The Ticket Collector

Fares ‘revision’ 18th May.

On the 18th May the new revised fares will be coming into effect on the National Network. Some companies have withdrawn some tickets and replaced them with more expensive tickets.

In January 2008 the overall allowable average increase for regulated fares Peak day and Season Tickets was 4.8%, with variations by flow and ticket type up to a maximum 9.8% increase.

Some Train Companies did not use the full yearly increase and therefore will be increasing the tickets to the yearly maximum this time around.

National Express East Coast (NXEC) will be increasing their already expensive tickets some more in May. We have also received reports (from an unnamed travel centre clerk) that they will charge everyone without an advance ticket a seat reservation charge of £1 for each seat reserved. Is this to stop the season ticket holders reserving seats, or is it to pay for for a new seat reservation printer so they can finally put out reservations 07:20 at Peterborough and late night services out of Kings Cross?

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Ticket names to change.

As if you were not already confused by the huge number of different ticket names, the powers that be have decided to change the names yet again.

So say goodbye to the SuperSaver, the Saver, the Cheap Day Return, the Standard Day Return and say hello to Super Off-Peak and Anytime.

The new ticket types are as follows.

Severe weather warning - Friday 1st and 2nd February.

Severe weather conditions have been forecast by the Met Office for the UK for Friday 1 and Saturday 2 February. The weather warning is valid from 0001 Friday 1st until 0600 Saturday 2nd February.

The Met Office continues to forecast colder weather to spread southwards across the UK during Friday and at first on Saturday giving heavy snow in places. Areas most at risk include Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland from early on Friday, extending to northern and central England and much of Wales on Friday afternoon, and perhaps into southern areas on Friday evening. Northern areas could see accumulations of 10cm of snow, with up to 20cm on higher ground, and blizzard conditions and snow drifts could occur in strong winds. Southern areas could see accumulations of 2 to 5cm of snow by Saturday morning. Disruption to transport and power networks is likely and the public are advised to take extra care. This warning will be updated by 1200 Friday 1st February unless superseded by Flash warnings.

Free off peak C2C rail ticket.

C2C are offering anyone in the UK, 18 and above, one FREE return ticket for travel anywhere on their network. We have checked the Terms and Conditions of this ticket and it is FREE, you also get entered into a draw to win a yearly season ticket. You need to fill in the form on their website before 29th Feburary and the ticket is vaild for one off-peak return journey on C2C only.
http://www.c2c-online.co.uk/we_ve_only_got_one_wish_on_our_list
The catch is they want your details such as name and address and Email address. You could just signup with a free Email company such as Gmail or Hotmail, claim your free ticket and then once you get the free ticket never use that Email again! http://www.c2c-online.co.uk/we_ve_only_got_one_wish_on_our_list

Please remember to link back to this page if you copy this onto any other site.

C2C Terms and Conditions
GENERAL: No purchase necessary. Entrants must be 18 years old or over.

FREE RETURN TICKET: The free return ticket is available to all passengers who complete an entry, whether online or paper based. It is valid for one return off peak journey anywhere on the c2c line and can be used up to and including Saturday 31 May 2008. One ticket per person registering with c2c. All free tickets will be posted to the contact address given on the entry form before Friday 29 February 2008. The ticket is valid for use by any person presenting it for travel on the c2c line before Saturday 31 May 2008. Not for use in conjunction with any other offer. Damaged, reproduced or photocopied tickets will not be accepted. No cash value and no refunds available. This offer is subject to availability. c2c National Conditions of Carriage apply

FREE ANNUAL SEASON TICKET PRIZE DRAW: All completed forms received, whether online or paper based, will be entered into a free prize draw. One entry will be drawn and the winner notified by post to the address given on the entry form. The draw will take place on Friday 29 February 2008. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Following confirmation, the winner will be sent an annual season ticket for travel on the c2c line. No cash alternative is available. Should the winner already hold an annual season ticket with c2c, the cost of the annual season ticket will be refunded following proof of purchase. Should the winner hold a monthly season ticket, the prize will constitute an upgrade to a full annual season ticket. Normal season ticket holder terms and conditions apply. Details of the final winner will be made available upon written request to c2c head office from Friday 7 March 2008.

Thanks to Suzy Scott for this.

Forecast of flooding to affect eastern England

Due to a forecast of high tides and strong winds creating possible flood conditions, train services along the eastern coasts of England may be subject to disruption during Friday 9th November

One Railway services are suspended between Norwich and Lowestoft/Great Yarmouth. Passengers are advised there are no alternative arrangements in place and are advised not to travel. Passengers for Brundall Gardens, Brundall, Cantley Reedham, Haddiscoe,Somerleyton and Oulton Broad are advised not to travel.

No ticket? False details given?

If you travel on the Railway without the correct ticket and dont have a vaild reason or excuse, several things could now happen to you.

If you are stopped at your final destination you could be Penalty Fared twice the single fare or £20 whichever the greater, for your complete journey.

It is an offence to provide false details, or to refuse to provide details. The maximum penalty after conviction is up to 51 weeks prison. Regulation of Railways Act 1889 as amended by Criminal Justice Act 2003

You have the right of appeal on all Penalty Fare notices, You can do this by writing to the address on the Penalty Fare notice within 21 days and stating your reasons for appeal.

You could be recommended for prosecution, a statement may be taken by the Inspector and you will be contacted by the Fraud department of the Railway Company. Maximum fine is £1,000 plus costs. Regulation of Railways Act 1889. However if you swear or are abusive to the Inspector this could increase your fine. Public Order Act

Again it is an offence to provide false details, or to refuse to provide details. The maximum penalty after conviction is up to 51 weeks prison. Regulation of Railways Act 1889 as amended by Criminal Justice Act 2003.

It is your responsiblity to purchase a ticket for the whole of your journey before you get on the train. If there is a long queue at the ticket office/ticket machine, this does not allow you to get on the train without a ticket, it is still your responsibility to allow yourself sufficient time to buy a ticket before travelling.

At stations where there is only one self-service ticket machine there is a further automatic machine called a Permit to Travel machine. This is normally located near the station entrance / exit or beside other self-service machines. You should insert the maximum number of coins you have with you into the Permit to Travel machine, up to the value of your journey. Press the button and you will be issued with a Permit to Travel. Failure to insert the maximum number of coins may lead to you being issued with a Penalty Fare or recommended for prosecution for Permit Abuse.

If their is a genuine reason for you traveling without a ticket (such as ticket machine broken or ticket office closed) then you may not be recommended for prosecution or charged a Penalty Fare, but if there is another method of payment available then you may be issued with a Penalty Fare or recommended for prosecution.

The above information is intended as a guide only and should not be regarded as a complete or authoritative statement of the law or regulations. TheTicketCollector.co.uk cannot give advice on any Penalty Fares issued and cannot help in any Penalty Fare Appeals.

No Smoking on ANY UK station.

Smoking Ban finally arrives.

So its finally arrived, the national smoking ban. All of the railway companies have decided to make all of their premises and property completely smoke free areas.

If you are caught lighting up in a enclosed public area or on a railway station you will face a fine of £50. Railway stations are covered by existing bye-laws and belive it or not were smoke free before the new national smoking ban even came into force.

Also dont drop your fag ends on the floor as this will result in a fine of £80. There are lots of Enforcement officers just waiting around the corner to fine you.