Northern Rail ticket collectors - how likely are you to get asked for your ticket?

Question

Hi all. I'm thinking about commuting from Romiley to Sheffield on Northern Rail. Before I commit to a 1yr ticket, I'm wondering

if there's a cheaper way of doing it. Here's my ideal scenario: you make your journey, the ticket collector never gets to you, you get off and get out of the station with no hassles. So... I need the wisdom of those who travel regularly with Northern Rail:

Can you generally get to the platform without a ticket?

Can you legally board a train without a ticket?

How likely are you to get asked for your ticket?

Do you pay a penalty for buying your ticket on the train?

Can you get out of stations without a ticket?

Cheers!

Answer 1

Your dice have just fallen a double six  go direct to jail min 20 years

       You scum bag  

Answer 2

1) Depends on the station. Northern are in the process of installing ticket barriers at a number of key stations, and a number of other stations carry out manual ticket checks at platform entrances.

2) Yes, but you must buy a ticket from the conductor when he/she comes round.

The exceptions are in Penalty Fare Areas. In these areas, you must buy a ticket before you board the train, or else you have to pay a fine of £20 plus the cost of the ticket. I don't think this applies to any of Northern's routes, though, and it should be clearly marked as such when you enter the station.

3) On Northern services? Very likely, in my experience. It's rare not to be asked.

4) Not as such, but you may have to pay for a full price ticket (no Railcard discounts or Saver/Cheap Day fares, for example). Again, this excludes Penalty Fare Areas (see question 2).

5) See answer to question 1.

In my experience, attempting to dodge your fare on just about any main line rail service in the UK would be a mug's game.

You might get away with it if you're only making a 3 minute journey to the next stop on the line, but the fare for that would only be about a quid anyway, so why bother.

Answer 3

There's always one that wants to get away with it!!  Get a ticket, pay your way!  

Answer 4

Over the past year all stations have started to check your tickets, but there are those times when they don't get to you on the train and the people checking the tickets don't actually be there to check your tickets when you get into the stations, the best thing would be just to try it a couple of times see if they come to you and buy on the train or if they don't then get off and if the ticket collectors are there buy from them, but  if there not at either of these places then you won't have to pay, I am not sure on the rules like if there is a penalty charge if you don't buy your ticket before boarding.

Answer 5

Pay your fare like any decent person you freeloader. You are no better than a common thief. And yes, it is illegal to travel without having paid your fare (unless you are travelling from a station without an open ticket office). It is no different to shoplifting.

Answer 6

A lot because they always think people steal now days after 911 all those terrorist are stealing from stores.