Great Western Coffee Shop

As a matter of interest, what 'evidence of age' could they realistically produce?  Rather more usually, young people want to be able to show they are older than they actually are, so 'borrowing' an older sibling's identity won't be appropriate in these cases.

I've had someone show me a provisional driving license when asked for id.

Boy quizzed by police after train conductor refused to believe he was under 16

A teenager was marched from a train after accusations he fraudulently bought a children's ticket.

Curtis Richards was met by the British Transport Police at Hull's Paragon Interchange after a conductor refused to believe he was under 16 years old.

Curtis, 15, had been given an ultimatum ^ to either get off the train early, or face police when it arrived at its last stop in Hull.

But Northern Rail said they acted appropriately and called the police after Curtis struggled to give his correct birthday and used "bad language".

His mum, Lesley Singleton, 43, said: "It wasn't right. It was appalling, scary and embarrassing for him. Northern Rail needs to change its attitude."

Curtis was travelling to Hull from Goole to collect forms for the Royal Navy. The teenager, who attends Goole High School, wants to sign up to the Navy when he leaves education.

He said: "I was really worried when I saw the police. It was a bit embarrassing because it was at the train station."

Curtis, who lives with his mum in Goole, was on a lunchtime Northern Rail service on Monday, January 30.

He had bought the ticket from a Goole station member of staff, who did not question his age.

He then boarded the train and was questioned about the ticket by a conductor, who asked to see identification.

Northern Rail says he then gave an incorrect birthday, which would have made him 17, before giving his correct birthday.

But Curtis said: "He came and asked for my ticket and asked how old I was. I said I was 15 but he didn't believe me. He took my ticket off me and starting giving me loads of grief. He gave me two choices ^ I could either get off at Brough or carry on to Hull and let the police meet me."

Curtis, who didn't have enough money to buy another ticket, phoned his mum from the train so she could verify his age.

Lesley said: "Curtis told me what was happening and I just couldn't believe it. I told Curtis to put me on the phone with him, but the conductor refused, saying it was against company policy."

When Curtis arrived at Hull Paragon Interchange, he was marched from the train and questioned.

Once the police ran a background check on Curtis and were able to confirm he was indeed 15, they released him.

Pete Myers, head of service quality for Northern Rail, said: "Our conductor asked the passenger to provide proof of age as he was travelling with a child's ticket but appeared to the conductor to be older than 15. The passenger then provided inconsistent birth dates and had no proof of age when questioned. As the passenger reacted with abusive language, the conductor requested British Transport Police to meet them at Hull station.

"We would recommend anyone travelling as a child has the relevant identification to verify their age."

And the TOC in this case have not offered any practical suggestions as to what could be acceptable as 'evidence of age' for a fifteen year old schoolboy?  Birth certificates don't have any photographic verification, and not all 15 year olds have passports.  ::)

Curtis ... had bought the ticket from a Goole station member of staff, who did not question his age.

He then boarded the train and was questioned about the ticket by a conductor, who asked to see identification.

Some consistency from the rail staff would be helpful, though:

The booking clerk is not required to ask for ID, the ticket could be for someone else for all they know, just like a railcard, you are only required to show it upon inspection of your ticket not at the point of sale (unles that point of sale is on the train)

Simple response at ticket office: "Are you an impartial sales outlet?"

sorry Vacman but...

lifted from the 16-25 railcard website, but the same applies to the other cards

"5. Tickets for your journey should be purchased before boarding the train and when buying tickets you must show the Railcard."

1. Tickets for your journey should be purchased before boarding the train. You must have your Railcard (and Photocard/Permit to travel without Photocard if applicable) with you on your journey and always show the valid Railcard and ticket to rail staff at their request. If you do not show both the Railcard and the ticket, you will be required to pay the full price Standard Single fare for your journey as if no ticket was purchased before starting the journey and in some cases a penalty fare. This does not apply if there was no ticket office at the station at which you began your journey or if the ticket office was closed and there was no ticket machine from which you could buy a discounted ticket.

in my ticket examiners handbook it's says different! TVM's are a prime example.

5. Tickets for your journey should be purchased before boarding the train and when buying tickets you must show the Railcard.

Terms and conditions are valid up to and including 22nd May 2012

in my ticket examiners handbook it's says different! TVM's are a prime example.

Wow!  Whatever happened to those very useful stamps, noddingdonkey?  :o