12:39pm Wednesday 21st May 2008
By Tim Quantrill
As I've said before, I commute to work into Bradford on the train most days and feel lucky and happy that I don't have to struggle in through the rush-hour traffic.
And I'm very privileged to use the comfy and clean electric units that go up and down the Airedale line when I could be stuck on one of the old diesel 'cattle trucks' that go via the
Interchange.
And I'm happy to pay for the good service I get. I'll be even happier when the Metro zone is extended beyond the West Yorkshire boundary of course and the price of a season ticket falls. Why should
it cost as much to go the last few miles and two stops from Steeton and Silsden to Skipton as the many miles and stops from Leeds or Bradford up to that point?
But I'll be ecstatic when ticket barriers are introduced where they can be at stations and the guards come round rather more often to check passengers' tickets.
It must be an open secret that if you get on a train at Forster Square, there is almost a zero chance of you being checked for a ticket before the train gets to Frizinghall or Shipley. And that's why
there are normally quite a few youngsters who rush down to the far end of the furthest carriage to avoid having to pay - they know even if a ticket inspector comes round they won't get to them in
time.
Or later in the evening there doesn't seem to be any ticket inspection done at all. Last week I overheard a bloke walking across Shipley station in front of me to change platforms to catch the train
from Leeds boasting to his mate that he never buys a ticket because it would never be checked.
While a few high profile cases of fare dodging come to court and posters warn of big fines, there needs to be more enforcement done. Get the conductors to change their routine to keep the dodgers on
their toes. And perhaps charge people double the fare if they get on without a ticket at a station where they could have bought one.
Northern and other rail companies across the country must be missing out on millions of pounds of revenue that could go to improve facilities, rolling stock or help bring down fares.
Why can't they do something about these cheats who take us all for a ride.
Green or Obscene - the mileage counter
Miles by car: -201
Miles being driven: -10
Miles by train: +803
Miles on foot: +121
Miles by bike: +0
Miles by bus: +0
Miles by ferry: +10
Total: +713 (running total: -1937)
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