Train ticket?

Question

Next week I will travel by train from Manchester Airport. Can I buy the train ticket on board?

Answer 1

Only if there is no facility to buy a ticket or permit to travel at the start point, unless the service is run as a "Paytrain". No ticket can mean penalty and criminal record!

Answer 2

No, unless you have a Permit to travel ticket due to the ticket office being closed or the Automatic ticket machines being broken.

If you can not obtain a full ticket you must seek out the train conductor / guard / manager as soon as possible once you have boarded the train, if you are seated and do not have a permit you can be charged with a full priced single ticket or if applicable to your TOC a penalty fare to the next station and a single fare from there to your destination. If an Inspector is aboard your service then you could also be charged with fare avoidance and summoned to court and face up to a £2000 fine (extreme case).

Best thing to do as you have a week to go, is drop into your local station and purchase and advance ticket for that day.

Answer 3

First off never EVER call the station as they don't have a number for the general public so you would end up on the phone to national rail enquiries asking for something you can't get.

Second you can buy it on the train but it will be more expensive and you could, depending on who runs the station/line (I think it's virgin) you can get a fine. I would recommend you buy it from the station or book in advance if you want it cheaper again. You can book online through nationalrail.co.uk but you'll be stuck with one time to travel and if you miss that train you'll need a whole new ticket.

Answer 4

Travelling from Manchester Airport you will probably be carried by virgin trains who have a policy of allowing passengers to buy their tickets on board, but usually the most expensive ones, that's not to say the guard on-board will follow these guidelines as it is generally left to his discretion. Generally speaking your best bet is to buy your ticket prior to boarding as you will then have the choice of all available tickets for your journey.

As others have said (if you are not travelling with virgin) if you board the train without a ticket you may be liable to a penalty fare of £20 or twice the value of a standard ticket to the next available stop, whichever is greater.

Answer 5

You may buy a ticket on-board - however this will usually be more expensive than purchasing from the ticket office before hand.

In some areas there are also Penalty Fares where you may be charged a £20 fine of twice the cost of a single journey

Answer 6

You can, but it usually costs more.

It would be a better idea to buy your ticket in advance, either online, or at a travelcentre at a major station.

Otherwise, use the ticket office or ticket machine at Manchester Airport before you board the train.

Answer 7

Buy at the booking office before boarding the train.

Answer 8

I would call the train station to find out but I have always bought it once getting on the train

Answer 9

no, you have to buy it before you get on, but there is a ticket office and a machine in the foyer, and both of them take cash or cards

Answer 10

Its will be cheaper to prebook your ticket.   I ordered a ticket yesterday and it came this morning.   If you pay  on the train they will charge you more.