I have an annual season ticket (£5,000) for travel on any permitted route between Brighton and London - standard class.
It is the ill fated misery Southern Trains. Having recently changed jobs I no longer use Southern as need to use Thameslink between Brighton - London.
The new Thameslink trains are horrid with no tables and literally like cattle carts. I need to work on the train so decided that first class would be better as there is a table.
I went into Brighton ticket office and showed my annual gold card and said I want to pay to upgrade to first class on Thameslink. I was categorically informed that all new Thameslink trains first class is declassified so a standard ticket is fine. So I have been sitting in First class ab on occasions inside the carriage on the digital display it does state that any ticket can be in use to sit in first class. I also have asked the same question about upgrading at a London station and was told the same - no upgrade as no first class in operation currently.
Tonight on my way home tickets are checked my ticket/fraud prevention officers and like many others sitting in first class we were told we were breaking the law.
I explained what I’ve been told etc and said look I have a ticket for £5,000 do you really think I’m trying to avoid paying. So I said I’m hacked off because clearly station staff are giving out the wrong info so I’ll just pay the difference now but he said it was a criminal matter and would caution me.
So he wanted a formal statement, date of birth and all sorts which I refused to give on the basis I had a ticket and had offered to pay the price diffrnacw despite their incompetent staff.
Anyway I refused to sign anything but want to know what will happen?
I thought that they have to give you the opportunity to pay there and then. There were around 10 other passengers who all had tickets and were told the train was declassified and they issued everyone with a caution.
It is the ill fated misery Southern Trains. Having recently changed jobs I no longer use Southern as need to use Thameslink between Brighton - London.
The new Thameslink trains are horrid with no tables and literally like cattle carts. I need to work on the train so decided that first class would be better as there is a table.
I went into Brighton ticket office and showed my annual gold card and said I want to pay to upgrade to first class on Thameslink. I was categorically informed that all new Thameslink trains first class is declassified so a standard ticket is fine. So I have been sitting in First class ab on occasions inside the carriage on the digital display it does state that any ticket can be in use to sit in first class. I also have asked the same question about upgrading at a London station and was told the same - no upgrade as no first class in operation currently.
Tonight on my way home tickets are checked my ticket/fraud prevention officers and like many others sitting in first class we were told we were breaking the law.
I explained what I’ve been told etc and said look I have a ticket for £5,000 do you really think I’m trying to avoid paying. So I said I’m hacked off because clearly station staff are giving out the wrong info so I’ll just pay the difference now but he said it was a criminal matter and would caution me.
So he wanted a formal statement, date of birth and all sorts which I refused to give on the basis I had a ticket and had offered to pay the price diffrnacw despite their incompetent staff.
Anyway I refused to sign anything but want to know what will happen?
I thought that they have to give you the opportunity to pay there and then. There were around 10 other passengers who all had tickets and were told the train was declassified and they issued everyone with a caution.