Valid Ticket:Train Fine, Court Date

[Peach]

I wonder if anyone could possibly offer advice...

Back in April I travelled from Peterborough to Kings Cross. I bought a return ticket in advance on line (trainline.com)
There were delays to my train so I went away and returned at the time it was delayed until and boarded the train. My ticket was checked and was fine, however it was later checked by another guard who said it wasn't valid. Turns out I boarded the wrong time train and my ticket wasn't valid on this one. It was the same journey just a train a few minutes later.

I offered to pay to upgrade my ticket, but this was denied. The guard said he would issue me with a fine, which I couldn't afford to pay there and then. Another outraged passenger encouraged me to appeal the case, which I have done. I sent off my appeal, which was rejected.

I pleaded guilty to my case and have a court date coming up very soon.

I am a student with a young persons rail card, I use the train at least four times a week and have always bought a ticket (rarely using the internet) Why are they punishing people who pay for their tickets, when there are plenty who avoid rail fares completely? This is my reasoning behind appealing.

Has anyone had a similar experience or any advice for when I go to court? I really cannot afford to have over a hundred pounds to pay plus the ticket cost, when i already spent £26 on the original ticket.

[Threadkiller]

Plead guilty, pay the fine and then sue the rail company in a separate case, let them know you're doing it too, the issue you're going to sue them for is "failure to provide fulfilment of service", make sure you go get a copy of the CCTV to prove you were there on time and the rail-timetable which will say the train you were meant to be on was cancelled.

Other than that I don't know what else to do.

Ps sorry you waited so long on a reply, I haven't been in this section in a wee while.

[whitebakecase]

by simply entering a guilty plea the case is already wrapped (to "them"), so best you can do is pay up and as above, take on the train firm, although its worth remembering (if ther is a next time).. dont accept any paperwork or sign anything in future until your absolutely clear on your rights

[free-man-on-a-boat]

Sorry to hear what happened, is there a specific "offence" that you've committed, in the court summons? Also have the train company provided statements? Have you written one yourself? Even as a person I would challenge the fine, due to the circomstances, namely the delayed trains, and the fact that you had a ticket specifying an arrival time, which you did not arrive upon. It is possible for you to revoke your guilty plea at any time before sentancing if you feel that you made an error in pleading guilty, through lack of information availible to you at the time of entering the plea.

Seemingly you had a contract with them, to deliver the ticket holder to a destination at a perscribed time as marked on the ticket, if you arrived late the contract has been dishonoured at their end by X amount of minutes, simple as that, what did the delay cost you?

A few months ago I boarded a train without a ticket, with money intending to buy one, as I was running late and the train was about to leave. Couple of florecent jacket types boarded the train and demanded I go use a machine to buy the ticket, rather than pay the conductor. Begrudgingly I got off, after chaining the dog to the armrest, and leaving my rucksack unattended, walked to the machine, bought a ticket and re-boarded the train.

Seemingly train tickets are issued to "persons". Does anyone know if the queen buys a train ticket for her journey to kings lynn each year?

[legaleagle]

I think (but I'm not sure) that the queen owns the coach she travels on. I can't see her huddled in economy between a man on his telephone and someone else sleeping while leaning on her

[alton]

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