On Thu, 24 May 2012 17:42:09 +0100, Arthur Figgis
wrote:

On 24/05/2012 10:33, Max Demian wrote:
On Wed, 23 May 2012 23:56:06 -0700 (PDT), Jonathan Harris

There is a major problem with PTT machines in that they encouraged
people to pay 5 pence for a journey and then not pay at the
destination even if they had more cash in their possession.

What do you mean by "then not pay at the destination"? do you mean
refuse to pay, or avoid payment by dodging any barriers or ticket
inspectors? If the former, presumably the rail companies have some way
of dealing with non-payers. If the latter, they could dodge payment
whether the PTT machines existed or not.

The latter. If stopped without a ticket, you were probably up to no
good. If stopped with a 5p permit to travel, you could say you intended
to pay later - and if not stopped, you got a journey for 5p.

The solution is to put in more barriers, as they did a year or two ago
at Paddington for the Maidenhead line, or employ more ticket
inspectors.

When there weren't PTT machines the ticket inspector just had to take
your word for where you got on. The 'permit to travel' system
regularises this, provided the machines are available and work.

--
Max Demian