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phineas dorchester · Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 12 Location: King's Lynn

After several months chained to my desk last week I was let out for a ride to Newcastle and back.

On the train south from Newcastle in the afternoon I was so engrosed in the scene ouside, and the music from my mp3, that I didn't hear the call for "tickets from Newcastle" so I unwittingly ignored the inspector, who also ignored me. This set me to wondering how the system works. How do they know who got on and who should be showing them a ticket? It seems to me they don't as I could easily have travelled without a ticket. (I did have one, by the way).

Strangely enough I unintentionally did exactly the same thing on the next train - Cross Country from P'boro to Ely. There was no inspector on the last leg home from Ely so I could have manged the whole trip without a ticket.

So, I don't think asking people to show their tickets in the present way is a very thorough or efficient way of checking everybody has paid. It seems if you ignore the inspector there's really no need to have a ticket.

My tickets are always paid for by my employer, but nevertheless it seems the system could perhaps do with a review.

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Owen · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 229 Location: Diss, Norfolk

On many midland and southern lines I believe the only way to get onto a Train is through automatic gates. No ticket, no Travel etc.

I'd also echo your experiences. I often travel from Diss to Norwich, and between Diss and Norwich depending on where you are in the train the TTI does not always get to you. (I'd like to point out I always carry a ticket). There are ticket machines on Diss station, but on a Sunday when the office is closed it is impossible to buy a through ticket to somewhere like Sherringham using the machine. I also have the same habbit as you of listening to music and not noticing the TTI as they pass. I think that as long as you have a ticket and are obeying the rules, then it is fine, but obviously there are some who will deliberately try to abuse the system.

On the Bittern Line, it would be easy to get as far as North Walsham or Wroxham from Sherringham or Cromer without paying for a fare, simply because the TTI does not get through in time on a busy day.
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Bramleyman · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 479 Location: Norfolk

A little tip for you to Always buy a ticket, because the person standing next, or near to you, COULD well be a Plain Clothes Inspector. I did this for over 3 months and 'Nobbled' at least 52 with intention to defraud the railway of the correct fare. One offender ended up inside for assault after being challenged.
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phineas dorchester · Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 12 Location: King's Lynn

I'm pleased to hear about the plain clothes inspectors, I think.

But would they be necessary if the checks were 100%, not sporadic as at present. What about tickets that you wear as a badge? Probably unworkable.

Anyway, don't worry, I always have a ticket (unless the machine at Watlington is broken!). Actually I'm nearly always on business travel when on a train, so my tickets come provided by Carlson Wagonlit.
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Phineas Francis Dorchester

Bramleyman · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 479 Location: Norfolk

When I was an RPI, I would stand next to a door as much as possible and count the passengers boarding at stations where it was possible, then count those checked. One guy tried to avoid me on a daily basis, until I got wise to him and so asked to see his ticket twice on every journey until he realised I had finally nobbled him and so owned up to it, then I finally persuaded him to buy a season ticket because it IS cheaper than paying daily.

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