Travelling without a train ticket, what will happen?

[JohnSmithDrive]

Due in London for a 1pm meeting.

Arrived at local station in good time for the train only to find 2/3 ticket machines are out of order and the ticket office is closed. The man reading the paper behind the counter said he didn't know what would happen if I try to buy at the other end. No exaggeration there were 50 people queuing for the one machine and that queue moves slowly at the best of times.

So, I got on the train and have bought a ticket on line, for collection at the London Station, but I need to get through the ticket barrier first. Although I have purchased a ticket, I technically don't have a ticket ....

@Hellocatshome

Do they not have a guard on the train to sell tickets? I havent seem a guard on a train for over 2 years. Do they still exist?

I think it depends what line you are on. They are still on ours and still come through checking (and selling) tickets!

@eveningbubble

but you have paid, don't worry, just act thick.

Act thick? Why would you do that? Explain what you’ve done and why, don’t stress about it, they’re train guards, not the bloody Gestapo.

What happened? My son lives outside London but was there with his girlfriend. They made a side trip and thought their Oyster cards could be used but they travelled outside the zone and were fined at the end - a couple teenagers but no excuse they were travelling without a valid ticket.

I would worry. Train guards are not lenient.

@JuergenSchwarzwald

Plus the fact you can probably follow someone through the barriers. I've done that when my ticket wouldn't work (probably due to having it too near my mobile phone!)

Don’t do this - it’s infuriating when you’re walking through the barrier & some pillock suddenly shoves you forward so they can come too! I fell over last time someone did it to me & the wanker just dashed off.

I've done this before when the ticket machines were broken and no one in the ticket office. ( which had a sign directing you to use the broken machines)

I took pictures of all this as proof and then presented myself at London Bridge at the excess fares booth. Was made to buy a ticket , (obviously, no problem there) and then bloody fined for travelling without one, even when presenting photo evidence. I asked to see several people of increasing hierarchy, all of whom agreed I needed to pay the fine. I was in a hurry for a meeting so I sucked it up but it really rankled with me. It did not occur to me at the time to go online and buy a ticket!However, that wasn't suggested to me as something I should have done by any of the three massive jobsworths I spoke to on the day. It would have been helpful if the initial closed ticket office had put this as a solution on its note instead of pointing you to broken ticket machines...

Anyway. Hope they let you through OP.

Don’t do this - it’s infuriating when you’re walking through the barrier & some pillock suddenly shoves you forward so they can come too! I fell over last time someone did it to me & the wanker just dashed off

They were clearly a pillock. I've managed to do it without knocking into anyone, although the barrier slams back so quickly, and with such force, that it nearly breaks your arm.

I think train guards are more likely to be lenient than the guys on the barriers. Anyway the OP hasn't come back so we don't know what happened.

They were clearly a pillock. I've managed to do it without knocking into anyone, although the barrier slams back so quickly, and with such force, that it nearly breaks your arm.

If you can do it without touching the person in front then yes, not a pillock.

Well what happened op?

@Hm2020

Well what happened op?

Probably nothing.

It was all fineish. The man on the ticket barrier quizzed me about my starting station, I think he thought I'd probably travelled further than I claimed, but begrudgingly let me through

Excellent update.

oh that's good news OP.

Thanks for the update. Unrelated, pity someone asked you to come face to face for a meeting in London. I wonder if it was really necessary.