Hi,
I joined this forum today since my experience yesterday and am seeking some help/advice.
I was travelling from Tottenham Hale to London Liverpool Street yesterday and arrived at the station in time to catch the 10:00 Greater Anglia train which showed on the board as no stops en route. I have only ever travelled this route once or twice over a number of years and certainly didn't dream that there was First Class seating.
Upon boarding the train, at the first doors in the second carriage i noticed that it was fairly full in the left side (end section of the carriage) I then looked right towards the middle section and noticed spare seats, albeit my eye took me towards two seats facing me which had quite a bit of mud on them. I sat down facing these, on the aisle seat, and started to read a document that I had in hand, while a teenage lad boarded and sat across the aisle.
Within 30 seconds of leaving the station, I noticed a woman stand from the seat that backed on to the muddy seat opposite me and approached me - while the young passenger made for a quick exit (to be stopped by the woman's colleage who was also sat where she was).
It was at this point when I looked up that I realised I was sitting in a First Class area of the carriage and assumed that she was a ticket inspector (even now I do not know what she was as she never told me).
Asking me for my ticket, I produced my Oyster card which I had used to 'tap in' before boarding.
Having electronically read my card she told me that I was travelling in First Class and asked if I had any other ticket for my journey. I didnt but immediately stood up, apologised and said that I would move to another area and was promptly told that it was too late as I had already taken a seat.
She then asked me several questions relating to my journey and I stated again that I would move and that I had only just sat down. I also said that this all seemed too much for what was a 'one stop' journey and that I again apologised for making an error.
- I should point out that at no time during the whole conversation did she offer or suggest that I could pay an upgrade, penalty or other fine.
She then asked me to complete a personal information form, which I did with only basic details and initialled it. To which she then toled me that I was not under caution.
This was then follwed by her contacting her office on radio and confirming my details to them. Then she proceeded to caution me. I have to say I was flabbergasted.
She then asked me further questions and kept asking me questions intimating that I had intended to travel first class on a second class ticket, to which I constantly told her that I had never intended to travel first class. She also asked if I had the means to pay for a first class ticket. I asked why is that relevant as I never intended to travel first class.
At the end of the conversation she asked me to sign her statement, to which I refused. I asked for a copy and was told that she couldn't give me one or a recipt of some description. Nearing the end of our 14 minute journey, she told me that I would receive a letter and not to ignore it. I took a picture of the muddy seats, in case it would be useful, with my mobile to which she said that I couldn't take pictures of her under the data protection act. I said I took it of the seats and didnt even know if she was in it. Her colleague stood up and made me delete the picture albeit I took another with no chance of her being in it.
This morning I decided to research Greater Anglia website and noticed that they state that first class accommodation is not available on this line (Hertford East to Liverpool Street) SEE LINK http://www.greateranglia.co.uk/tickets-fares/daily-tickets/first-class-travel
(This train commenced its journey from Broxbourne which is on the Hertford East line)
Albeit, when checking fares, there is an option for First Class.
So, even if this part of the carriage is/was first class, this whole affair seems over the top as the single standard fare is £4.50 and the First Class fare shows as £6.70. A mere £2.20 extra. I am not even sure who would pay extra to travel in this shabby section. BTW this carriage (and whole train) was very old, dirty with no facilities and only a small window table - not across both seats.
Sorry to go on... however, I am also wondering if there is any case for accusation of entrapment, as these two inspectors (or whatever) were seated until seconds after the train had departed the station. They could clearly have stopped me and the other lad as we entered the small centre section???
Thanks for being patient and also for your help and advice in advance!
I joined this forum today since my experience yesterday and am seeking some help/advice.
I was travelling from Tottenham Hale to London Liverpool Street yesterday and arrived at the station in time to catch the 10:00 Greater Anglia train which showed on the board as no stops en route. I have only ever travelled this route once or twice over a number of years and certainly didn't dream that there was First Class seating.
Upon boarding the train, at the first doors in the second carriage i noticed that it was fairly full in the left side (end section of the carriage) I then looked right towards the middle section and noticed spare seats, albeit my eye took me towards two seats facing me which had quite a bit of mud on them. I sat down facing these, on the aisle seat, and started to read a document that I had in hand, while a teenage lad boarded and sat across the aisle.
Within 30 seconds of leaving the station, I noticed a woman stand from the seat that backed on to the muddy seat opposite me and approached me - while the young passenger made for a quick exit (to be stopped by the woman's colleage who was also sat where she was).
It was at this point when I looked up that I realised I was sitting in a First Class area of the carriage and assumed that she was a ticket inspector (even now I do not know what she was as she never told me).
Asking me for my ticket, I produced my Oyster card which I had used to 'tap in' before boarding.
Having electronically read my card she told me that I was travelling in First Class and asked if I had any other ticket for my journey. I didnt but immediately stood up, apologised and said that I would move to another area and was promptly told that it was too late as I had already taken a seat.
She then asked me several questions relating to my journey and I stated again that I would move and that I had only just sat down. I also said that this all seemed too much for what was a 'one stop' journey and that I again apologised for making an error.
- I should point out that at no time during the whole conversation did she offer or suggest that I could pay an upgrade, penalty or other fine.
She then asked me to complete a personal information form, which I did with only basic details and initialled it. To which she then toled me that I was not under caution.
This was then follwed by her contacting her office on radio and confirming my details to them. Then she proceeded to caution me. I have to say I was flabbergasted.
She then asked me further questions and kept asking me questions intimating that I had intended to travel first class on a second class ticket, to which I constantly told her that I had never intended to travel first class. She also asked if I had the means to pay for a first class ticket. I asked why is that relevant as I never intended to travel first class.
At the end of the conversation she asked me to sign her statement, to which I refused. I asked for a copy and was told that she couldn't give me one or a recipt of some description. Nearing the end of our 14 minute journey, she told me that I would receive a letter and not to ignore it. I took a picture of the muddy seats, in case it would be useful, with my mobile to which she said that I couldn't take pictures of her under the data protection act. I said I took it of the seats and didnt even know if she was in it. Her colleague stood up and made me delete the picture albeit I took another with no chance of her being in it.
This morning I decided to research Greater Anglia website and noticed that they state that first class accommodation is not available on this line (Hertford East to Liverpool Street) SEE LINK http://www.greateranglia.co.uk/tickets-fares/daily-tickets/first-class-travel
(This train commenced its journey from Broxbourne which is on the Hertford East line)
Albeit, when checking fares, there is an option for First Class.
So, even if this part of the carriage is/was first class, this whole affair seems over the top as the single standard fare is £4.50 and the First Class fare shows as £6.70. A mere £2.20 extra. I am not even sure who would pay extra to travel in this shabby section. BTW this carriage (and whole train) was very old, dirty with no facilities and only a small window table - not across both seats.
Sorry to go on... however, I am also wondering if there is any case for accusation of entrapment, as these two inspectors (or whatever) were seated until seconds after the train had departed the station. They could clearly have stopped me and the other lad as we entered the small centre section???
Thanks for being patient and also for your help and advice in advance!