Boarding a TfW rail replacement bus without a ticket

On Sunday I am looking at getting the TFW rail replacement bus at 16.42 from Abergele and Pensarn to Chester. I want to pay for my ticket with cash. Will I be permitted to board without a ticket and pay at Chester? The ticket machine does dispense promise to pay notices.

Am I correct that at bus stop would be the one opposite the Co-op Food store (same side as Factory Outlet Store).

Also is this rail replacement likely to run as it has a double listing on BR Times, the rest of the train services are running normally and there is a train service shortly before at 16.35 (but then not another until 18.33) so I can't work out the purpose of this RRB or if it's just an error.

I quite like the idea of taking the back route in the light nights and seeing the places the train calls at.

gray1404 said:

On Sunday I am looking at getting the TFW rail replacement bus at 16.42 from Abergele and Pensarn to Chester. I want to pay for my ticket with cash. Will I be permitted to board without a ticket and pay at Chester? The ticket machine does dispense promise to pay notices.

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Do they even check tickets on RRBs? If the machine doesn't take cash then a PtP is perfectly in order.

gray1404 said:

Am I correct that at bus stop would be the one opposite the Co-op Food store (same side as Factory Outlet Store).

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It fits the NRE description and is the obvious one.

gray1404 said:

Also is this rail replacement likely to run as it has a double listing on BR Times, the rest of the train services are running normally and there is a train service shortly before at 16.35 (but then not another until 18.33) so I can't work out the purpose of this RRB or if it's just an error.

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Both RRBs are through from Holyhead - there's engineering work West of Llandudno Jn but why they are running through to Chester I can't work out.
There are two pairs each way, so it's unlikely to be an error.

30907 said:

Do they even check tickets on RRBs?

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Very rarely but does happen with longer running works. I've seen it at Manchester Piccadilly back during the Farnworth tunnel reboring, even had BTP chucking someone out.

30907 said:

Do they even check tickets on RRBs?

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Not seen TfW check tickets on the buses themselves but I have seen them checking tickets by the bus stops when people get off the bus at Pontypridd and Cardiff Central.

I would be flabbergasted if there was a ticket check. I think the coaches are from Chester area, so instead of running private back they're going back in service. There will be no rail staff & the bus drivers won't care about tickets.

Only times I've seen a ticket check before boarding on rail replacement buses has been at Preston during the overhead wire works towards Bolton and on C2C at Chalford Hundred on a bus for Grays.

Extremely rare to get ticket checks for replacement buses, especially away from the starting point. The staff on the ground have more on their plate dealing with directing passengers for the correct bus and the drivers are not revenue trained.

I've had my ticket checked before boarding or by the bus driver at numerous SWR stations (Woking, Basingstoke, Guildford, Winchester, Soton C, Weymouth to name a few). Also, been checked by TfW at Chester and Shrewsbury before. It's very rare but does happen.

embers25 said:

I've had my ticket checked before boarding or by the bus driver at numerous SWR stations (Woking, Basingstoke, Guildford, Winchester, Soton C, Weymouth to name a few). Also, been checked by TfW at Chester and Shrewsbury before. It's very rare but does happen.

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I assume the checks were before or upon boarding?

RJ said:

Not seen TfW check tickets on the buses themselves but I have seen them checking tickets by the bus stops when people get off the bus at Pontypridd and Cardiff Central.

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That's incredible they were checking them as people get off!

But of course it works as usual and if you're unable to purchase a ticket at your starting station then you can board the bus no problem and buy it at the earliest opportunity avaliable to you

Usually checks are by revenue staff before boarding or by over zealous bus drivers that have zero authority to check. I can only remember a couple of times I've been checked as I got off.