Deepgreen
Established Member
Just an observation, rather than a plea for advice. Yesterday evening I was on a Southern train from Victoria to Three Bridges, in first class. About five minutes before departure a woman entered and sat down and played with her 'phone, then a youth also entered and sat down opposite me, ominously carrying a fast food bag. As I feared, he proceeded to eat his unbelievably smelly food (chicken in some form, I think) noisily, while perched on the edge of his seat. He kept looking gormlessly around at the compartment while he ate. Within ten seconds of the train starting to move, a uniformed and a plain-clothes inspector entered and asked for tickets. Sure enough, neither had first class tickets - she tried to defend herself by saying there were no seats in standard (!), and followed this up with "you usually let me off" (whatever that meant), and he claimed not to have realised he was in first (despite the fact that he had been staring around the compartment for several minutes beforehand), and that he was only going to Clapham Junction anyway (oh, that's alright then!). Of course, he had no money or ID on him. He paid by card in the end. He also tried to protest that there wouldn't be time to complete the transaction before he needed to get off, but the pair of inspectors worked like a dream and completed it well before Clapham.
Both were charged £20, and both said they would challenge the penalties (on what grounds I have no idea!). Justice served very cold!
Both were charged £20, and both said they would challenge the penalties (on what grounds I have no idea!). Justice served very cold!
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