Should travelling passengers "grass" on non paying rail users?

[whole diary]

[BerkshireBugsy]

Anyone that has read some of my posts about ticket checks on early local services wil know that I am against fare evasion. Sadly on some services this is made easier by the lack of ticket checks on the very early runs which, I ave no doubt, makes it alt easier for some to travel regularly without paying. This post isn't about that.

On the reigate - reading journey leg of my normal journey home I have become aware of at east one passenger who boards the train at Guildford but when the TM^‡(resolve) comes around to checks tickets becomes "very anonymous" and never surrenders their ticket for inspection. They leave the train at northcamp which as far as i know doesnt have barriers.

This leads me to two speculative conclusions: firstly that the person boarded a train at a station other than Guildford and b they don't have a ticket

I'm curios to know if other members would mention this to a member of FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff? Or should butt out and keep my nse out of someone else's business ?

[EBrown]

If it's being done regularly; and you believe it's fare evasion, just drop a line to the Train Operator and tell them.

If you are quite sure it's fare evasion, file a case with BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) and do the above. In this case, you are not sure, so just send a quick message to FGW^▸ (First Great Western).

[BerkshireBugsy]

If it's being done regularly; and you believe it's fare evasion, just drop a line to the Train Operator and tell them.

If you are quite sure it's fare evasion, file a case with BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) and do the above. In this case, you are not sure, so just send a quick message to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) or email Jo about it and explain the situation. Jo is always helpful! (Joanna.Coverley) at the usual firstgroup.com address.

Many thanks EB. I must admit I think the TMs^‡(resolve) have a challenging task trying to remember whose tickets they have checked and those they havent so this is not intended to be a negative comment against them in any way (and I don't believe you interpreted as such). Of course in the end it comes down to the honesty of the customer.

I do remember a couple of months ago there being a blitz on ticket checks at North Camp station - I was on the train that took the RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context)) staff there although I didn't know it at the time. On this particular route the job of the TM is made more difficuly by the obstacle course created by customers luggage. But all in all on this route they do a damn good job.

[vacmanfan]

Yes absolutely... If you kept seeing Jo Bloggs walk into Tesco (other supermarket chains are available) and take a bottle of wine whilst you were paying for yours week in week out I'm sure you'd say something...

Too many people use the railway as a free ride!

[Chris from Nailsea]

Yes: see http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=7222.msg71991#msg71991