The punishment fits the crime

[whole diary]

[Bmblbzzz]

There's no indication they were all caught as the result of one operation or on one day.

[johnneyw]

The last TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) to be installed at a remote station (Clifton Down in this case) didn't last long.

There was a trial at Redland Station a few years back using an adapted street parking ticket machine which would just issue tickets valid on the Beach Line. It proved unreliable and was put out of use then later removed.
I think there still is a more modern ticket machine working at Clifton Down but only on one of the platfoms.

[TonyK]

Although a couple could be identified as being on the SBL (caught at Avonmouth) the majority were caught by checks at Bristol Temple Meads.  Given the size of some of the fares avoided they were clearly not from the SBL.

As I mentioned. The one caught at Avonmouth wasn't at Temple Meads, though. Some of the high-value ones must have avoided more than one check before getting there. Interesting.

[Celestial]

There are quite a few £109 fares, which suggests they got on a Paddington on one of the ungated platforms and had a nasty surprise when they got off at Temple Meads. If only they had thought to seek out the Train Manager during the journey.

[Red Squirrel]

I think there still is a more modern ticket machine working at Clifton Down but only on one of the platfoms.

...and it works about half the time.

[johnneyw]

Does anybody know if those card tap in thingies that have been installed at the Beach Line platform entrances two or three years ago are doing anything yet? The cost of doing this could not have been insignificant and I've never seen anyone use them.

[TonyK]

I travelled from Tivvy Parkway to Bristol today. A revenue protection guy got on at Taunton and checked all tickets and railcards, cheerfully and politely. The young, but not young enough, lad in the seat across the aisle from me was travelling on a child ticket, despite finally admitting to being 19. The inspector ( I heard his name but shan't publish) was very good, and would have been excellent at my former job. I didn't hear a caution, but he set about the interview very much as I would have, spotting the first two obvious lies then using them to unpick the lad's story of having been bought the ticket by a friend, and having been told to use a certain date of birth. If he has an ounce of sense, he will pay the penalty fare if offered, or face £440 plus extras. He pleaded poverty, and asked how he was supposed to be able to afford the fare from Exeter to Gloucester, which rather demolished his earlier claim of ignorance, backed up by a clumsy lie. Rather like eating dinner in a restaurant then asking how you are supposed to be able to afford it.

My compliments to the inspector. He did a very good job of it. Admitting to deliberately using a child ticket to get through the barriers suggests a degree of premeditation, and being given the ticket by a friend with instructions on what to say sounds not dissimilar to conspiracy to defraud in my experience.