General Discussion

As several people I know have had penalty fares issued to them, even when the ticket office is closed and the ticket machine is not working, I have been wondering what can be done against this unfair practice.

In fact there is a lot of info on the web about penalty fares. This article on the Evening Standard http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23731140-fare-dodgers.do explains how to protect yourself from this rip off.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/legislation/pf/ - Dept of Transport, guidelines.

No one should get on a train without a valid, but there are many valid reasons for not having a valid ticket.

• No ticket purchasing facilities available.
• Ticket queuing time too long.
• Forgot your season ticket.
• etc

Ultimately just pay the single fare for your journey and give your name and address, so that the train company can write to you asking for the penalty fare. When the letter arrives, write back explaining why you didn't have a valid ticket.

All threats from TOCs are buffs - DO NOT PAY !!!

If the ticket machine is known to not be working at the time then you would not have to pay the penalty fare, Many people attempt for a free ride.

OK, well that is fair enough.

I do realise that TOCs are trying to provide a reliable service in very difficult circumstances and be fair First Great Western are a million times better than Wessex.

But they shouldn't take it out on their customers.

This is typical of public transport.

We are often told to use public transport instead of our cars, but they do nothing to help.

The ticket office is often closed during daytimes and ticket machines are often not working, How can we get our ticket before we board?.

The early local commuter trains consist of two carriages, and with kids going to school and people going to work there are never any seats, yet later in the day when the passenger traffic is not so heavy we find four carriages empty.

The station is often unmanned and when travelling with push chairs or prams there is no one to assist crossing the rails, I dont know how disabled get across.

Although when the staff are there they are usually very helpfull (except the miserable **** that sometimes mans the ticket office, I think we all know who I mean) and the staff on the trains are usually very helpfull but sometimes there is a jobs worth on board. The management are to blame, it seems they have no idea how the passengers feel or just dont care about the passengers.

As usual its public transport doing its best to keep cars on the road, I for one would use my car rather than trains.

How many times have we all been at the station with a valid ticket waiting for a train that never turns up.

Shouldn't the train company give us £20 each everytime?

First Great Western are on the edge of packing in ...South West Trains bring it on!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/mar/13/firstgroup-may-abandon-first-great-western-franchise