Caught a train from an unstaffed station this morning, sardine tin as usual so no opportunity there then a tight connection at Leeds (<5 minutes). Not an issue in the past at all to purchase a ticket on board the connecting service. (with cash rather than card)
However today I was sold the ticket in the end (Anytime Day Return) but advised by the guard that Northern would soon be introducing some sort of penalty scheme and on board inspectors for passengers who had passed through a station with ticket buying facilities but failed to purchase a ticket - with no exceptions.
It feels as if they're just going to try and target everyone rather than bother trying to tackle specific fare dodging! (Also seems as if they're already gearing up for a DOO operation...)
I have no particular issues with trying to protect their revenue but they must realize that it has been the case for years and years that most Northern staff will happily do on board ticket sales - in some cases I've actually seen them sell tickets with origin of Leeds!
To be fair to this guard they were actually making the effort to go down the train after every single stop and do a ticket inspection which you don't often see!
However today I was sold the ticket in the end (Anytime Day Return) but advised by the guard that Northern would soon be introducing some sort of penalty scheme and on board inspectors for passengers who had passed through a station with ticket buying facilities but failed to purchase a ticket - with no exceptions.
It feels as if they're just going to try and target everyone rather than bother trying to tackle specific fare dodging! (Also seems as if they're already gearing up for a DOO operation...)
I have no particular issues with trying to protect their revenue but they must realize that it has been the case for years and years that most Northern staff will happily do on board ticket sales - in some cases I've actually seen them sell tickets with origin of Leeds!
To be fair to this guard they were actually making the effort to go down the train after every single stop and do a ticket inspection which you don't often see!