A train company has moved to reassure commuters using Gedling borough stations that penalty fares are not being introduced on the local route, despite the recent arrival of ticket machines.
Those using the trains had been concerned that the introduction of smart ticketing kiosks at Burton Joyce, Carlton and Netherfield station would mean that penalty fares would be handed out if they didn’t get a ticket on time. The machine at Carlton is on the lesser-used platform and is cut off by level crossing barriers when a train is due.
Passengers in Gedling borough have always been able to buy tickets on the train due to the fact ticket machines were unavailable.
An elderly passenger, who didn’t want to be named, had contacted Gedling Eye claiming they had been informed by a train staff member that they could be fined for not having a ticket now machines had been installed.
But East Midlands Railway contacted Gedling Eye wanting to reassure commuters that this wasn’t the case.
A spokesman said: “Some of the people in the comments section of your site and on social media are getting the wrong idea about penalty fares.
“The stations in Gedling borough haven’t been changed to penalty fare ones – so people can still board and pay for a ticket on the train if needed.”
Newstead Station in the borough’s only penalty fare station as it is based on the Robin Hood Line, with ticket machines at every station.
Glad a bout this would have been absolutely DISGUSTING if they were fining people as most have not got out of bed for months to run a train service as been on strike.
That’s very good news. Thank you for addressing our concerns.
Very pleased about this