Usually fun on the Morecambe to Lancaster trains. It's usually Bare Lane where most people get on (unmanned, no ticket machine). People are pushing and shoving each other to get to the front/Lancaster end of the train. They only do that because they know the guard starts coming through from the rear to check/sell tickets, so the further they are forward, ahead of as many other passengers as possible, the less likely the guard will reach them. No barriers at Lancaster, so once the train reaches the station approach, and the guard turns around and goes back to the rear to be ready to operate the doors, the front passengers know they have got away with it.
I've never understood why Northern care so little about fare dodgers. Do the management really not know what goes on? Does the guard not report back periodically as to what s/he can see clearly happens? Does management not ask the guards what goes on?
I don't usually commute on a peak train to Lancaster but I did a couple of weeks ago(08:27 train) and it was noticeable how many people made their way towards the front including myself, unfortunately for them there was 2 guards on board and you could hear the grumbles when he started to do the ticket check, did bought a smile on my face as I don't mind paying as I do if I travel from Morecambe but I do occasionally travel to Bare in the hope for free travel and why not, it's down to the TOC if they want money off me by installing a ticket machine and for the guard to do a proper ticket check and not just stay in their cab.
In fairness most guards do a check but I find it odd on that line on why most of them don't start checking until the train leaves Bare Lane giving them little time to do the whole train unless we get held at a red signal. Also surely its not mandatory to start checking from the rear of the train, start checking from the front and make their way down from there, plus it gives you a little more time before you have to head towards the doors before everyone stands up.