Karl
On Moderation
I'm looking for advice please. Could you help? I made an honest mistake. Yes, honestly
I was issued a £20 penalty fare for travelling without a ticket from Bamber Bridge to Preston. I always buy a ticket before travelling. Always. I'm a 60 year old idiot!
On Tuesday I had an appointment for my first vaccine jab in Preston. I'd not been out of the house since last March. This was my first train journey for a whole year. I arrived at Bamber Bridge 5 minutes before my train departure time. Unfortunately the crossing gates were down and I was unable to access the Preston bound platform and was unable to buy a ticket from the machine. There was already an east bound train in the platform waiting to depart. Once the train had passed the gates I was ready to rush across to my platform and get my ticket and wait for my train. The gates didn't open and I waited hoping for them to open. I waited but time was ticking down. My train was now due and I was starting to panic. My train arrived into the platform, the gates raised, and Usain Bolt would have been proud of me as I set off across the tracks and up the platform and leapt onto the train as the guard was about to press two on the buzzer. Phew, I'd made it! I wasn't going to miss my jab.
Now I knew I'd boarded a train without a ticket. I was worried. I sat down and hoped to be able to buy a ticket from the guard like I've always been able to. We soon approached Lostock Hall and the guard came out. I asked him if I could buy a ticket. He said he was busy. I understood he needed to do the doors. We departed Lostock Hall and he returned to the cab. We were now nearing Preston and still no sign of seeing him. We arrived into Preston and I again asked him if I could buy a ticket. He told me he's packed his machine away and to buy a ticket from the inspectors.
Bad move
I had my payment ready as I approached an inspector on the gateline to purchase a £3.40 return from Bamber Bridge to Preston please.
No.
He then introduced me to one of his colleagues who took all my details and issued me with a penalty fare ticket for £20. I tried to explain my situation but he wasn't having it.
I was gutted. I immediately bought a return ticket from the ticket office window for my return journey home after my jab.
The jab went well. I didn't even feel a thing. I was impressed by the way of the set up. Very efficient and I was glad to have finally got my first jab. Credit to the volunteers and staff at the NHS centre. Thank you for your service.
I took the train home and the guard checked my ticket on the train. I asked if I could purchase a ticket from him. He said yes.
I got home and luckily had no after effects from my jab. I rang my daughter and told her of my ordeal. She said "I told you to get an iPhone. You could have bought a ticket!". I still don't have any mobile phone
It was an experience I don't want to have again. I learnt a lesson. Turn up at Bamber Bridge 10 minutes before those gates go down!
Thanks for listening folks.
Karl.
I was issued a £20 penalty fare for travelling without a ticket from Bamber Bridge to Preston. I always buy a ticket before travelling. Always. I'm a 60 year old idiot!
On Tuesday I had an appointment for my first vaccine jab in Preston. I'd not been out of the house since last March. This was my first train journey for a whole year. I arrived at Bamber Bridge 5 minutes before my train departure time. Unfortunately the crossing gates were down and I was unable to access the Preston bound platform and was unable to buy a ticket from the machine. There was already an east bound train in the platform waiting to depart. Once the train had passed the gates I was ready to rush across to my platform and get my ticket and wait for my train. The gates didn't open and I waited hoping for them to open. I waited but time was ticking down. My train was now due and I was starting to panic. My train arrived into the platform, the gates raised, and Usain Bolt would have been proud of me as I set off across the tracks and up the platform and leapt onto the train as the guard was about to press two on the buzzer. Phew, I'd made it! I wasn't going to miss my jab.
Now I knew I'd boarded a train without a ticket. I was worried. I sat down and hoped to be able to buy a ticket from the guard like I've always been able to. We soon approached Lostock Hall and the guard came out. I asked him if I could buy a ticket. He said he was busy. I understood he needed to do the doors. We departed Lostock Hall and he returned to the cab. We were now nearing Preston and still no sign of seeing him. We arrived into Preston and I again asked him if I could buy a ticket. He told me he's packed his machine away and to buy a ticket from the inspectors.
Bad move
I had my payment ready as I approached an inspector on the gateline to purchase a £3.40 return from Bamber Bridge to Preston please.
No.
He then introduced me to one of his colleagues who took all my details and issued me with a penalty fare ticket for £20. I tried to explain my situation but he wasn't having it.
I was gutted. I immediately bought a return ticket from the ticket office window for my return journey home after my jab.
The jab went well. I didn't even feel a thing. I was impressed by the way of the set up. Very efficient and I was glad to have finally got my first jab. Credit to the volunteers and staff at the NHS centre. Thank you for your service.
I took the train home and the guard checked my ticket on the train. I asked if I could purchase a ticket from him. He said yes.
I got home and luckily had no after effects from my jab. I rang my daughter and told her of my ordeal. She said "I told you to get an iPhone. You could have bought a ticket!". I still don't have any mobile phone
It was an experience I don't want to have again. I learnt a lesson. Turn up at Bamber Bridge 10 minutes before those gates go down!
Thanks for listening folks.
Karl.