Lost train ticket

Appelhanns · 24 May 2012 at 19:22

So I had a ticket for A long journey but I've lost the main ticket and one seat reservation ticket but still have 3 bike reservation and 2 seat reservation tickets.

Do I take the train anyway and argue the case that I have paid and have proof (email receipt)?

Or

Suck it up and buy another £60 ticket?

One · 24 May 2012 at 19:26

Argue your case. £60 for a new ticket is less than the £20 fine if they decide you jumped the train. Also, you'll be going through the big barriers, the oafs manning those barley check the tickets anyway, you hold up a load of them they'll glance at them see the current dates see you have bike tickets too and let you though no problems.

weringo · 24 May 2012 at 19:26

Take it anyway, the other reservations + email receipt + the fact no one is sitting in your seat should be enough.

Even if you get fined refuse to pay any of it up front and appeal the fine with the proof of purchase.

Job done.

desires said:
Argue your case. £60 for a new ticket is less than the £20 fine if they decide you jumped the train.

Fines are usually the greater of £20 or twice your ticket price.

Appelhanns · 24 May 2012 at 19:32

With the fine/court summons, will they not chuck me off as well?

There's 3 changes so it's definitely not going to go undetected but I'll give it a shot.

Cheers

[TW]Fox · 24 May 2012 at 19:41

It completely depends where you are going. There is no fine unless you are making a journey in a penalty fares zone. If you are not then they simply sell you a ticket, which officially can only be a full fare open single or return.

Technically speaking you have no ticket and therefore all the booking confirmations in the world are of no real value. No ticket, no travel. Your best bet is to telephone them in advance and see if they can help.

Ekim · 24 May 2012 at 19:42

In this type of situation, that your confident that your going to be checked, I'd be half tempted to find the ticket inspector first and let them know what has happened. That way at least it doesn't appear like your just trying to get away with it.

However I wouldn't be surprised if you end up with a penalty fare either way.

Appelhanns · 24 May 2012 at 20:09

Well the journey is Penzance to Stockport but with changover in Taunton, Birmingham and Nuneaton.

ThInk I'll go and ask super nicely about it at Inverness (closest) station tomorrow. Cheers

Tyron · 24 May 2012 at 20:14

Chance it.

Appelhanns · 24 May 2012 at 20:22

I will

Is it even legal in this day and age to fine somebody when they clearly have proof of purchase???

Unicorn · 24 May 2012 at 20:23

Osian said:
I will

Is it even legal in this day and age to fine somebody when they clearly have proof of purchase???

Check terms and conditions, You may find you need a ticket on your persons to travel on that said train at said time. a lot of ticket barriers have gone automated also so its needed really

[TW]Fox · 24 May 2012 at 20:27

Osian said:
Well the journey is Penzance to Stockport but with changover in Taunton, Birmingham and Nuneaton.

ThInk I'll go and ask super nicely about it at Inverness (closest) station tomorrow. Cheers

Osian said:
Is it even legal in this day and age to fine somebody when they clearly have proof of purchase???

There will be no fine on that route as it is not in a penalty fares zone. They can, and probably will, however, sell you a new ticket. The National Conditions of Carriage state that lost tickets are nor replaceable not refundable, sadly, proof of purchase or otherwise.

If you can still get a £60 advance purchase ticket on the same train then that is what I suggest you do as the ticket they'll be entitled to sell on the train could cost a heck of a lot more!

Amp34 · 24 May 2012 at 20:42

desires said:
Argue your case. £60 for a new ticket is less than the £20 fine if they decide you jumped the train. Also, you'll be going through the big barriers, the oafs manning those barley check the tickets anyway, you hold up a load of them they'll glance at them see the current dates see you have bike tickets too and let you though no problems.

You don't use the train much do you...?

They always ask for the ticket and a seat reservation won't do (how do they know you aren't sharing the ticket with someone else, or if it's an open return you haven't used the ticket already). As for the guy at the gate, they have always checked mine when going through.

Osian said:
With the fine/court summons, will they not chuck me off as well?

There's 3 changes so it's definitely not going to go undetected but I'll give it a shot.

Cheers

Personally I wouldn't chance it, even though the changes will make little difference as you will probably only go through barriers at the beginning and end of the entire journey. If you do get caught your reservations will be a bigger burden as they know what the entire journey is not just the train. If it's an advanced ticket double the standard single fare could be up to £200+...

EDIT: I forgot not everywhere was a penalty fare zone! Still a standard single will probably cost you more than the advance return and you a lost certainly will be checked multiple times.

Appelhanns · 24 May 2012 at 20:52

Dp :s

[TW]Fox · 24 May 2012 at 20:53

Amp34 said:
If it's an advanced ticket double the standard single fare could be up to £200+...

Actually in a Penalty Fare Zone it's £20 or double the standard single to the next station the train calls at not your destination. Then you've gotta buy a ticket on top, or get off the train.

Just for reference, mind, as this doesnt apply in this case.

Semple · 24 May 2012 at 20:57

If you still have your receipt then you'll be fine. Seen this plenty of times on the train where people have had their tickets reprinted.

[TW]Fox · 24 May 2012 at 20:59

Semple said:
If you still have your receipt then you'll be fine. Seen this plenty of times on the train where people have had their tickets reprinted.

This is poor advice and could cost the OP a fortune. He will NOT be fine unless he happens upon numerous friendly train managers who will allow him to travel. This is possible but unlikely. On-train staff cannot re-print a booking on the train anyway, they have no access to your transaction. If it were done as a matter of course it would be the easiest trick in the book, just get a load of duplicates of your open return printed based on your proof of purchase and bingo, loads of free travel.

The National Conditions of Carriage, which are basically the legally mandated T&C's of the railway, are clear that lost tickets are not refunded or replaced.

Amp34 · 24 May 2012 at 21:00

[TW]Fox;21993715 said:
Actually in a Penalty Fare Zone it's £20 or double the standard single to the next station the train calls at not your destination. Then you've gotta buy a ticket on top, or get off the train.

Just for reference, mind, as this doesnt apply in this case.

Interesting. Which is nowhere near as bad then.

[TW]Fox · 24 May 2012 at 21:01

Amp34 said:
Interesting. Which is nowhere near as bad then.

PF zones are generally found in urban areas or predominately commuter-railways. IE London and the South East, Birmingham, etc. Places where the next station is usually 10 minutes away at most. The idea is to discourage fare-dodging in areas where the train simply stops too often for a comprehensive ticket check to be carried out.

Amp34 · 24 May 2012 at 21:09

[TW]Fox;21993764 said:
PF zones are generally found in urban areas or predominately commuter-railways. IE London and the South East, Birmingham, etc. Places where the next station is usually 10 minutes away at most. The idea is to discourage fare-dodging in areas where the train simply stops too often for a comprehensive ticket check to be carried out.

Question for you then. Where is the fare from? It's to the next station but from the last station or from the train origin? If the latter that can get pretty expensive.

I've only ever had one penalty fare (commuting home but forgot to buy a ticket as I hadn't commuted in that day) and had to pay from the origin of the train I was on, not the last station.

[TW]Fox · 24 May 2012 at 21:13

From the station you got on at.