Teenager slapped nearly £300 fine despite buying rail ticket on Trainline app

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A teenager has been slapped with a huge fine after buying a rail ticket on the Trainline app.James Rawlings was handed the £276 charge at Liverpool Central - despite having bought a ticket through the website on October 23 last year.

The 19-year-old, who was travelling from Ellesmere Port to Liverpool, had not been able to print off the ticket as the ticket office was closed that afternoon and there was no access to a ticket machine.When James got to the barrier at Liverpool Central he was given a fine, but he was later told that he could appeal.

The following day the ticket office was still closed at Ellesmere Port and this time James took photographs. On this occasion he was let through the barrier after showing his Trainline ticket.The family soon received a penalty notice which they appealed - but when they didn’t hear anything back, they then received a larger fine through the post.

They were then left shocked to receive a letter saying the case was now going to court.James' dad Paul told the Liverpool Echo: "A lot of people wouldn't be honest but he's just a 19-year-old lad trying to get home from work.