No ticket spells fine on trains

NORTHERN Rail users will be fined for travelling without a ticket on a number of new routes. The network said it is investing “millions of pounds” to introduce more than 600 new ticket machines, to ensure customers buy a ticket before travelling.

If caught without a ticket rail users will be fined £20 – or twice the single fare.

The new penalty routes include Wigan-Southport and Ormskirk-Preston and will come into effect on December 6.

The changes will affect journeys using stations that have either ticket offices or ticket vending machines.

In addition, customers travelling on the network can buy tickets before boarding trains by using the Northern App.

If these facilities are not available, or if offices are closed or machines out of order, Northern Rail said customers will still be able to buy a ticket from the onboard conductor.

There will also be a new feature on ticket machines that are card only, allowing customers to obtain “promise to pay” notices.

These can then be presented to the conductor and payment can be made.

If customers board from stations with ticket machines or staffed ticket offices, but do not have a valid ticket, they will only be eligible for standard fares if buying from the conductor, and could face a fine.

A Northern Rail spokesman said: “We are investing millions of pounds to introduce more than 600 new ticket machines across the network and have developed our website and mobile app to give customers more options and to make buying a ticket easier than ever before.

“However, there will still be some circumstances in which customers are unable to buy tickets and our authorised collectors are able to use their discretion to ensure no-one faces unfair penalties.

“Where customers do feel a penalty fare has been applied wrongly there is a tried and tested, independent appeals process which is used across the country.”