My local line has been the Birmingham Cross City Line for about a year now. Travelling home tonight I was talking to a group of people who admitted to rarely buying tickets outside of peak hours. I've even inadvertently fare evaded when I forgot my N-network pass had run out, but I couldn't purchase a ticket at my destination as the office was closed. When a TVM was malfunctioning at Selly Oak (office also shut due to staffing), I used the Permit to Travel machine, but the fare went uncollected at Longbridge.
Now, I've very occasionally seen revenue inspectors on trains and of course there's manual/auto barriers at a few stations along the route (although I question the effectiveness at New Street). The guards are effectively non-commerical once the train enters Centro territory, I've seen them checking and selling tickets outside the PTE boundary but never within in (not that they could effectively with the short distances involved).
Is LM doing enough I wonder....
Now, I've very occasionally seen revenue inspectors on trains and of course there's manual/auto barriers at a few stations along the route (although I question the effectiveness at New Street). The guards are effectively non-commerical once the train enters Centro territory, I've seen them checking and selling tickets outside the PTE boundary but never within in (not that they could effectively with the short distances involved).
Is LM doing enough I wonder....