• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Ridiculous student room discussion on fare evasion

Status
Not open for further replies.

tsr

Established Member
Joined
15 Nov 2011
Messages
7,400
Location
Between the parallel lines
What do you eat??

Interestingly, the phrase "I'll eat my hat" refers to a "hatte" - a disgusting mixture of leftovers commonly eaten by servants in the Middle Ages if they absolutely had to (as a punishment, during war or if they were in dire need of food). The phrase doesn't refer to any item of clothing. It originated from the often ludicrous tales and rumours in servants' quarters. The message to be given out was "It's just as unlikely for that to be true as it is for me to choose to state that I will eat that muck".

Slightly off-topic ;) but it may be used in railway contexts: "If that's the onboard menu, I'll eat my hat" is normally swiftly followed by the eating of leftovers from the bin in the vestibule.
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

ANorthernGuard

Established Member
Joined
8 Oct 2010
Messages
2,662
Interestingly, the phrase "I'll eat my hat" refers to a "hatte" - a disgusting mixture of leftovers commonly eaten by servants in the Middle Ages if they absolutely had to (as a punishment, during war or if they were in dire need of food). The phrase doesn't refer to any item of clothing. It originated from the often ludicrous tales and rumours in servants' quarters. The message to be given out was "It's just as unlikely for that to be true as it is for me to choose to state that I will eat that muck".

Slightly off-topic ;) but it may be used in railway contexts: "If that's the onboard menu, I'll eat my hat" is normally swiftly followed by the eating of leftovers from the bin in the vestibule.


So the "hatte" was what Antonios cafe at Mcr Piccadilly modelled itself on before it changed hands lol <D<D
 

tsr

Established Member
Joined
15 Nov 2011
Messages
7,400
Location
Between the parallel lines
So the "hatte" was what Antonios cafe at Mcr Piccadilly modelled itself on before it changed hands lol <D<D

I imagine it formed a key part of their business plan. Actually, I have no idea, because I rarely use Manchester Piccadilly (most of my rail journeys are in the southeast). But if you say so...
 

FGW_DID

Established Member
Joined
23 Jun 2011
Messages
2,724
Location
81E
Sorry didnt mean to imply all RPIs were the same.

As the thread says though, she arrived late at the station and never had time to get a ticket. So it wasnt noticed about the purse until onboard. The guy then tried to pay the penalty fare but was stopped from doing so.

OK we only have the thread to go on, but if its correct, then the RPI acted very unfairly.

Not an excuse really, I get asked this all the time on the Platform:

Pax: can I buy a ticket on the train because it's due in a couple of minutes?

Me: No, you have to buy a ticket before you travel. There's ticket machines as well as the ticket office windows.

Pax: but there's a queue and I cant be bothered to wait.

There usually follows an explanation about the PF system and the fact that the next service is only 20 minutes later.

Usually results in the pax trotting off back to the ticket office / machines!
 

bobster1983

New Member
Joined
16 Dec 2011
Messages
4
Indeed that happens alot though i have noticed people turn up and just try their luck hoping the staff will allow them to travel, quite often people turn up hang around 10 mins and just use the excuse of saying they ran for the train because they think that is an exceptable reason they pay the fare. It seems people have the attitude of they think it more important than to actually pay for the service they are using.
 

ValleyLines142

Established Member
Joined
25 Jul 2011
Messages
6,844
Location
Gloucester
Why was the £20 fine bought into place anyway if he offered to pay for his girlfriend's ticket?

I personally think that Penalty Fares are absolutely ridiculous. If there's a ticket office or machine at the station then fair enough use it, but if you're running late and don't have time to buy one without missing your train then I don't see what the problem is. It's not like evasion of a fare is going to occur because one can just pay for a ticket on the train or at the station when they get off. Gets way, WAY over the top these days if you ask me.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Not an excuse really, I get asked this all the time on the Platform:

Pax: can I buy a ticket on the train because it's due in a couple of minutes?

Me: No, you have to buy a ticket before you travel. There's ticket machines as well as the ticket office windows.

Pax: but there's a queue and I cant be bothered to wait.

There usually follows an explanation about the PF system and the fact that the next service is only 20 minutes later.

Usually results in the pax trotting off back to the ticket office / machines!

