Revenue protection policy

All persons travelling with Thameslink need to be in possession of a valid ticket or authority to travel for their journey before they travel.

Full details of a passenger’s responsibility to purchase a ticket are contained within the National Rail Conditions of Travel.

NRCoT can be downloaded at www.nationalrail.co.uk.

All tickets are issued subject to restrictions and conditions. When purchasing a ticket from Thameslink, we will explain the restrictions that ticket is subject to:

• Verbally at the time of purchase if bought at a ticket office
• In the conditions at the time of purchase if bought online
• In the conditions at the time of purchase if bought from a Ticket Vending Machine

Thameslink operates a penalty fares scheme on all of its services and at all of its stations. Details of the penalty fares scheme can be found here.

Additionally Thameslink will continually work to improve passenger understanding of the penalty fares scheme and its application. This will include a commitment to make sure:

• Passengers understand what they need to do about a penalty fare
• How they can appeal against a penalty fare
• What the timescales are surrounding a penalty fare
• Who to contact concerning a penalty fare

Some staff who do not issue penalty fares may complete a ticket irregularity report. We will make it clear to persons reported for such offences that the facts will be reported in accordance with our processes.

If a ticket irregularity report is issued, we will advise:

• What the passenger needs to do
• That they will be contacted regarding the ticket irregularity report

Thameslink will privately prosecute, in a court of law, offences reported by staff. We will make it clear to persons reported for such offences that the facts will be reported.

If a passenger is reported to our prosecutions department, we will advise:

• What the passenger needs to do
• That they will be contacted regarding the report

For more information on prosecutions please read our FAQs

Staff will be trained to exercise both the power extended to them and any discretion that is available to them under the licences they hold.

Discretion given to persons authorised to issue penalty fares can be found within the scheme and contains details including:

• When a notice can be issued
• To whom a notice can be issued
• When a notice may not be issued
• Treatment of vulnerable groups
• Staff training
• Staff licensing

Staff will be trained in the application of:

• National Rail Conditions of Travel
• The Railway Byelaws
• Restrictions and Conditions of tickets
• Police and Criminal Evidence Act
• Any other applicable powers

Some staff are bestowed powers under the Railway Safety Accreditation Scheme (RSAS).

Details of this can be found at www.btp.police.uk.

Where personal data is recorded it will be in compliance with the relevant legislation. Details can be found here.