There seem to a lot of people trying to avoid tram fares lately
By Koalemos
@Asylum (47893)
Manchester, England
March 1, 2016 9:02am CST
It is not unusual for me to see a group of Metrolink inspectors at a few of the town centre stations, but it is rare to see them actually stop anyone without a ticket.
Today I arrived at Victoria railway station, where there were about 10 inspectors and 2 or 3 police officers. Two of the inspectors boarded the tram and checked tickets, but everyone had a ticket and there were no problems.
However, I did notice that there were around 5 or 6 passengers on the platform who were being interrogated. This came as quite a surprise and made me wonder just how many people had actually been travelling without buying a ticket and got away with it.
Of course these passengers will certainly regret it now because the penalty is a £100 on the spot fine or a court appearance.
9 people like this
8 responses
@celticeagle (190127)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Mar 16
Always seems that there are those that want to ruin a good thing. Now there will probably be a lot of new rules and such.
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
1 Mar 16
@celticeagle Since these people are employed by Mertrolink they will be drawing wages whether they monitor the stations or not, which makes the lack of monitoring difficult to understand.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (190127)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Mar 16
@Asylum ....That's why this happened. A obvious break down in management.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
1 Mar 16
So dishonesty is alive and well on public transportation. Not surprising, since it is alive elsewhere.
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
1 Mar 16
@ElizabethWallace It shows when the inspectors board the tram or check tickets as people get off the tram, which often results in nobody being stopped.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
1 Mar 16
@Asylum How would you know if they have a ticket or not?
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
1 Mar 16
So, I guess you can board the tram without showing a ticket, but if caught, there is a hefty fine? That's the way it used to be on passenger trains here in the USA. My father worked for the B&O Railroad and I do remember that.
The conductor would walk through the train cars, after the train left the station and ask for your ticket, which he would stamp. I rode the train from West Virginia to Colorado a couple times. Over 2000 miles.
There are very few passenger trains now. AMTRAK is the train that runs through my area.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
1 Mar 16
@IreneVincent That was ideal for a hobo in those days because the length of the journeys could offer shelter for a couple of days.
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
1 Mar 16
@Asylum I don't think that a person was fined way back when I was riding trains. I think they would just put them off the train, but I never heard, from my father, that there were people who would try to ride free in a passenger seat.
Maybe there were some. And then there was always the tramp, or hobo, that would jump on a train and hide in a boxcar. Then, he would jump off the train when it slowed down coming into a station.
You would often see movies that showed people doing that.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382814)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Mar 16
@Asylum In Melbourne, you have to BUY a ticket (plastic like a credit card) in a shop or somesuch before you even go near a tram. That's not enough - you then have to put some credit on it before it's ready for use. If you're new to the city, this is quite confusing - if you hear of it at all!
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
1 Mar 16
Sound like the cost of the ticket is the way to go, the penalty is so much more.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
1 Mar 16
@fishtiger58 That is obviously the reason that they considered boosting the fine was necessary.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
1 Mar 16
Goodness, it couldn't be so expensive that people can't afford to buy tickets. So many want something for nothing. Human nature I guess. When I visited New York they asked to see my ticket while on the subway.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
1 Mar 16
@Asylum That would be horrifying!! I'm so looking forward to my ticket stubs!!
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
1 Mar 16
@Jeanniemaries There are only 2 Metrolink tram tickets and 2 British rail tickets in the mail, but I do have others if extra would be required. Hopefully the letter should arrive soon because it was mailed around mid week last week.
@Marilynda1225 (91214)
• United States
1 Mar 16
Looks like people will think twice now before trying to get away with a free ride
1 person likes this
