I recently got on a Crosscountry train from Stoke to Manchester, originating at Birmingham New Street. I had the right ticket, but the man next to me had a Virgin Trains only ticket. The guard said "That's a Virgin Trains only ticket. You'll have to buy a new ticket." Fair enough so far, but then he went on to say "What I should do is charge you all the way from Birmingham, but this time I'll only charge you from Stoke since that's where you got on". It's perhaps worth noting that the passenger had made it clear that he hadn't realised his error.
What I want to know is are guards allowed to do this? I thought something like that would be against the National Conditions of Carriage, surely they should always charge from where the passenger got on, even in the absence of a valid ticket? Or do you think the guard was just making this up in order to discourage the passenger from doing the same again? I'm inclined to think the latter.
What I want to know is are guards allowed to do this? I thought something like that would be against the National Conditions of Carriage, surely they should always charge from where the passenger got on, even in the absence of a valid ticket? Or do you think the guard was just making this up in order to discourage the passenger from doing the same again? I'm inclined to think the latter.