See now I think that the old 'next service id due in 20 minutes' is ridiculous. Doesn't matter whether the next service is hourly, two-hourly, once a day or every 10 minutes, people still have to be at certain places at certain times or get a connecting train from somewhere. Yes admittedly time yourself to buy a ticket before boarding but this can't be judged accurately.

One merely can buy a ticket on the train, there is no trouble with that, most people are usually up for that, it's not like they'll get away with a free ticket.
 

Greenback

Emeritus Moderator
Joined
9 Aug 2009
Messages
15,268
Location
Llanelli
Why was the £20 fine bought into place anyway if he offered to pay for his girlfriend's ticket?

I personally think that Penalty Fares are absolutely ridiculous. If there's a ticket office or machine at the station then fair enough use it, but if you're running late and don't have time to buy one without missing your train then I don't see what the problem is. It's not like evasion of a fare is going to occur because one can just pay for a ticket on the train or at the station when they get off. Gets way, WAY over the top these days if you ask me.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


See now I think that the old 'next service id due in 20 minutes' is ridiculous. Doesn't matter whether the next service is hourly, two-hourly, once a day or every 10 minutes, people still have to be at certain places at certain times or get a connecting train from somewhere. Yes admittedly time yourself to buy a ticket before boarding but this can't be judged accurately.

One merely can buy a ticket on the train, there is no trouble with that, most people are usually up for that, it's not like they'll get away with a free ticket.

If everyone paid on the train, how would the guard (assuming there is one) be able to get around everyone?

On my morning train into Swansea from Llanelli, it's not always possible for the guard to sell everyone a ticket, and there is a TVM and an open booking office in Llanelli. ATW don't operate PF's, and seem to have no intention of introducing them, but on some of the lines that do have them it's impossible for someone to even get through the train at peak times, never mind sell tickets.
 

ValleyLines142

Established Member
Joined
25 Jul 2011
Messages
6,844
Location
Gloucester
If everyone paid on the train, how would the guard (assuming there is one) be able to get around everyone?

On my morning train into Swansea from Llanelli, it's not always possible for the guard to sell everyone a ticket, and there is a TVM and an open booking office in Llanelli. ATW don't operate PF's, and seem to have no intention of introducing them, but on some of the lines that do have them it's impossible for someone to even get through the train at peak times, never mind sell tickets.

Well Swansea has ticket barriers in operation so they can buy tickets at the ticket office or machine. There's no way people could get away with it.
 

Greenback

Emeritus Moderator
Joined
9 Aug 2009
Messages
15,268
Location
Llanelli
Not so. There are no barriers at the moment due to refurbishment.

Hopefully, when they come back there will be more of them, as three for arriving wasn't sufficient. When a busy HST, or two 175's arrived at the same time the barriers were opened up with not even a cursory check on tickets taking place.

It really isn't feasible to have a buy on board facility on all trains and all routes.
 

ValleyLines142

Established Member
Joined
25 Jul 2011
Messages
6,844
Location
Gloucester
Ah I see, haven't been down to Swansea since July. If I'm there for Uni I'll be doing the 50-minute commute from Cardiff every day!

Yes, it was busy on the open day in July (when I last went as I say).

I agree with you on that, but I think some kind of ticket stall should be set up to take tickets should as you say the conductor not have time or room to take tickets on the train.

Or you could even go globalised and have a mini mini self-ticket machine on the train. Now that would be cool.
 

Greenback

Emeritus Moderator
Joined
9 Aug 2009
Messages
15,268
Location
Llanelli
Ah I see, haven't been down to Swansea since July. If I'm there for Uni I'll be doing the 50-minute commute from Cardiff every day!

Yes, it was busy on the open day in July (when I last went as I say).

I agree with you on that, but I think some kind of ticket stall should be set up to take tickets should as you say the conductor not have time or room to take tickets on the train.

Or you could even go globalised and have a mini mini self-ticket machine on the train. Now that would be cool.

There used to be ticket buying facilities at the supervisor's door before the refurb. With the barriers closed and the guard unable to get down the train there was sometimes a lengthy queue. One day my other half couldn't buy a ticket (the guard had a broken machine, the ticket office in Llanelli was closed and the TVM wasn't taking cash) and had to wait for ten minutes while half the train was sold tickets at the doorway.

If the ticket office had been open, she, and probably most of the others would have bought their tickets before boarding.
 

