Thanks OC and HC. I can't argue that I had a valid ticket, as I was buying my new weekly when I was stopped. It just seems odd that Arriva would not want to discourage payment on trains, or at destination stations, at the time it occurs for people that can pay at their station. [and yes, I can see they are obviously looking to discourage it now through taking the action they have]. But if a guard/inspector had just said once over the last few years 'You mustn't buy on the train in future. You need to use your ticket office or you may be prosecuted' that would have been enough for me not to have done it.

Thanks for your thoughts dx, MrGates and Old-CodJA. In answer to your questions MrGates, I get on at Penarth (it has a ticket office) and the journey takes a about 20 mins. Obviously following this incident, I'm aware that I should only start my journey with a valid ticket before departure. I suppose I'm just finding it odd that they are even considering prosecuting for fare evasion in whatever form, when there is no way to evade paying for my journey; There are always several staff prior to the automatic barriers to pay at normal commuting times (taking fares from all local stations), and nearly always the guard/inspector who comes down the train for any fares from all local stations. It wouldn make any sense for anyone to attempt to evade puchasing a ticket, as you always need to buy one to complete the journey

Thanks for your thoughts HB

Hi, Thanks in advance for taking the time to read/respond to my post. I have just been sent a letter from Transport Investigations Ltd for travel with no valid ticket. Looks like there's a lot of people in a similar postion from other posts on here (and elsewhere). The letter states that they are considering prosecuting me under the the Railway Byelaws (2005) or Regulation of Railways Act (1889), and that I have to get back to them soon in writing with any mitigation I wish to be considered. Detail: The letter related to when I was stopped from buying my usual weekly ticket (which expired the day before) at my destination station (Cardiff Queen Street) by TIL staff, and interviewed. [...and yes, following this, I now know that I should always get the ticket from my departure station, and not on the train or at the arrival station!]. Prior to being stopped, I could have bought my ticket at my departure station (but ran on to the train that day), but couldn't on the train (as no guard/inspector came down the train on that day), and couldn't at Queen Street (as the TIL staff stopped me doing so). There are several points I thought I should be making as part of a mitigation statement to TIL (or any letter to Arriva trains prior to that) which I've put below. My question is: Do you think there's any point in me even giving my mitigation points (below)?.. . as I can't say I had a valid ticket for the journey I was making, as my weekly pass had expired the day before, and presumeably that's what I'd end up being prosecuted for. What would you do at this point? Mitigation: 1- that I didn't know it was wrong to buy tickets on the train or at the destination station 2- that buying on the train, or destination station, is never challenged or even discouraged (...and if it had been before this TIL 'sting', I would have known I shouldn't do it, and wouldn't have done it!) 3- that I was stopped from buying my weekly ticket by the TIL staff before the ticket officer could issue it 4- that it isn't even possible to leave my destination station without a ticket, due to the automated barriers in place there 5- that I buy a weekly ticket (every week for several years), so am obviously not looking to evade payment, and can prove this (as I pay by card) Thanks again for taking the time to read/respond to my post.