. Lastly I am sure some bean counter somewhere has looked at fare evasion and decided on a model that sees a certain percentage being written off due to the high costs in collecting it. This I am sure is partly offset by the quiet stringent penalties and fines being imposed for what can be classified as minor transgressions. Also there will be an element of customers having to pay twice for misuse of advances and offpeaks etc which will also help counter the loss due to deliberate evasion.
In order to do this TOC's have to be prepared to play to letter of the law in enforcing AP tickets & other ticket restrictions, regardless of bad press or numerous appearances on Watchdog.
What is the point of having issuing new tickets only for customer relations then to refund costs so as to avoid bad publicity, which then gives passenger the idea they were right & staff were in the wrong.
TOC's have created an illusation that if automated ticket gates are installed then no more fare evasion but they cure minor problem of short distance ticketless travel but created a bigger one in having incorrect ticket for train travelling on.
In days of manned barriers staff could check for correct railcards to accompany the ticket & stamp AP tickets that passenger had been advised of restrictions so if they then chose to board alternative train & if caught by guard they had less grounds to appeal on. This was positive form of conflict avoidence as manned ticket barrier could deny travel so holding trump card where as once onboard that trump card as been lost & passenger can argue to the nenth degree.
