Railway system in this country

[Deepest Blue]

Yes, this is my point. Unless there's a bloke with a pop up canteen table set up at the bottom of the stairs at Stockport station, or someone checking off the platforms at piccadilly, then the alternative is to send a cheque in the post. Forgive me if I deduct the cost of the stamp... I wouldn't mind but these are both relatively major stations on the west coast main line. As I say, shambles.

Genuine question.

Were the ticket office and vending machine facilities unavailable on your journey/s?

Genuine answer.

I can buy a ticket at piccadilly yes (and do). For the avoidance of doubt, im not so poorly off that I'd have any interest in being meithered for trying to nick the value of a train fare. At Stockport, if there's a ticket purchasing arrangement other than the man and the pop up table described earlier, its not visible nor sign posted from anywhere between the Shawheath entrance and platforms 3 and 4. Unless anyone can tell me otherwise?

As far as I know there's a signboard at the bottom of the stairs under 3/4 directing
passengers to the ticketing facilities.
I did not mean to imply that you fare dodge but many passengers walk past the facilities provided and then say that the staff didn't come for the fare.
The law states that it is the passengers' own responsibility to pre purchase a ticket before boarding a train or to ask the guard for one if no facilities exist.
I have a grand total of one passenger approach me for a ticket in the last eight days.

I sometimes use Metrolink trams and have frequently had let one pass while buying a ticket. Seems that many don't think that the same does not apply on trains. The timetable is widely available. Plan your journey and there will rarely be any problem.

 

[totallywired]

It's a shambles, delays here and delays there. Why is this? You often see the excuse of lack of funding thrown around however I travelled to Bramhall from Todmorden on NYE and I wasn't stopped by a ticket conductor. I could have easily travelled for free without paying my way. I travelled back this evening and I tested it, this time not buying tickets. Once again, I wasn't checked. Free journey, bonus. Or is it? It infuriates me when trains are delayed, mainly because it's a regular occurrence. Instead of crying about funding, why don't we hire ticket conductors and employ them at every station or on every train. For those who don't know the railways too well, my journey consisted of Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly, neither hiring ticket conductors. May I add that I travelled between 16:00 and 18:00 on both occasions, peak time. I'd happily pay my way if it means that trains will operate like they do in China or Germany.

Thank God the festive period is over.

there is a guard on every train.

In the north yes, but some operators in south and southeast are driver only.
As I said earlier the guard does many jobs as well as ticket sales and would be sorely missed if they are victims of Mcc*nty.

They sure would be mate. Thats why a strike to defend jobs of all railworkers needed. Shove mcnulty`s report bsck up his arse and get on srike.

 

[Deepest Blue]

there is a guard on every train.

In the north yes, but some operators in south and southeast are driver only.
As I said earlier the guard does many jobs as well as ticket sales and would be sorely missed if they are victims of Mcc*nty.

They sure would be mate. Thats why a strike to defend jobs of all railworkers needed. Shove mcnulty`s report bsck up his arse and get on srike.

Hope the public at large will see the point of any industrial action over cuts.

Not sure they will but here's hoping.

 

[Maldeika]

How much do you have to pay if you get caught without a ticket in the train in England? I did not really understand that it is so important for you to be controlled.

In Germany e.g. there is no general controlling especially in the city trains and regional trains. But it costs 40 EUR if you get caught - and if you do it very often you can be ordered up to a year of prison.

 

[Dalian Blue]

How much do you have to pay if you get caught without a ticket in the train in England? I did not really understand that it is so important for you to be controlled.

In Germany e.g. there is no general controlling especially in the city trains and regional trains. But it costs 40 EUR if you get caught - and if you do it very often you can be ordered up to a year of prison.

On one of my last visits to Germany (2008?) I was on my regular trip on the S Bahn from Backnang to Stuttgart and what I can only describe as plain clothes ticket collectors were very active. it did seem to me that they knew who the culprits were and were targeting them.
I'm on the Cross country train from Reading to Piccadilly now and have had my ticket checked twice so far, not a problem. I've also seen a Chinese lady with two kids in tow ask to buy tickets as soon as the inspector turned up.
systems normal.

 

[Maldeika]

How much do you have to pay if you get caught without a ticket in the train in England? I did not really understand that it is so important for you to be controlled.

In Germany e.g. there is no general controlling especially in the city trains and regional trains. But it costs 40 EUR if you get caught - and if you do it very often you can be ordered up to a year of prison.

On one of my last visits to Germany (2008?) I was on my regular trip on the S Bahn from Backnang to Stuttgart and what I can only describe as plain clothes ticket collectors were very active. it did seem to me that they knew who the culprits were and were targeting them.
I'm on the Cross country train from Reading to Piccadilly now and have had my ticket checked twice so far, not a problem. I've also seen a Chinese lady with two kids in tow ask to buy tickets as soon as the inspector turned up.
systems normal.

In Milan you have to go throw gates and devalue your tickets or show it if it is season tickets in the U-Bahns and S-Bahns.

But I guess the percentage of Italians that would go without ticket otherwise would be pretty high. In Germany it is about 1 to 3 per cent that usually get caught at ticket controls. I remember that I tried it often without ticket when I was a teenager and never got caught - but got caught when I forgot my month ticket (no personal ticket) and had to pay.

 

[hilts]

Anyone who thinks a passenger should actively seek out a guard or look for a vending machine to purchase a ticket lives in cloud cuckoo land, in my experience they leave the station unmanned after peak time, a lot of guards cannot be arsed to issue tickets and i have walked out of piccadilly tons of times without being asked for my ticket

The amount of money lost must be enormous

 

[alib]

went to Newcastle and back from Manchester a few weeks ago for the City game and not once was I asked to produce a ticket!!! No wonder the train was rammed? Bet I was the only one who had a ticket?

 

[Deepest Blue]

Anyone who thinks a passenger should actively seek out a guard or look for a vending machine to purchase a ticket lives in cloud cuckoo land, in my experience they leave the station unmanned after peak time, a lot of guards cannot be arsed to issue tickets and i have walked out of piccadilly tons of times without being asked for my ticket

The amount of money lost must be enormous

It's the law mate.

Carry on if you like just like a lot of others who now have a criminal record, just don't whinge if you get collared.

 

[tidyman]

Anyone who thinks a passenger should actively seek out a guard or look for a vending machine to purchase a ticket lives in cloud cuckoo land, in my experience they leave the station unmanned after peak time, a lot of guards cannot be arsed to issue tickets and i have walked out of piccadilly tons of times without being asked for my ticket

The amount of money lost must be enormous

A few people could be in for a shock soon. As they are bringing in an £80 standard fine for people caught traveling without a ticket, when they have had an opportunity to buy one.