Shop a fare dodger by text

By on July 10, 2008 in News

National Express trains introduced this rather innovative method of informing them if you suspect a train ticket dodger is in your carriage. It’s a gifted concept. I get really annoyed when I’ve paid my 25 quid to travel in or out of London and some likely-lad hops the barriers and into the train before the door closes, beaming to himself, whilst you stand there like a wet lemon.

No need. Whip out your handset and shop the arse!
- Taken at 10:21 AM on July 02, 2008 – cameraphone upload by ShoZu

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Ewan is Founder and Editor of Mobile Industry Review. He writes about a wide variety of industry issues and is usually active on Twitter most days. You can read more about him or reach him with these details.
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  • http://whatleydude.vox.com James Whatley

    Right…. and?

    I mean – what happens next?
    How do they know?
    What do you text?

    More info or else this will be filed under – 'lack of joined up thinking'

  • http://www.smstextnews.com/author/Ben.Smith Ben Smith

    Is there another number you can text when the people in question spot you and administer a sound kicking?

  • http://www.mobileindustryreview.com smstextnews

    That might be a good additional service offering!

  • http://www.mobileindustryreview.com smstextnews

    I suspect that they might then route their ticket inspectors to that train the next day.

  • http://whatleydude.vox.com James Whatley

    “I've suspect that bloke sitting there hasn't got a ticket”

    How will they know?!
    What's the communication on the poster? Does it ask for particular info?
    Could you trick it? Tell them you saw one on a different train/route and then dodge them the following day?

  • http://freshplastic.vox.com Anthony

    How much does one have to pay to report a fare dodger? What's in it for those that do the informing (other than the hope that the dodger will be caught and pay a fine?) If enough get caught, pay fines and start paying in future, will National Express bring their prices down?

  • Njar

    fascists

  • http://www.shopqwik.com Mark T

    The sending them to another train is a good one… I think that this is a bit of a silly service as its doing someone else's job for them.

    Why not go the whole hog and follow them to work / home, take a pic and mms it to them…

    Would the networks, who are the biggest robbers after all, reduce fares if everyone paid…

    I don't think so….

  • http://www.lgblog.co.uk Chris at LG

    It's a nice idea but how do they know what train you're on? And what's stopping someone who is fare dodging from texting a deliberate hoax to make sure the inspectors go on another train?

  • http://www.lgblog.co.uk Chris at LG

    It's a nice idea but how do they know what train you're on? And what's stopping someone who is fare dodging from texting a deliberate hoax to make sure the inspectors go on another train?

  • http://www.shopqwik.com Mark T

    The sending them to another train is a good one… I think that this is a bit of a silly service as its doing someone else's job for them.

    Why not go the whole hog and follow them to work / home, take a pic and mms it to them…

    Would the networks, who are the biggest robbers after all, reduce fares if everyone paid…

    I don't think so….

  • http://www.lgblog.co.uk Chris & Helen at LG

    It's a nice idea but how do they know what train you're on? And what's stopping someone who is fare dodging from texting a deliberate hoax to make sure the inspectors go on another train?

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