As you say there is regularly 20 plus people queuing at the excess ticket desks. Its seems to have become common practice at Cardiff Queen Street to pay upon arrival at the station due to the limited ticket facilities available on the valley lines. Especially, at the weekends when more than often enough the ticket booth is often locked, which is not helpful especially if the conductor on the train is hiding in his cabin or is unable to do his rounds on the train as it is too crowded. For example on Saturday morning, when I went Christmas shopping there must of been 40 people queuing up the corridor towards the desks as I walked past. Surely Arriva must realise they have a ticketing problem at the valley stations with people being unable to buy tickets? Also why only pick people at random to prosecute, if one, why not all? or at least put up a warning sign to make people realise they must buy before travelling from this point forward? Judging by the queues Arriva appear to be unknowing providing a ticketing service upon arrival at the station.

I need some advice, I caught the train to work and the ticket booth was very busy and only manned by one person. Worried about being late I went over the footbridge and caught the train. There are no ticket machines at the station, along with several other stations on the line. The train was extremely busy, due to a cancelled train and the conductor was nowhere in sight. So after arriving at the station I queued along with approximately 15 plus other passengers and purchased my weekly ticket at the excess fares desk (one of several at Cardiff Queen Street) as I had done a couple of times before. Immediately after buying the ticket and just before I went through the exit barrier I was confronted by a man who I have since found out to be from Transport Investigations Ltd, who questioned and then cautioned me and advised that I was in breaking a byelaw for travelling on the train without a ticket. I have checked the National Rail website and understand that Penalty fares are not in operation on Arriva Trains Wales services. I had no intention of not buying a ticket (fare dodging) and had queued at one the excess ticket offices provided on my own accord immediately upon leaving the train along with 15 plus other passengers. I had a ticket before leaving the ticket area and provided a valid ticket upon request to a person of authority, so technically have I broken any laws? Can I indeed expect a letter of prosecution or are they just trying it on? If necessary I can also provide them with my bank statements to prove that I regularly purchase a weekly ticket each week! Arriva Trains services appear to be technically aware that people are having trouble buying tickets as they are providing these Excess Ticket offices before the barriers. And there are regularly 15 plus people queuing for tickets on a Monday and Tuesday at these desks. Any comments or advice would be appreciated.