These are the questions featured in the call for evidence questionnaire for our review of train operators’ revenue protection practices. The call for evidence closes on 17 January 2025. Some questions relate to previous answer choices. Some questions are voluntary. Read our privacy notice.
You can respond online or write to:
Revenue Protection Review
Office of Rail and Road
25 Cabot Square
London E14 4QZ.
Have you (intentionally or unintentionally) boarded a train in Great Britain without a ticket, or with an invalid ticket, or been told by rail staff that this is the case?
- Yes
- No
[If no, thank you for your time, but the information you have provided means that your response is out of the scope for this review.]
What train operator was involved?
If the operator is not listed below (e.g. London Underground), it is out of the scope of this review.
- Avanti West Coast
- c2c
- Caledonian Sleeper
- Chiltern Railways
- CrossCountry
- East Midlands Railway
- Elizabeth Line
- Gatwick Express
- Grand Central
- Greater Anglia
- Great Northern
- Great Western Railway
- Heathrow Express
- Hull Trains
- Island Line
- London North Eastern Railway
- London Northwestern Railway
- London Overground
- Lumo
- Merseyrail
- Northern
- Thameslink
- TransPennine Express
- Transport for Wales
- ScotRail
- Southern
- Southeastern
- South Western Railway
- Stansted Express
- West Midlands Railway
- Operator not listed
What action did the train company take?
- I was allowed to continue with my journey by train or station staff, e.g. I bought my ticket on the train
- I had to buy a new ticket for my journey, or paid an additional fare (known as an “excess fare”)
- I paid a penalty fare which included the cost of a new ticket
- I was prosecuted, or paid to settle out of court
- None of the above
Where were you at the point you engaged with the rail staff about your ticket? We need to ask this as different rules apply in different UK nations
- England
- Scotland
- Wales
- I don't know
What was the date? (If you cannot remember the specific date, just use your best estimate)
What did the operator do?
What was the reason given by the member of rail staff?
- No ticket
- Invalid ticket
- Something else (Please specify)
What was the reason given on the penalty fare notice?
- No ticket
- Invalid ticket
- Something else (Please specify)
What was the reason given for the prosecution on the letter you received from the train operator or their agents?
- No ticket
- Invalid ticket
- Something else (Please specify)
What is your view of what caused this situation? Tick all that apply
- I thought my ticket was valid for my journey but it was not
- I did not understand the terms and conditions
- I could not find the information I needed at the station
- I could not find the information I needed online
- I could not buy the ticket I wanted at the station
- Because the ticket machine or ticket office was not accessible to me
- I think I was sold the wrong ticket for my journey by station staff
- I think I was sold the wrong ticket for my journey online
- I was unable to collect a pre-paid ticket
- I was in a rush and didn’t buy a ticket
- The queue was so long I would have missed my train
- I only had cash and the ticket machine was card only
- I thought I could buy a ticket on the train
- I got on the wrong train
- I lost my ticket (but could prove I bought one)
- I could not find my ticket at the time (but I’ve now found it)
- My phone ran out of battery, or I had another problem with my phone, so I couldn’t show my ticket or railcard
- I did not have my railcard on me
- My railcard had expired
- My railcard wasn’t valid for the journey I was taking
- I did not want to pay the full fare / I thought I could get away without paying
- Something else (Please specify):
Were you aware of the consequences of starting your journey without a ticket or with an invalid ticket?
- Yes
- No
- I don't know
Did you pay the penalty fare?
- I paid within 21 days and paid a discounted amount
- I paid after 21 days and paid the full amount
- I did not pay
- I appealed
What happened when you did not pay the penalty fare?
- The matter was passed to civil recovery (i.e. action was taken to recover the debt in a civil court)
- The fare was withdrawn / cancelled and I was prosecuted
- The fare was not withdrawn / cancelled and I was prosecuted
- Something else (Please specify):
Was your appeal successful?
- Yes, at first stage appeal
- Yes, at second stage appeal
- Yes, at third stage appeal to the independent committee
- Yes, but I don’t know / cannot remember what stage
- No, it was not
- Still pending
- What happened after your appeal was unsuccessful?
- I paid the penalty fare
- I did not pay the penalty fare
- I was prosecuted
- What happened next?
- The case was settled out of court
- The case was decided by a court
- The case was dropped without a settlement agreement
- Were you prosecuted using the Single Justice Procedure (SJP)?
- Yes
- No
- I don't know
- What was the outcome of the court case?
- I was found guilty
- I was found not guilty
- The case is still pending
- Other (please specify):
What was the decision of the court, e.g. the level of fine?
What effect has this experience had on you?
Do you have any copies of letters or other communication that you would like to share with us?
Any information you provide will be treated as confidential. We may use it as a case study and check what details the relevant operator holds in your case. In uploading/sending your document you consent to this use.
How do you think you were treated?
- Very fairly
- Fairly
- Neither fairly nor unfairly
- Unfairly
- Very unfairly
Is there anything further you would like to add?
Are you willing to provide your contact details, to enable us to follow up with you?
- Yes
- No
[If yes] Please enter your name
- First name
- Last name
[If yes] You can enter your preferred contact details in one, other, or both of the below boxes.
- Email address
- Phone number
The following questions are voluntary
How old were you when the incident took place?
- 16-19
- 20-25
- 26-30
- 31-40
- 41-50
- 51-59
- 60-69
- 70-79
- 80-89
- 90 or older
Your gender is best described as?
- Male
- Female
- Non-binary
- Transgender female
- Transgender male
- Prefer not to answer
- Another gender type not listed (specify)
Your ethnicity is best described as?
- Asian or Asian British
- Black: Black British, Caribbean or African
- Mixed or multiple ethnic groups
- White: England, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British
- Prefer not to answer
- Other ethnic group (specify)
What is the highest level of education you have completed?
- No formal qualifications
- One to four GCSE passes (grade A*-C or grade 4 and above) and any other GCSEs at other grades, or equivalent qualifications
- Five or more GCSE passes (grade A*-C or grade 4 and above) or equivalent qualifications
- Apprenticeships
- Two or more A Levels or equivalent qualifications
- Higher National Certificate, Higher National Diploma, bachelor’s degree or post-graduate qualifications
- Prefer not to answer
- Other (for example vocational or work-related qualifications) (specify)
Do you have any disability or long-standing health problem that makes it difficult for you to use the transport network?
- Yes
- No
- Prefer not to say