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Fare Dodging on Public Transport

(37 Posts)
Magenta8 Wed 04-Jun-25 10:12:57

Fare dodging on public transport is costing the taxpayer four million pounds a year.

I have been reading about how a blind eye is regularly being turned towards fare dodgers.

The Office of Rail and Road has just released a report criticising the "inconsistent treatment and outcomes" of alleged fare dodgers some of whom have made honest mistakes when buying tickets.

I was reminded of an incident on a train journey I made. I had recently renewed my senior railcard and used it to buy a day return. An inspector came round and when he reached me and looked at my ticket and railcard his face lit up. "Your railcard went out of date two days ago" he announced triumphantly. He was obviously pleased to have hit on a soft target, a little old lady on her own. I pointed out politely that
the railcard had just been renewed and was valid until November next year. He replied "Well make sure you renew it next year or you will be in deep trouble" and moved swiftly on .

What made the incident particularly galling was the fact that when faced with a large group of young men further down the carriage and asking to see their tickets he had just walked away when they told him they did not have tickets. Just one small example of "inconsistent treatment".

knspol Thu 05-Jun-25 17:00:10

Magenta - Like you say a real bully, you pointed out he was incorrect so he warns you no doubt loudly to renew the following year in such a way as to infer he was letting you off on this occasion. Too many people like this in these type of jobs, a little bit of perceived power and no ability to say 'sorry I got that wrong'.

knspol Thu 05-Jun-25 17:02:29

Monica - did you get out of the wrong side of the bed today? You don't sound like your usual self.

Mt61 Thu 05-Jun-25 17:16:06

Oh I didn’t know about any of that Nahsma. He sounds like a hypocrite then.
Just thought it was brave of him to tackle these rail dodgers. Just goes to show you need to know the person you are voting for.

Maggiemaybe Thu 05-Jun-25 18:12:45

I’ve actually witnessed a group of four young lads having great fun tormenting a guard and refusing to show their tickets or pay, on an early train from Carlisle to Leeds. The guard walked off and I felt so angry on his behalf, knowing that he couldn’t do anything about it.

But he did. At the next stop, in the middle of nowhere, two burly transport police officers got on, without a word indicated that the four troublemakers should stand up, and marched them off. The chorus of apologies, attempts to pay, whinging about how they would get to Leeds was a joy to witness. I felt a little wave was due as the train pulled away without them.

Lahlah65 Thu 05-Jun-25 22:05:28

I saw completely different treatment of two passengers during one day. Different train managers admittedly, but older guy who ‘hadn’t realised’ his Veterans Pass (himself + two grandkids) had expired got off scot free with advice on best tickets to buy next time. Later on, polite young black man got put through the wringer for buying ticket with railcard after he boarded. Apparently this is not allowed. He politely refused to buy a new ticket and train manager was so rude. Both were in the wrong, but treatment was so different. The older guy’s wife clearly knew he was lying about the expired pass. She gave him the look, then just stared out of the window until the super friendly train manager finished chatting and moved on.

FranP Fri 06-Jun-25 00:20:39

There is about to be a fares and fare penalty review at last. Should not be necessary at the taxpayer's expense. The fatcat investors should have their dividends cut to pay for it.

Fare tariffs are so complex and confusing, it must be easy to make a mistake - surely it is simple to just charge the difference if you have the wrong ticket?
We have silly things, travelling into London from my station, I can get on an earlier train to get the offpeak than the next stop can. I can use my senior card on a packed commuter train because of this in one direction, but not in the other.
My niece can get a better deal by buying 2 separate singles than one return to get to me.
I travel to Sheffield and can go up to Wakefield and across more cheaply than one train and it is quicker
I am sure there are many many more examples

Granmarderby10 Fri 06-Jun-25 08:51:38

The financial restrictions experienced by any rail company that have resulted in understaffing, inadequate reporting systems etc etc are not a valid excuse for picking on vulnerable (that is often females) to be seen and heard to be proactive on fair dodgers, ..
and then letting others who are clearly deliberately avoiding paying up off because they look scary.
These penalty fair detectives often work in twos male and female wearing their ticket machines except they aren’t there to issue tickets, just fines on the spot. And according to cases I have read about they also blatantly lie, it is tantamount to blackmail in some cases saying pay up now or we will call the police.👮
Truly jobsworths imo.

keepingquiet Fri 06-Jun-25 08:59:09

Maggiemaybe

I’ve actually witnessed a group of four young lads having great fun tormenting a guard and refusing to show their tickets or pay, on an early train from Carlisle to Leeds. The guard walked off and I felt so angry on his behalf, knowing that he couldn’t do anything about it.

But he did. At the next stop, in the middle of nowhere, two burly transport police officers got on, without a word indicated that the four troublemakers should stand up, and marched them off. The chorus of apologies, attempts to pay, whinging about how they would get to Leeds was a joy to witness. I felt a little wave was due as the train pulled away without them.

The guards are in touch with BTP and this is often the way that miscreants are dealt with.
A while ago I was sitting in front of a young lady who asked if she could use her ticket from the night before because she had been too late for the train and had to wait until morning to get home. She admitted she'd been at a party!
The guard said he would accept it for the train but he doubted she would get through the ticket barrier at the other end.
Also four million pounds a year is no longer a massive sum of money...

Grantanow Fri 06-Jun-25 10:03:04

Thank you nahsma for reminding us of key moments in Jenrick's career. Of course fare dodging is wrong but Jenrick is clearly self-promoting. I hope Tories don't vote for him.

Freya5 Fri 06-Jun-25 16:26:09

seventhfloorregular

Take some knitting to do on the train - you are not such a soft target with a pair of 3mm in your hands.

Also I never see inspectors at 8:30 on the northern line as too packed (but then again you don't see beggars at that time either)

So you expect her to stab him because he's doing his job, and she doesn't like what he says to her.

nahsma Sat 07-Jun-25 10:14:51

Mt61

Oh I didn’t know about any of that Nahsma. He sounds like a hypocrite then.
Just thought it was brave of him to tackle these rail dodgers. Just goes to show you need to know the person you are voting for.

And to cap it all, you are required to apply to TfL to film in any of their stations. Needless to say, Honest Bob didn't bother. His desire for people to apply by the rules/law doesn't seem to apply to Mr Jenrick himself, only the “little people”.