There have been a few cases where failing to meet the standards of 'best practice' have resulted in actual consequences. Southeastern were required to part suspend their Penalty Fares scheme a few years ago because too many of the stations didn't have ticket machines that worked often enough. GWR released information suggesting a move to a new scheme (to take together their current 3 schemes) which seems now very unlikely to ever happen (under the current franchisee). Exactly why this is remains unclear, but it's possible that it's related to the cost of the neccesary improvements. Their current 'West' scheme has always perplexed me, including as it does only 5 stations west of Plymouth - even Penzance is not included. Some changes to Southern's Penalty Fare scheme were recently approved, this involved a number of unstaffed stations joining the scheme after GTR installed card-only ticket machines. I think this now means that every station served by Southern is now covered by a Penalty Fare scheme, although I'm not certain on that score as their leaflet has had the map removed. East Midlands Trains Penalty Fare scheme was recently extended to include the Robin Hood line, despite there not being any staffing increases (that I'm aware of?). A large number of the stations are still unstaffed. It seems like an entirely inapprpriate candidate for Penalty Fares to me but apparently it was good enough for the DfT. There have also been a number of bizarre inconsistencies where stations have been included in Penalty Fare schemes despite having no way at all to buy tickets, such as Dronfield and Weeley. Spondon and Colwall are ostensibly included in the Penalty Fares schemes even today, despite not having ticket machines, because they have PERTIS. There are probably more examples of this - I do not understand how it is remotely appropriate.
Merseyrail have probably got the best Penalty Fare scheme - there are almost no holes in it. The only improvements I would suggest would be a few more ticket machines at key stations that lack them (e.g. Birkenhead Central).
On balance, even if it does not follow best practice Northern's penalty fare scheme is likely to be an improvement, but only really because they are currently well known for operating in a different universe to best practice.
Merseyrail have probably got the best Penalty Fare scheme - there are almost no holes in it. The only improvements I would suggest would be a few more ticket machines at key stations that lack them (e.g. Birkenhead Central).
On balance, even if it does not follow best practice Northern's penalty fare scheme is likely to be an improvement, but only really because they are currently well known for operating in a different universe to best practice.
Last edited: