Travelling without a valid ticket
It is an offence to board the train without a ticket, where none of the exceptions above apply. If you are asked to purchase a ticket onboard the train, this will be at the full Standard or First Class single rate and you won’t be able to use a Railcard discount.
If you have a ticket, but it’s not valid for the journey, you will be requested to either pay an excess fare or purchase a new one (depending on the type of ticket that you have).
Below are examples of the kind of situations where you may be asked to pay an excess fare or purchase a new ticket.
- You have an Advance ticket, but get on an alternative service to the one shown on your reservation coupon (or you don’t have the corresponding seat reservation needed to validate your ticket)
- You’re traveling on a peak service with an Off-Peak or Super Off-Peak ticket
- You have a ticket purchased with a Railcard discount but don’t have the valid Railcard with you (or you haven’t met the conditions of the Railcard)
- You are in First Class accommodation but only have a Standard ticket
- You’re aged 16 years or older, but have a Child rate ticket
- You’ve travelled beyond the destination of your ticket
- Your ticket is only valid with an alternative Train Operator
If you can’t pay the fare on the spot, an authorised member of staff (Train Manager, Revenue Protection staff) may issue you with an Unpaid Fare Notice (UFN).