Ticket checks on HST

[whole diary]

[grahame]

I can see no way that someone holding a 'correct' ticket can legitimately travel for ^10 in the peak.

I agree with that analysis, and I should point out that we can't condone illegitimate travel in any way on this forum, nor accept posts that will significantly aid illegitimate travel.

[broadgage]

The general lack of ticket checks in First at weekends has actually put me off weekend travel.

I try now to only use weekday services, First on a Saturday now resembles steerage, but with larger seats.

Whilst I doubt that First class passengers would enjoy having their ticket examined after EVERY stop, I doubt that this would be required.
A reasonably alert ticket inspector should remember most of those whose tickets he has already checked, and only ask for tickets from those who just boarded.

[johoare]

I was travelling to Bracknell by train yesterday from Maidenhead.. My meeting got cancelled before I got to Reading.. So at Reading I had to go through the barriers, buy a ticket for as far as Maidenhead (my season ticket covered me the rest of the way) go back through the barriers and get a train into Paddington..

I could have missed out the buying the extra ticket bit as it wasn't checked... However fortunately I am honest so would never travel without one..

[devon_metro]

I can see no way that someone holding a 'correct' ticket can legitimately travel for ^10 in the peak.

Not without either breaking the byelaws, exploiting a loophole (and it'd be a massive one, soon closed), abusing staff travel facilities, or getting the nod from staff.

If there is a legitimate way to travel Bristol to Paddington ^10 return in the peak, then such a way has escaped the army of fares experts that are out there.

I can see a way to travel for ^10, however wouldn't describe it as legitimate... Call it an admin fee. Am I right?

[JayMac]

I suspect I know what you are alluding too d_m, but let's just leave it at that.

It would be fraud.

[aleph_0]

Hmmm.. it is the fact the post mentions "benefit from the lack of checks" which worries me.....

If they are taking advantage of a roundabout permitted route for some ticket, then being generous we might assume that this benefit is just lack of hassle, and the ticket getting noticed less, so a longer time before the routing guide is modified. We might also assume that, wisely, the figure has been rounded, and isn't in fact exactly ^10.

I'm not aware of any loopholes myself, but I do know people have managed to get comparable mileage on other lines for similar prices, so it seems entirely possible.

[bobm]

Returning to the original thrust of this thread.  I have just returned from the West Country after a weekend cooled by the sea breeze.  On my way down my ticket was checked and upgrade sold within 10 minutes of boarding.  On my return my ticket was again upgraded within 20 minutes of getting on.  I could also have had it checked a second time following a crew change.

The fact one of the trains involved was staffed by a member of this forum had nothing to do with it!   

As to the continuing speculation as to how to obtain a Bristol to Paddington ticket for ^10; as no-one has yet posted a legal way of doing so I think the subject is best left.