John Rowland wrote:
.. rather than challenge them to a dual?

Well, quite. I was just amazed that this was in the middle of the day -
in full view of everyone, including the guard on the Silverlink train
no doubt.

The fact is that the staff wouldn't dare approach these people, so they
get away with it (and we wonder why crime on the train network has shot
up - and that's even with most people probably not reporting incidents,
such as this example).

Any one of them could have called BTP, but I'm not naive to think they
would have been interested. Wagn's policy is to let people off if they
look like they will cause trouble. If there's a group, you must give
them a warning with a threat of action next time (that is meaningless
if you don't get any details). In other words, they get away with it
and it's no bloody wonder that it gets worse - as they tell their mates
how easy it is.

Yes, I suppose I'm annoyed that they're getting their travel for free
when I pay £2.5k a year, but there's more to it. These people make our
lives a misery, and they cause no end of damage to the trains, which
costs me even more. I like to think that they do get caught every now
and then, but you read in the paper what pathetic fines are dished out
to fare evaders in court and you wonder why they bother.

Anyway, to get back on topic, I think it will be a good thing to
/effectively/ turn the North London line into a tube line. Considering
it's been on the tube maps for ages, yet I know plenty of people that
barely recognise its existence, let alone use it.

Jonathan