Can you get on a train without a ticket, and just wait for the ticketperson to ask you for a ticket?

Question

also, say if i am going to a place with 3 changeovers, would it be cheaper to pay for each direct route on the train. eg pay for station to station 2, then pay for station 2 to 3 comapred to station 1 to 3.

Answer 1

The rule is that if you board at a station with a manned ticket office, you should have a valid ticket when boarding the train.  If you board at an unmanned station then you wait for the ticket guy to come when on the train.

You would pay the same if not more by buying a ticket on each leg.

Answer 2

it depends what train and what stations

Answer 3

In UK there are some "Paytrains" where you buy ticket on board, mainly on quiet branch lines. Otherwise you buy first, or get a permit to travel from the machine at the start point. If you board without ticket (or a permit) when you could have bought one you are committing a crime and may get a criminal record. It will be assumed you were trying to travel free. You have been warned

Answer 4

It is not advisable!  You could be asked to pay for the entire route!  Better by far to get to the station early enough and

purchase your ticket before boarding!  Cheers

Answer 5

In the UK most rail companies operate a Penalty Fare scheme, which means if you board a train without a valid ticket when there are ticket issue facilities or Permit to travel machines working on the station you boarded at you are liable to a penalty fare of at least £20 to the next stop and a full standard fare from there to your destination without any discount.

Those that do get to a station and find the ticket office closed, the automatic ticket machine out of order and no permit machine in operation, when you board the train, have a quick look to see where the Conductor / Guard / Train Manager is and make your way to them once you have got on and ask them to provide you with a ticket, if they do not have a ticket machine or are unqualified to sell you one, then you have made every attempt to do so, if confronted by an Inspector or at the end of your journey when you have to pay you can explain that you have made every reasonable attempt to pay.

If they then still insist on a Penalty fare being issued, accept it and appeal via the procedure printed on the form.  Checks can be made later via computers and enquiries to the station, managers of the individuals as to what happened.

Answer 6

Completely impossible to give you an answer without knowing what journey you are making, different rules apply in different areas.

Answer 7

Yes

Answer 8

it depends on which train company you use, some train companies will charge you the full single fare for your journey, where if you buy from the ticket office you may be able to buy a cheaper priced ticket.

Also some train operating companies will charge you a penalty fare for not purchasing a ticket, when there are ticket offices are open, so be aware of this, not all train companies have this policy, but its always better to purchase a ticket before boarding a train

Answer 9

On many train systems there is a surcharge/penalty if there is a ticket window open at the station you board at, but you decide to wait until you get on the train to make the payment.  Also, some trains are reserved seats only--no ticket, no seat.

Answer 10

yes, rules depend on rail company and country.

frequently, there are special "through-connect" fares that 'ignore' the transfer.  in those cases, you definitely want to buy all the tickets at once.  in other cases, the fares are simply added point-to-point-to-point, in which case there is no financial incentive to buy all the tickets at once, HOWEVER if you are using reserved trains, buying all the tickets in advance will probably be required to hold the space, thus assuring that you will get to travel on your desired date.

generally, if a staffed station or a ticketing machine/kiosk was available at your boarding station, you are supposed to buy your ticket from the ticket clerk first before the train comes (after all, that is why they are paying them a salary, eh?).  if you board the train without a ticket, you may be able to buy one from the conductor, but you'll also pay a penalty fee.

generally, if the station you board at is unstaffed, you can usually buy the one-way ticket from the conductor FOR THAT TRAIN ONLY (ie not for connections/transfers/returns) without a penalty.  the conductor may only charge regular fares and not be able to honour any reserved discounts as they wont have a computer handy.  conductors generally wont sell 10 rides, monthlys, or any other type of special ticket - they can only sell the ticket for their particular train, ie one-way fare.

some companies dont even have ticket collectors anymore, they rely on the "honour" system and have POP (proof of purchase) inspectors roaming trains and stations.  montréal is like this,along with others.  each station has ticket kiosks, and technically it is illegal to even be on the secured platforms without a ticket, let alone the train.  if you are riding a train without a ticket, you wont be given the opportunity to buy one if the POP cops come, they will give you a 500 C$ summons fo riding without a ticket.

in any case, make sure you get a receipt if you ever pay a conductor directly.  the conductor is required to give a receipt, and if they dont, they could be pocketing the money otherwise.  you'll also need the receipt if you have any fare dispute or other service problem and want to deal with the company later after travel is complete.

i/we could help you much more if you were specific with your travel itinerary.

Answer 11

You would probably be better off using thetrainline.com in the U.K. if you want to find the cheapest train tickets.

Answer 12

It really depends on the system.  On many systems, you are MUCH better off booking all the way through, for two reasons: a) You get a substantial discount.  b) The railroad will guarantee your connections if one of the trains is late.  (for instance an Amtrak ride from Atlanta to Minneapolis.)

On other systems it does not matter at all because they are separate railroads which do not have through-ticketing agreements.  For instance a ride from Danbury, CT to Camden NJ.

Some systems, usually city or suburban commuter lines, are "Proof of Payment".  That means IF a conductor stops you, you MUST ALREADY have proof that you have paid for this ride.  Typically you buy a ticket from a vending machine at the station before the train comes.  If you do not have proof of having made payment, you pay a serious fine and can even be arrested.  Make sure you know how to pay the fare before you climb on the train.

Conductors on the train usually charge extra compared to buying the ticket from a station agent or machine at the station. Also, conductors usually do not take cheques or credit cards.  They will never take ATM.

Answer 13

In some countries it is normal to wait till you see the person controlling the tickets, and buy from him/her.

In other countries you will get a big fine if you wait till they ask you for a ticket, in some you may not even enter the platforms without a ticket.

In other countries again you buy tickets at some stations but for the rest in the train.

So your initial ticket is answered, in some countries, yes, in others only from some stations. In some countries you will get a big fine if you are on the train without ticket.

Normally it is cheaper to get a ticket for the whole journey before you enter the first train, but again, in some countries you can only get a ticket for the company you are traveling with at that time and you may have to buy each separate ticket on the train.

Unless you mention country, town and train company we can not give you an answer that helps you.

Answer 14

In the UK, you can do that, but it will be very expensive (unless the booking office at your origin is closed) and in some areas like London or Birmingham, a penalty fare will be charged.

If you do it enough times on the same route, you also risk being charged with fare evasion and could face court and a criminal record.

Answer 15

if you purchase online you will be guided for your route some local services are a seperate ticket

  other than walk on services with a conductor you get charged a bomb  buying on the train sometimes nearly 100pounds more  you buy online London-Ipswich single  dirt cheap under a tenner but on the train 84