I promised that I'd post on this forum when I got a reply so here I am. Got a letter in the post this morning; looks a standard letter which made no appropriate comments to the letter I sent them in reply to their first letter. Although I’m a bit disappointed they made no effort to personally address the issues I brought up, I understand that they must get hundreds of letters a day. Anyway, the letter stated that because I had no previous records with them that I could simply pay the unpaid fare along with all administration cost. This came to a total of £42.50. I have no idea how they came up with this figure, seems a bit ridiculous to me but I'm just going to pay it and move on with my life. Hopefully they'll use the money to improve the rail network and not their wages. So thank you everyone for your help, hopefully you won’t hear from me again.

Any idea how long it will take to receive a reply letter back from the train investigation company, if I get a reply at all? It took them over a month to send the first letter, from the day I was cautioned at the station to the day that I received the letter (even though I was told within 5 working days by the person who questioned me?)

The travel I made in regard to the letter I received was just a one off. Normally I travel into Cardiff daily and so get a seasonal ticket. I've been doing this for years, but whenever I need to travel in for a single day, a return ticket is the only appropiate ticket I can get. This ticket is one I usually purchase on board the train or at Queen Street.

It was a "what if?" statement. At the moment I have a seasonal ticket which I use at Queen Street station. I just wanted to make the fact that if I had gone to the station this week and done exactly what I did in the week I was cautioned, nothing would have happened. Also the fact that there are probably hundreds of people doing exactly what I did and not getting cautioned now. It must be different for ATW because I know many people who choose to buy there ticket on the train or at the destination station becuase they know this is what they have done in the past. I'm not trying to start an arguement sorryy, just wanted to make a point. It doesn't really matter now anyway. I've sent my letter of apology, admiting my wrong and stating that I want to settle this matter out of court by asking for any arrangements they have for me to pay any outstanding fares and fees that I owe. Hopefully they should get back to me soon and this can be sorted without any hassle.

I'm not going to use this as an argument (although I will mention it in my letter) but I have in the past brought a ticket at Queen Street station when travelling from Radyr (aka not buying a ticket before I got on the train) and not been stopped/questioned/etc. And, I'm sure if I go in tomorrow and try to buy a ticket at Queen Street station then they will sell me a ticket without asking me why I don't already have one. I don't see how they can enforce a rule on a single day and then not on other days? Either you enforce the rule all the time or not at all. Anyone have an opinion on this?

Any idea of the sort of thing that I should be mentioning in this letter? I've got a basic structure and just asking a few people for suggestions as to how to make it some more professional, etc. EDIT: Also, my girlfriend was travelling with me on this day and I was being a gentleman offering to buy her ticket. She is currently travelling abroad and won't be back for a number of weeks. Would it be appropriate to send a letter on her behalf, with her consent of course. I've got her reference number, etc.

Thank you all for your reply, I guess I was just in a bad mood yesterday and didn't want to admit anything. But now I agree that I really should have brought a ticket BEFORE travelling on the train. Instead of appealing I am going to write a letter of apology, stating that I was in the wrong and that I won't be making this mistake again in the future. I'm also going to ask if this matter could be dealt with outside of court and that I'm willing to pay any unpaided fares and administration costs. Do you think this is the sensible option? I wasn't aggressive in any way to the staff that questioned me and I'm going to admit my fault and pay anything I owe, so I don't see why they should fight back against me for doing this? Thanks again for clearing everything up for me, everyone gave great detail in there answer and I really appreciate it.

Sorry for the double post! Just wanted to say, feel free to question me if you think I'm lying. I'm more than happy to clarify anything and I won't take any offense. Cheers!

I am from Cardiff and travel using the Arriva Trains Wales Network (from Radyr Station to Cardiff Queen Street Station if this helps) about a month ago I got on a train at Station A and traveled to Station B. I did not buy a ticket at Station A because I knew I could either get a ticket from the conductor on the train or at Station B. However, since no conductor was present on the train that day (at least not in the carriage) I decided I could then buy my ticket at Station B. I'm at Station B waiting in the queue to buy the ticket. I asked for a return from Station A to Station B. The man said that he couldn't offer me a ticket and that I had to talk to another man, who just so happened to be a Transport Investigator. He took me aside and accused me of having intent to avoid paying a train fare. I fail to see how this could be possible because I was just in the queue trying to buy a ticket, where I was refused a ticket only to then be cautioned for not having a ticket? This doesn't make sense because the reason I didn't have a ticket is because you wouldn't sell me one? It's not like I tried to leave the Station without paying, in which case I would own up to having no intent to pay a train fare and accept any consequences. (I compare this his to a shop where you don't pay for each item as you are walking around, you pay at the end. If you leave the shop without paying, then you have no intent to pay for those items and only then should you be treated as a criminal) the other day I got a letter in the post stating there was enough evidence to warrant a prosecution and I may have to appear in court to receive a fine. Would my story hold up in court? It's not like a have a criminal record at current and I usually buy a seasonal ticket (and have done for several years) but this travel was a one off journey and I have in the past, as well as other people, brought a ticket at my destination Station or on the train. Would the fact that they refused to sell my a ticket before I was pulled aside make any difference, surely this shows that I obviously did have some intent to purchase a ticket? I don't see the point of having these ticket facilities at the destination Station if they're going to refuse me a ticket anyway. I think the offense in which they are trying to accuse of is show in the Railway ByeLaw Section 18(1). However, I feel this is a very bad law and should be changed to suit the views of modern train passengers who travel on trains with the idea that they can be sold a ticket on the train or at their destination. The law should only be able to prosecute people who actually refuse to pay for a ticket/don't have means of paying for a ticket/try to leave the Station without paying for a ticket. Sorry for rambling, but I really don't feel like I have committed a criminal offence and really don't want to have a criminal record from this. Is there any point appealing this conviction or would it make no difference or would the fact that I'm appealing make it look like I'm guilty? Would my history of buying seasonal ticket for many years count in my favour? Thanks in advance for any advice you could offer me!