Non Payment of Fares

[whole diary]

[Alan Pettitt]

I caught the 1015 Frome to Bath yesterday (06/12/2013) which was full and standing, and the usual carriage added at Westbury wasn't there, so pretty busy as far as Bath. I followed two girls to the barrier where staff were shouting "We don't need to see your tickets, the barriers are open", outside the station door 1st girl: "We could have done that for free."  2nd girl: "We did." 1st girl: "Oh yes!" !

[brooklea]

The likelihood is that they'll have had to buy a ticket to get back onto the platforms later that day however....

[thetrout]

Collection of fares on HoW^‡(resolve) services does seem VERY hit and miss it has to be said. I travelled Frome - Weymouth earlier this year on the 17:47 and could not buy a ticket before boarding. Arriving at Weymouth still no ticket checks = no fare paid... Weymouth ticket office being closed I couldn't then pay my fare there either. I couldn't then make up I boarded a London Waterloo service from there and got to Waterloo where the barriers were wide open and no ticket checks either. Infact the Catering Trolley was more prominent on that service! I had a First Advance for that service though... Still not brilliant either way!

There are trains from Frome which are pretty much a very likely free ride if you wanted to play the dubious Fare Evasion Game (I won't name them!) But I purchase my ticket at an interchanging station as normally I connect into a different train. Or I already have my ticket having purchased ahead of time. Staff at Bath Spa are normally happy to sell a ticket without any question (Only a very small number of times has there been a slight problem) Bristol can be a bit more problematic and depends on who is working the barriers that day. Some staff are great and a very, very small number obstructively unhelpful!

The likelihood is that they'll have had to buy a ticket to get back onto the platforms later that day however....

Unfortunately if I was a gambling man... I wouldn't bet on that at all

[Alan Pettitt]

You were right not to bet on that! I happened to travel back at the same time as the said ladies and witnessed how they got away with it (even at BTH^» (Bath Spa - next trains) barrier) I shall not elaborate just in case any of their friends are looking for advice.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Posting personally here, rather than as an admin: I found it rather amusing that 'girl 1' was apparently completely oblivious to the fact that she'd just travelled on the train for free ...