Is this train penalty fare justified?

Question

hi,

I'm on a southwest trains (UK) line.

I was travelling from Twickenham to Virginia Water this morning, and was aiming for the 9.33. I saw that the 9.03 had been delayed, and if i ran through the open barriers (they're left open when nobodys operating the station, but there are ticket machines) i could still catch this 9.03 (delayed till 9.15)

As i pulled into my station, i was confronted and the ticketmaster didn't care to listen as the train was being held up.

I was simply demanded to give them my card details and should have £20 taken from my account this week!!!

Is that still a justifiable reason to charge me the fine?

I have about 200 bloody tickets on my bedside, i ALWAYS buy a ticket!!! This is the first time i havent... so annoying!!!

Is there no way of contacting Southwest trains and disputing the fine?

Would i have reasonable grounds to complain?>

Answer 1

right, you were not even planning to catch that other train.  the fact that it was there late and you saw it is really irrelevant.

people are welcome to use other trains BUT only when they have enough time to do everything that would be required to ride any train.  

that includes buying the ticket.

if you didnt have the ticket in advance, and didnt have time to buy the ticket before the train departed, then you should not have boarded it.  

question - if you have 200 tickets at your bedside, why not keep 1 or 2 in your wallet always.  that way you have a ticket in advance if you ever need it.  in fact, i dont understand why you have 200 tickets by your bed anyway, that is just wasting your money.  altho' it helps us, the railroad company, so go ahead and keep stockpiling tickets if you want.  but if money is a concern to you, then use those tickets up, carry 1 with you at all times.

yes, it would have saved you time waiting around for your own train that you were going to use, but saving time isnt a justification for not buying a ticket.  

some people try to save time by running in front of trains too, or by driving around crossing gates.  having to wait a few minutes is not the end of the world, but not waiting could be the end of you.  

you are lucky you just got a fine and not actually jailed or killed by your perception of "saving time".  saving time does not mean that you get a pass to do illegal things.

Answer 2

You don't have any grounds to appeal. It's your responsibility to allow enough time to get a ticket or permit to travel before you board the train, the fact that you were trying to catch a delayed train that was earlier than the one you originally intended to catch doesn't enter into it.

Answer 3

Why do people always question whether they have a 'right to complain' or appeal in situations where they are clearly at fault?

It's a non-starter: you boarded a train without a ticket or permit to travel. End of. You're in the wrong.

Sometimes train companies let you buy tickets en route, but this is discretionery and doesn't mean you can't buy a ticket beforehand.

After all, if the barriers were open at your destination station, what's to say you wouldn't have just walked through them without buying a ticket at all?

Answer 4

Under the rules you're supposed to allow a certain amount of time to buy a ticket before boarding. Only if you can't buy a ticket within this time (e.g. ticket office closed, machine not working, queue too long) are you allowed to board without a ticket.

Answer 5

This is a very silly question.  What 'excuse' could there be for jumping on a train without a ticket?  It's ridiculous.