Northern Rail details taken

[185143]

Just asking on behalf of a friend,

He was stopped by the STM agency staff at Manchester Piccadilly trying to board a virgin service to Macclesfield. He had a Child VT only single from yesterday, which he tried to hide the date.

It was noticed and his details were taken. I am assuming, as it is his first offence, and he is under 16, it'll just be a slap on the wrists, pay up the SDS and don't do it again?

It is Northern though so am I being too hopeful? If so, what should he expect as it is obviously a clear attempt to avoid paying the correct fare. He also told the RPI that he didn't have enough money to buy the ticket, which wasn't true and I think he admitted that. He was subsequently issued with a zero fare ticket and the ticket for yesterday's travel was withdrawn.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Hellfire]

Why is it Northern? he was getting on a Virgin train.

 

[najaB]

Just asking on behalf of a friend...

If he was an adult he would almost certainly be asked for an £80 contribution towards the cost of Northern Rail's anti fare evasion campaign. I'm not 100% sure but I believe that as he is legally a minor, they won't be allowed to do so.
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Why is it Northern? he was getting on a Virgin train.

Because Northern were doing the revenue protection duties at the time. Virgin very rarely conduct revenue blocks themselves.

 

[yorkie]

Why is it Northern? he was getting on a Virgin train.

Because it was Northern's contractors who were inspecting tickets. See this thread for a discussion of a similar incident.
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J
It was noticed and his details were taken. I am assuming, as it is his first offence, and he is under 16, it'll just be a slap on the wrists, pay up the SDS and don't do it again?

They're unlikely to prosecute a 15-year-old. Some Companies extend this further and will not prosecute anyone under 18 (or they may not prosecute people under 17 and a half, as they can wait 6 months!)

I am unsure what Northern's policy in this area is.

 

[Merseysider]

Northern would not take the individual concerned to court and would probably not ask for anything more than the fare due, if unpaid. They may however issue a warning and keep details on record in case of future reoffending past 18 years of age.

Additionally, if the friend of yours does this repeatedly Northern can ban them from their network regardless of their age.

 

[185143]

Northern would not take the individual concerned to court and would probably not ask for anything more than the fare due, if unpaid. They may however issue a warning and keep details on record in case of future reoffending past 18 years of age.

Additionally, if the friend of yours does this repeatedly Northern can ban them from their network regardless of their age.

the fare for his journey this evening is currently unpaid, yes. I assumed it would just be a request for the fare and a stern warning not to do it again really.

I believe Metrolink take a different view on this though. (Obviously not relevant to this case)

 

[bb21]

I trust that as a true friend you would talk some sense into him?

 

[185143]

I trust that as a true friend you would talk some sense into him?

Yes! He won't be forgetting this in a hurry put it that way!

 

[Thomas6187]

Because Northern were doing the revenue protection duties at the time. Virgin very rarely conduct revenue blocks themselves.

Virgin have been doing full ticket checks at Piccadilly for a few weeks now and will be for the foreseeable future

 

[najaB]

Virgin have been doing full ticket checks at Piccadilly for a few weeks now and will be for the foreseeable future

That's a bit of a change. I must admit I don't travel to Manchester often, but at other Virgin managed stations it's usually another TOC doing revenue protection (if anyone is).

 

[hidden]

My understanding is anyone under 16, the parents deal with it. Correspondence is sent to Parents / Guardian of the person concerned.

 

[headshot119]

My understanding is anyone under 16, the parents deal with it. Correspondence is sent to Parents / Guardian of the person concerned.

Someone I know got caught at Manchester Picadilly by Northern at age 15, they where written too directly, not to the parents. That was, hmmm, 6 years or so ago though.

 

[185143]

My understanding is anyone under 16, the parents deal with it. Correspondence is sent to Parents / Guardian of the person concerned.

Someone I know got caught at Manchester Picadilly by Northern at age 15, they where written too directly, not to the parents. That was, hmmm, 6 years or so ago though.

I believe he was asked for his details, not his parents.

 

[185143]

My friend has received a letter from Northern asking for him to provide any mitigating circumstances. I'm assuming they are going beyond just asking him to pay up the SDS Manchester to Macclesfield now?

Would it be worth mentioning that he was boarding the Virgin Train? (He had a VT only ticket)? I know NT would still be taking on the case, but If they thought he was boarding their service with a VT ticket? Just a thought.

 

[34D]

Just asking on behalf of a friend,

He was stopped by the STM agency staff at Manchester Piccadilly trying to board a virgin service to Macclesfield. He had a Child VT only single from yesterday, which he tried to hide the date.

The ticket was from which origin to Macclesfield, please?

It was noticed and his details were taken. I am assuming, as it is his first offence, and he is under 16, it'll just be a slap on the wrists, pay up the SDS and don't do it again?

It is Northern though so am I being too hopeful? If so, what should he expect as it is obviously a clear attempt to avoid paying the correct fare. He also told the RPI that he didn't have enough money to buy the ticket, which wasn't true and I think he admitted that. He was subsequently issued with a zero fare ticket and the ticket for yesterday's travel was withdrawn.

Thanks in advance for your help.

So he didn't actually travel on the previous days ticket? He just attempted to do so? And was then issued with a zero fare ticket to travel that day?
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My friend has received a letter from Northern asking for him to provide any mitigating circumstances. I'm assuming they are going beyond just asking him to pay up the SDS Manchester to Macclesfield now?

Would it be worth mentioning that he was boarding the Virgin Train? (He had a VT only ticket)? I know NT would still be taking on the case, but If they thought he was boarding their service with a VT ticket? Just a thought.

I think the response ought to come from the father of this 15 year old lad, to hammer home to Northern that it is indeed a minor they are dealing with.

Can you urge child (or parent) to join this forum please?

 

[185143]

Will do, he had travelled the previous day on the ticket and at the point he was stopped hadn't travelled. The ticket was a child Off Peak day single from Manchester to Macclesfield route VT only.