ValleyLines142

Established Member
Joined
25 Jul 2011
Messages
6,844
Location
Gloucester
There used to be ticket buying facilities at the supervisor's door before the refurb. With the barriers closed and the guard unable to get down the train there was sometimes a lengthy queue. One day my other half couldn't buy a ticket (the guard had a broken machine, the ticket office in Llanelli was closed and the TVM wasn't taking cash) and had to wait for ten minutes while half the train was sold tickets at the doorway.

If the ticket office had been open, she, and probably most of the others would have bought their tickets before boarding.

Indeed.

If you take a prime example such as the 1709 Cwmbran to Milford Haven service. Say I was travelling to Bridgend. I arrive at Cwmbran station at 1705 and there is a queue, and I need to go over the footbridge across to platform 1, so I decide to buy a ticket on the train (obviously I would have taken it upon myself to buy one at Cwmbran's rather quaint ticket office had I had enough time). It is relatively busy and a lot of people need to buy tickets from the conductor too so he/she doesn't get round to everyone. By the time we get to Cardiff, which leaves at 1739, it is rammed to the rafters, again the conductor can't get round to everyone. So upon arrival at Bridgend, I can buy a ticket at the station, then shove it in the barriers and Bob's your uncle.
 

Greenback

Emeritus Moderator
Joined
9 Aug 2009
Messages
15,268
Location
Llanelli
I take it there's no TVM at Cwmbran? They can be very useful for simpler tickets as long as they are working!
 

ValleyLines142

Established Member
Joined
25 Jul 2011
Messages
6,844
Location
Gloucester
I take it there's no TVM at Cwmbran? They can be very useful for simpler tickets as long as they are working!

Indeed. I'm not sure actually, I don't go to Cwmbran that often, only for a spot of shopping and dinner. The station has recently undergone a refurbishment and now includes a larger car park, a new ticket hall, modern sheltered seating areas and new live departure boards like those seen at Newport if that's anything to go about so maybe there is one with the new development. Cwmbran's ticket office isn't that bad actually!
 

Greenback

Emeritus Moderator
Joined
9 Aug 2009
Messages
15,268
Location
Llanelli
Swansea is looking much nicer now, though the refurbishment isn't finished yet (barriers will probably be the last thing to get done!).

The new electronic screens on the platforms are much easier to read compared to the old TV monitor types, but sadly, at the moment there is no main departure board on the concourse. Not surprising really, as half the concourse is till closed off!
 

ValleyLines142

Established Member
Joined
25 Jul 2011
Messages
6,844
Location
Gloucester
Swansea is looking much nicer now, though the refurbishment isn't finished yet (barriers will probably be the last thing to get done!).

The new electronic screens on the platforms are much easier to read compared to the old TV monitor types, but sadly, at the moment there is no main departure board on the concourse. Not surprising really, as half the concourse is till closed off!

Will have to pop down to Swansea for the day soon :)

I must admit, Cardiff has just had the ticket office refurbished there as well, it looks fantastic, must admit!
 

Greenback

Emeritus Moderator
Joined
9 Aug 2009
Messages
15,268
Location
Llanelli
Will have to pop down to Swansea for the day soon :)

You shuld get a Plus Bus ticket and go around Gower. I do that occasionally, and I was born there!

Having a bus ticket also means you can avoid wlaking down High Street in Swansea, undoubtedly one of the grimmest parts of the city centre!
 

ValleyLines142

Established Member
Joined
25 Jul 2011
Messages
6,844
Location
Gloucester
You shuld get a Plus Bus ticket and go around Gower. I do that occasionally, and I was born there!

Having a bus ticket also means you can avoid wlaking down High Street in Swansea, undoubtedly one of the grimmest parts of the city centre!

I've already got the concessionary bus pass (the green one) so can go for free!

That is true, but everything is being done up isn't it?
 

Greenback

Emeritus Moderator
Joined
9 Aug 2009
Messages
15,268
Location
Llanelli
I've already got the concessionary bus pass (the green one) so can go for free!

Even better!

That is true, but everything is being done up isn't it?

There has been one new development in high St, but nothing is being done up as far I can tell. The old Elysium is still there, derelict, and there are quite a few closed up shops.

The 'characters' that lurk in the area are also still around!
 

island

Veteran Member
Joined
30 Dec 2010
Messages
15,982
Location
0036
You can technally if no penalty fares are in place, but officially only full price ones, no RCD discounts etc

You also can if on a penalty fares train but the staff member who approaches you is not an authorized collector.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top