There must be a better way.....

No system will stop evasion and abuse 100 per cent but that doesn't mean that nothing should be attempted. There are far too many options on tickets and with rail cards, all no doubt done with the best of intentions, but they are confusing to both passengers and staff.
I have a Senior railcard and also a Bus pass issued in West Yorkshire which gives me discount on rail travel within the county. They have different rules and discounts which if I travel outside of West Yorks it is possible to use both on one journey. This way lies madness and I'm sure that the same applies elsewhere on the network.
If a railcard is needed or thought advisable have them all with the same terms and conditions.

packermac said:

If there was a nationwide standard that said no ticket then no travel (yes that would mean a TVM would need to be put somewhere like Berney Arms everyone would no where they stood.
But we have Penalty Fares areas, buy on trains from a conductor (if he bothers), rules that appear not to be observed by some TOC's but are by others.
It is no wonder honest passengers are confused and as you say some will always try to fare dodge.

Click to expand...

You may well be right, but this is the UK, and our culture is not to have black and white rules and black and white circumstances. It just doesn't happen.
For this black and white situation to happen;
1. The Fares system needs simplification (and we all know how difficult that will be if it is to be revenue neutral or thereabouts)
2. Closure of some stations, where use is too low to justify TVMs
3. Acceptance that no one has the 'right' to travel unless they have a ticket already purchased. Probably also an acceptance that there is no right to pay cash.
4. Acceptance that train conductors'primary job is revenue checking/collection and train operating responsibility is with the driver.

All of that is rather controversial. Maybe it will come sometime!