London Banter - View Single Post - Thameslink ticket checks

Colin Rosenstiel · November 9th 03, 04:07 PM posted to uk.transport.london

In article ,
(Jon McD) wrote:

I wouldn't be surprised if ticket inspectors are not allowed touch or
detain passengers they suspect of not having tickets. Perhaps they can
radio ahead to request the police to be at the next station, but unless
the next stop is some time away the chances of police getting there in
time must be quite slim. It may be that tactics such as moving down the
train to avoid inspections, pretending to be asleep, pretending not to
speak English or just not replying to questions and then leaving the
train at the next stop are foolproof ways of avoiding fares and fines.

I'm sure that's not far wrong.

We had a yoof who didn't respond to increasingly loud attempts by a WAGN
ticket inspector to wake him up on the 10:15 Cruiser from Cambridge to
King's Cross the other day. He was so deeply asleep (or successful at
giving that impression) that the inspector arranged to stop the train at
Stevenage and call an ambulance for fear that he was unconscious. Luckily
WAGN inspectors have long carried mobile phones.

The ambulance crew eventually revived the guy. He was handed over the
transport police when he claimed to have no ticket or money. Meanwhile the
rest of the train's passengers were tipped out into the 10:31 ex-Cambridge
and arrived half an hour late at the Cross having stood all the way from
Stevenage.

I hope the courts were not lenient with him.

--
Colin Rosenstiel