Can you pay for a train ticket on the train?
It is no longer possible to buy the full range of tickets on board a train. Like all train companies*, you must buy a ticket before you board, or risk getting a penalty fare.
Under the Penalty Fares regulations, passengers who are found without a valid ticket for their journey must pay either: a Penalty Fare of £20. twice the full applicable single fare to the next station at which the train calls, whichever is the greater.
Passengers who wish to travel in Indian Railway trains must reserve their seat in advance for all classes of travel except for General/Unreserved coaches. The railway reservation facility allows you to travel in the train and travel class of your choice with a berth/seat allotted against your name.
Yes you can buy tickets at the station. There is a separate set of counters for advance reservation on railway stations.
Charges if you don't touch in and out
If you don't touch in and out, we can't tell where you've travelled from or to, so your journey will be incomplete. Maximum fares don't count towards capping. If you don't touch in, you may be charged a penalty fare.
Whilst a daily cap will apply; it is important to be aware that it will not always be cheaper than buying a return paper ticket. There will also be a weekly price cap for those using a Contactless card or mobile device; but it will still be cheaper to buy a season ticket on the Key Smartcard or paper.
To most inspectors, it will just look like you innocently fell asleep with your ticket in your hand, ready to show, and they will move on immediately. If it is a particularly feisty inspector they might try and wake you up by banging on the window or the table in front of you.
“If this is not possible, passengers should speak to a member of staff either in the station or on board the train who will be pleased to help.” Advice given by the organisation, if a ticket machine is not working and the ticket office closed, is to approach the on-train staff at the "earliest opportunity".
How much does a Penalty Fare cost? The penalty is £20.00* or TWICE the appropriate single fare from the station where you started your journey to either the next station at which the train stops, or the station you leave the train**, whichever is the greater amount.
How to use a Greater Anglia ticket machine - YouTube
Can you pay cash on Northern rail?
Using a ticket office
At our larger stations, you can book and pay for tickets at a staffed ticket office. We can accept payment by cash, debit card, credit card or National Rail vouchers.
They're normally cheaper than the on-the-day price, but as it gets closer to the date of travel the price tends to go up.
Advance tickets are usually the cheapest way to travel by train, and generally go on sale 12 weeks before your date of travel. You have to travel on the train you're booked on, but you get a much cheaper price by foregoing flexible travel times. Full details on Advance tickets can be found here.