I just feel so silly because if i had realised the railcard was out of date then i would have purchased a full price ticket. I feel so stupid! Do you think if i write a very apologetic letter and offer to pay all the costs that they will still want to take me to court? I am a university student and am meant to be working in New York next year , if i get a criminal offence i will not be able to travel there!

hi , i purchased my ticket at a ticket machine, i knew i had a card and hadnt used it in some time and assumed it was in date, it was a valid mistake i just hope they dont think i was trying to cheat the system

What offence are they charging you with, Yes all tickets, railcards remain property of the railway at all times.

Hi there, they are charging me with Offence ,entering a train for the purpose of traveling without a ticket entitling travel.

But I didn't intentionally travel without a valid ticket? I answered in the questions they asked me that I didn't know my railcard was invalid

Thanks so much

Hi there,

I am very worried about the situation i may be in. Last week i was travelling from cambridge to Kings cross and i bought a ticket for a return with a 16-25 railcard.

At the time i did not check , but my rail card was out of date on Oct 30. I only realised that the railcard was invalid at the time when the inspector asked for my ticket. I understood my mistake but did not have enough money to pay for the ticket at the time.

So i was issued with a caution. I answered all questions without hesitation. The only thing at the end was that i asked for the railcard back and he would not give it to me, i said surely he was not aloud to keep my property but then he said that it is the rails property so i let him keep it.

I have now received an intention to prosecute and i am so scared, i don not want a criminal record, i am only 21 i have never been in trouble with the law i am very worried. If charged will i defiantly get a criminal record or will i just have to pay the costs?

Please help!!