she would have been ok about it!

Reply 3

fxytimi

you could have had to pay 20 quid fine, the price of the ticket or even get sent to court. not worth a crimial record my friend.

Reply 4

Tinkerbee

13

You can buy tickets on trains cant you? That's what I do anyway...

Reply 5

ellie91

I pretty sure if there's no barriers then it's allowed. I got on at my station the other day where barriers are always in use and this guy managed to buy a ticket on the train no problem, but I'm sure that's illegal :confused:

Reply 6

anyarian

13

that's happened to me before. just get on the train and find the conductor as soon as you get on (makes it seem more believable if you find him/her straitaway) and ask to buy a ticket from where you got on.
was there a permit-to-travel machine? you only need to put in 10p (or whatever money you have on you), it gives you a printout so you can prove that you got on at the station that you say you got on (and whatever money you put in to get the permit, will be deducted from your ticket when you buy it, as long as you remind him/her)

Reply 7

Expression

14

Alexander

I recently missed a train because the ticket office (and even the automatic ticket machines) had long queues - by the time I got my ticket the train had just left. Would I have faced any penalty for just getting on the train and buying my ticket from the ticket inspector? (the station didn't have any ticket barriers).

Yes. It is your responsibility to have a valid ticket before getting on board.

At a station where the ticket office is open and staffed, or ticket machines are working, then you must buy a ticket before you board the train.

Failure to do so leaves you liable to a Penalty Fare, and deems any Railcard you may wish to use for purchasing that ticket valueless.

Reply 8

Annie72

17

I got on a train once without buying a ticket, the machine wasnt working and the office was closed. No inspector came on the train, so I got a free train journey. :biggrin:

. I"ve also got cheaper train travel when I wasnt meant to. My husband was in the RAF and he showed the inspector/ money collecting person his ID card who then assumed we were married ( we werent at the time) and gave me a discount too.

I doubt you would have been in trouble if you bought the ticket on the train though.

Reply 9

punktopia

3

Most trains let you buy tickets on trains but won't give you the "discount" for a railcard, which is just moronic. But that's what happens when big businesses get hold of public services.

Reply 10

orionmoo

15

Some lines to charge you penalty fares - some just charge you an increased fare on the train, others will fine you (if you cant even pay on the train) and others will just charge everyone a flat rate - no discount for rail cards (eg YP rail card), no child/student fares, etc

Reply 11

ashley.f5

Normally you won't be fined if you seek the guard and a buy a ticket. However, if the guard asks you for a ticket, then you may be fined. But really like thegman89 said, it is your responsibility to buy a ticket beforehand.

Reply 12

River85

17

As far as I'm aware you can buy tickets on the train from the ticket inspector.

However, you can't use any railcards (disabled persons railcards are exempt from this rule on some services).

Reply 13

Danny the Geezer

21

Tinkerbee

You can buy tickets on trains cant you? That's what I do anyway...

Only if there isn't a manned ticket office at the station.

Reply 14

20083

2

You can get on a train with no ticket at stations without open ticket offices or automatic machines. This wasn't the case, so no.

Reply 15

Mithra

2

It is technically an offence to even step onto the platform without a ticket, however obviously they never prosecute someone for this, anything beyond this is their choice really. They probably won't fine you as long as you ask the conductor for a ticket rather than waiting for them to actually ask you where it is.

Reply 16

Tinkerbee

13

jaydoh

Only if there isn't a manned ticket office at the station.

Ah, fair enough

Reply 17

wordsearch

1

punktopia

Most trains let you buy tickets on trains but won't give you the "discount" for a railcard, which is just moronic. But that's what happens when big businesses get hold of public services.

What line is this? I've never had problems using my card on the railway.

OP, I've been taking the train pretty much every day for 5 years and have never once been fined. As long as you have the money on you so that you can pay on the train or at the other end of the line if anyone is there, then they're cool with it.

EDIT: okay, I've noticed a lot of people saying you can't use your rail cards actually on the train. I've never had a problem with that, so I guess it depends on the line.

Reply 18

fxytimi

There is a station in my home town, with no barriers or anything. so i walked over the bridge to get a ticket from the machine, as i couldnt be assed to talk to the gay staff people. walked along the bridge and a ticket inspector guy stopped me and said "where is your ticket?", I was like errm im going to buy one on the other side, he was like no you need to buy a ticket before you can cross the bridge. i was like wtf man. so you have to buy a ticket before you get on the train, or you could come out with a criminal record for just being a fool. Not worth it man.

Reply 19

Planto

16

I do this frequently. You're not gonna get fined unless you were obviously trying to skip the fare, and even then you're probably not gonna get fined.

Besides, let's be honest, what are they gonna do? Hold you against your will until you surrender your details?

Is it okay to get on a train without a ticket?

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