Queue longer than 5 minutes, do I have permission to board..
Discussion
So, the fiancee quite often has to miss her train because the queue is about 15 minutes at the local station.
I've read guidance that states "if the queue is longer than 5 minutes (at peak times) and 3 minutes (off peak) you can ask permission to board the train without a ticket".
Anyone have any experience of enacting this recommendation and also is it possible to get blanket coverage in a problem area?
I've read guidance that states "if the queue is longer than 5 minutes (at peak times) and 3 minutes (off peak) you can ask permission to board the train without a ticket".
Anyone have any experience of enacting this recommendation and also is it possible to get blanket coverage in a problem area?
Surely if the queue / delay is regularly 15 minutes, then common sense suggests you just make sure you get to the train station 15 minutes earlier to account for it. That used to work perfectly for me a few years ago when I was travelling into London in the rush hour 
Depending on the area, stations involved, etc, how is she going to board without a ticket anyway? Most of the mainline, and even some branch, stations round my way are all entry / exit points that require the ticket or Oyster Card, etc, to be presented electronically otherwise there's no way onto / off the platform unless the barriers have been left open (if it's exceptionally busy).
Also is there a guard / ticket officer on the service she uses to process the purchase of a ticket once she's on the train? Could be a problem if there isn't when it comes to leaving at the end destination.
Depending on the area, stations involved, etc, how is she going to board without a ticket anyway? Most of the mainline, and even some branch, stations round my way are all entry / exit points that require the ticket or Oyster Card, etc, to be presented electronically otherwise there's no way onto / off the platform unless the barriers have been left open (if it's exceptionally busy).
Also is there a guard / ticket officer on the service she uses to process the purchase of a ticket once she's on the train? Could be a problem if there isn't when it comes to leaving at the end destination.
Edited by AlexRS2782 on Wednesday 15th July 21:40
John145 said:
So, the fiancee quite often has to miss her train because the queue is about 15 minutes at the local station.
I've read guidance that states "if the queue is longer than 5 minutes (at peak times) and 3 minutes (off peak) you can ask permission to board the train without a ticket".
Anyone have any experience of enacting this recommendation and also is it possible to get blanket coverage in a problem area?
Sorry. no I don't. As has been mentioned many times in respect of other topics, guidelines are not law.I've read guidance that states "if the queue is longer than 5 minutes (at peak times) and 3 minutes (off peak) you can ask permission to board the train without a ticket".
Anyone have any experience of enacting this recommendation and also is it possible to get blanket coverage in a problem area?
I certainly wouldn't want to take the gamble in a penalty fare area.
You may find this of interest - http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=11084...
As the previous poster has intimated, if this is a regular occurrence, why doesn't she get up quarter of an hour earlier?
Another is why is it happening to her often: does she not have a season ticket?
V8forweekends said:
Buy a ticket the day before?
That could be a solution. Provide the ticket window is still open when you return from your commute of course.By no means the case at every station though, which was true of my local one in the days before I ceased using the train to get to work.
Season ticket renewals were a frequent source of queues building up during the morning rush at the one and only window which was open.
In answer to the Oystercard point, there is much more to the UK than the TfL area.
Also electronic barriers are not a universal feature throughout the UK.
Lol at the typical PH responses.
So the commute is not daily and the scope of employment means that she's unaware of her travel plans day to day let alone week by week. She is at the station in plenty of time but I think it's unfair to expect her to account for uncontrolled queues. Some days it can be 5 minutes, others 25 depending what mood the machine is in, how many windows they have open at the time.
So the commute is not daily and the scope of employment means that she's unaware of her travel plans day to day let alone week by week. She is at the station in plenty of time but I think it's unfair to expect her to account for uncontrolled queues. Some days it can be 5 minutes, others 25 depending what mood the machine is in, how many windows they have open at the time.
John145 said:
Lol at the typical PH responses.
So the commute is not daily and the scope of employment means that she's unaware of her travel plans day to day let alone week by week. She is at the station in plenty of time but I think it's unfair to expect her to account for uncontrolled queues. Some days it can be 5 minutes, others 25 depending what mood the machine is in, how many windows they have open at the time.
