Prescot: Man ordered to pay £462.30 over £4.30 underpaid train fare

On Tuesday, January 30, Phillip Hilsden bought an Anytime Day Return ticket to travel from Prescot to Liverpool Lime Street.

After showing the train conductor his ticket, which had been purchased with a 16-25 railcard, the 26-year-old was informed that this was not valid as railcards cannot be used on train fares that are less than £12 before 10am on weekdays.

Following this incident, Northern Rail sent a letter to Hilsden requesting an explanation, and as no response was made, the rail company has prosecuted the 26-year-old through the courts.

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Passengers have been receiving huge fines after issues with railcard usage (Image: PA) Following a hearing at Warrington Magistrates Court on Wednesday, September 25, Hilsden, from Rochester, was ordered to pay a Fixed Penalty Notice worth £150.

The 26-year-old was also fined £220 and ordered to pay a compensation fee of £4.30 for the cost of the unpaid train fare, as well as an £88 victim surcharge fee.

The hefty fines levelled by rail companies is something that has been increasingly reported on in recent weeks, particularly surrounding opaque railcard rules and marginal underpayments.

Following a post on X that has been viewed by millions of users, the BBC has reported on a Glossop student who is facing a huge fine and a criminal record over a £1.90 fare underpayment, which was also bought with a railcard.

Similarly, the Bolton News has reported how a passenger has been ordered to pay £462.80 after purchasing an Anytime Day Return ticket with a railcard, but travelled before 10am when the discount does not apply.

In both cases, the defendants expressed they were unaware that a railcard could not be used before 10am if the fare is under £12, as this rule is only outlined in the small print of the rail company's regulations.

Northern say that 96 per cent of passengers travel with a valid ticket (Image: PA) A Northern Rail spokesperson has said: “As with all train operators across the UK, everyone has a duty to buy a valid ticket or obtain a promise to pay voucher before they board the train and be able to present it to the conductor or revenue protection officer during a ticket inspection.

“The overwhelming majority of our customers – upwards of 96% – do just that.”