It has been brought to the attention of Enroute that members of the public travelling on Merseyrail services in Merseyside have been receiving penalty fares and fines from Merseyrail for travelling with a digital QR code ticket (e-ticket) through apps such as Trainline without having printed the e-ticket first.
This contradicts the general rule in the UK that e-tickets are accepted, including by being displayed from mobile devices.
According to the National Rail Conditions of Travel, in some cases, tickets stored on an electronic device or smartcard are valid when showed from a mobile device or printed.
However, uniquely, Merseyrail maintains its own ‘Merseyrail Byelaws’, last updated 2014, made under Section 46(1) and Schedule 9 of the Railways Act 2005. According to the front cover of these Byelaws and pursuant to the Railway Byelaws Amendment Order 2013, railway assets of or under the management of Merseyrail are not subject to the National Rail Byelaws, which similar to the Conditions of Travel, acknowledge e-tickets. Conversely, Merseyrail byelaws do not recognise or acknowledge e-tickets.
As a result, based on Enroute analysis, we understand that it is within the rights of Merseyrail under their own byelaws not to accept e-tickets tickets.
“They will persue you, you will end up with a county court judgement and you will end up with bailiffs at the door for an amount way in excess of the fine you received.”
Diastolic
via Reddit What are we doing about it?
We have written and published an open letter to Merseyrail’s Managing Director, Neil Grabham, and gathered passenger testimonials and case studies of how this unusual stance from Merseyrail has affected the travelling public.
We have also launched a petition for Merseyrail to acknowledge our letter to their Managing Director and amend their policies to allow passengers travelling with e-tickets to be permitted travel if they are shown to an authorised official from a mobile device.
We will be working with decision-makers, other campaign groups and advocacy organisations, as well as promoting the case for change on social media, pushing Merseyrail to change their policies for the public good.
“The sad thing is that she has now been put off travelling by train because of this experience. Until they bring their systems into the 21st Century then they should show some discretion.”
‘Sarah’
via Liverpool Echo