If you knew what responses were going to be said then why post in the first place? (Not had my coffee yet 😒)So the commute is not daily and the scope of employment means that she's unaware of her travel plans day to day let alone week by week. She is at the station in plenty of time but I think it's unfair to expect her to account for uncontrolled queues. Some days it can be 5 minutes, others 25 depending what mood the machine is in, how many windows they have open at the time.
Djtemeka said:
If you knew what responses were going to be said then why post in the first place? (Not had my coffee yet ??)
I'm a hopeless optimist.I think based on the good responses, the best solution is to get a cheap Android as the app for buying tickets isn't available to Apple.
John145 said:
I'm a hopeless optimist.
I think based on the good responses, the best solution is to get a cheap Android as the app for buying tickets isn't available to Apple.
I get sometimes short notice calls for a trip to London. It can be 3pm in the afternoon to be there for 10am tomorrow morning. It doesnt happen that regularly, and I dont have the problem of big queues, but every time I've bought a ticket I've done it from the trainline on my phone, and it gives you the ticket on your phone, or you can collect at any station with the card you used to pay with. The problem I think you'll have, whether it's on the train or at the kiosk is that it's really fI think based on the good responses, the best solution is to get a cheap Android as the app for buying tickets isn't available to Apple.
king expensive to buy on the day 
John145 said:
So, the fiancee quite often has to miss her train because the queue is about 15 minutes at the local station.
I've read guidance that states "if the queue is longer than 5 minutes (at peak times) and 3 minutes (off peak) you can ask permission to board the train without a ticket".
Anyone have any experience of enacting this recommendation and also is it possible to get blanket coverage in a problem area?
I've been told to get on a train by the ticket office worker, and then gotten a penalty fare at the other end. I've read guidance that states "if the queue is longer than 5 minutes (at peak times) and 3 minutes (off peak) you can ask permission to board the train without a ticket".
Anyone have any experience of enacting this recommendation and also is it possible to get blanket coverage in a problem area?
Buy a season ticket, either at the station or online. You can get them from 7 days, to various amounts of months, up to annual.
Don't get on the the train without a ticket unless you're willing to deal with the penalty fare.
Contact your MP and ask why Oyster or similar hasn't been rolled out on commuter lines.
Rick101 said:
FFS I am really starting to despair about this place.
Get there earlier fair enough
or
Use a machine instead of the counter has it occurred to you that the queues might be at the machine too?
or
Buy online still need to be collected from the machine
Is it really that difficult?
Is this just a scam to try and board without paying? Will we see you back in a month moaning about a penalty fare?
Get there earlier fair enough
or
Use a machine instead of the counter has it occurred to you that the queues might be at the machine too?
or
Buy online still need to be collected from the machine
Is it really that difficult?
Is this just a scam to try and board without paying? Will we see you back in a month moaning about a penalty fare?
esxste said:
John145 said:
So, the fiancee quite often has to miss her train because the queue is about 15 minutes at the local station.
I've read guidance that states "if the queue is longer than 5 minutes (at peak times) and 3 minutes (off peak) you can ask permission to board the train without a ticket".
Anyone have any experience of enacting this recommendation and also is it possible to get blanket coverage in a problem area?
I've been told to get on a train by the ticket office worker, and then gotten a penalty fare at the other end.I've read guidance that states "if the queue is longer than 5 minutes (at peak times) and 3 minutes (off peak) you can ask permission to board the train without a ticket".
Anyone have any experience of enacting this recommendation and also is it possible to get blanket coverage in a problem area?
By barrier staff: maybe. That scenario was covered in the link I posted earlier and why you still copped a penalty.
esxste said:
Buy a season ticket, either at the station or online. You can get them from 7 days, to various amounts of months, up to annual.
You could try reading his later post which explains why that isn't an option. 
esxste said:
Don't get on the the train without a ticket unless you're willing to deal with the penalty fare.
Agreed. Assuming that her journey is in a penalty fare area. Not all will be. esxste said:
Contact your MP and ask why Oyster or similar hasn't been rolled out on commuter lines.
Oyster only applies to a very limited geographical area of the UK.The issue in the South East is that people commute by train from much greater distances.
Then you are faced with the task of zoning and a corresponding fare structure.
And that's before you have addressed the issue of the considerable infrastructure costs.
It still won't resolve the queue problem in the immediate future though.
If it is a persistent issue then take it up with the TOC and Transport Focus.
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