What do you suggest? Roping off part of the platform to ensure that only people with valid tickets get anywhere near the train? Can the the relevant stations set up for that? Stevenage, for the few services that stop there, might prove a little difficult in that respect.
I expect there will be copious notices and numerous station announcements as well.
ECT is also a First Group company, which operates other services into Edinburgh (Avanti and TPE).
That's up to the new operator to manage, it really is. Saying "Oh, we find it too difficult, so we're going to stiff financially anyone boarding outside our conditions instead" is just not acceptable.
Why? Prople have to take responsibilty for their actions.
...and then watch the complaints to the media and MPs emerge. As is well versed, the reality is that there are people who expect to be able to just catch the next train. It isn't for nothing that the political mantra is "Our new deal for rail demands more for passengers. It will simplify people’s journeys, ending the uncertainty and confusion about whether you are using the right ticket or the right train company." as delivered by the Secretary of State for Transport on 21 September 2020.
Would it be possible for them to be part of the national ticketing system only between Newcastle and Morpeth?
East Coast Trains is not part of the DfT or "National" system, and won't be part of GBR (nor will HT or GC).
In theory, I can't see why not, but that would result in the situation where Morpeth to London passengers could hold a Morpeth to London ticket, on a train going from Morpeth to London on which that ticket was valid, having to disembark at Newcastle. Try explaining that one to the average punter.
The train journey from London to Edinburgh isn't that much shorter than a flight from London to New York...
I hope that the HS2 can change this. Meanwhile I'll just take a plane for such journey unless I'm travelling overnight.
Even in Bournemouth? Or on a 4 hour long distance inter-city route such as to Edinburgh?
To be fair it's not really the forum's doing. The fact that this practice is just a few years old on most route, still isn't ever the case on some routes where Advance tickets would be available otherwise, and the name given to the tickets being rather illogical under the circumstances of purchasing immediately before travel makes it a typically 'railway' misunderstanding.
Not all. Some specifically require purchase by 6pm/11:59pm the day before travel.
OK well let's agree to differ, but I guess you didn't have to deal with DfT officials who couldn't understand why there were no national rail retailing facilities at Heathrow Airport, why there were no through tickets to places other than Paddington etc. Staff privs couldn't be used on HEx (they can now). So it's a lot better than it used to be, much closer to Gatwick and Stansted which are advertised and marketed as distinct services but are part of the network.
What if the next train doesn't have a seat available? That's the flexibility needed especially in peak hours. A train doesn't have the safety issue which prevent passenger standing the whole journey, unlike an aeroplane or a coach.
I have just completed my trip to London and one of the most appealing thing for me, compared to the high speed super nation, is that I can take a train like a tube whenever I want just by using an Oyster, even on the HS1 between St Prancas and Stratford International. This kind of thing should be England-wide in my opinion. The HS1 has made commuting from Folkestone to London practical. I understand that people like to reserve a seat in advance for longer journey (i.e. those to Cornwall or to Scotland) but I believe this is the point of having first-class travel. Standard class should just be treated as cattle class in my opinion, with maximising passenger capacity and quick movement of passengers the goal.
I board a train at Metrocentre and don't tap out. What fare will I be charged?
Your card will be blocked and you need to find staff assistance to unlock it for further travel.
Standing for a few stops on a busy commuter service is one thing. Standing for hours on an express which first calls at Newcastle is quite another. I know that because I've done it - stood almost all the way on a train from King's Cross to Newcastle. It was absolutely horrible and pretty tough physically towards the end.
But what fare will be due?
Up to a maximum fare if the staff isn't convinced about your explanation.
Which is what?
