Here is the letter that Edmund Crighton wrote.

Ticket office closed 5.25pm on a Thursday

Bought a car park ticket, but then discovered there was nowhere to buy a train ticket - at 5.25pm on a Thursday. Ticket office with a board up - no notice to explain what one should do.
My train was just after 6.00pm so I had to drive off to find Buckshaw Parkway. Traffic was quite bad, and I'd never been there before ( I live 6 miles from Leyalnd ).
What a stress. How do you buy tickets?

Edmund,

Sorry for Northern Rail's decision not to reply to you through FixMyTransport.

Of course Northern Rail are able to comment through a third party, it is just that for reasons known to themselves they choose not to, even for an issue such as this which would be useful for others to see the answer.

If you want to find out more you will have to contact them directly at customer.relations@northernrail.org

Please do come back and update your campaign page on FixMyTransport with any news.

I hope you get a useful reply.

Paul (FixMyTransport Volunteer)

Edmond,

I looked up some information about buying tickets from Leyland Station.

National Rail's station information says:
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/ley/details.html
"Penalty Fares do not apply when travelling from Leyland station."

and Northern Rail's Passenger Charter says:
http://www.northernrail.org/pdfs/northern-rail-passenger-charter-2004.pdf
"On non penalty fare routes, when journeys commence at locations where
there is no ticketing facility available, the normal range of tickets will be
available from your conductor on board the train."

So this makes it clear you can buy tickets on the train.

However I looked at National Rail's photos of the station and found this which I guess it what caused you to make the journey to another station to buy your ticket:
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/LEY/images/photos/800/o2344-0000023.jpg
It appears to contradict the above by saying "Customers must purchase a valid ticket before boarding a train"

Perhaps it's this kind of contradiction which makes them want to correspond in private with you.

Best regards,

Paul (FixMyTransport Volunteer)

Hi Paul,
Many thanks for your emails - and especially the picture. Norther Rail went this reply to me:

"Thank you for your e-mail, which I received recently.

I was sorry to learn of the difficulties you encountered on your recent visit to
Leyland station.

In the event of a ticket office not being open and there being no other ticket
purchasing facilities available, you are entitled to board the train and
purchase a ticket from the Conductor.

I hope this information will prevent any more stressful incidents.

Yours sincerely

Neil Hebden
Customer Relations Officer
FREEPOST RLSL-ABEC-BGUU
Northern Customer Relations
First Floor, The Travel Centre
City Railway Station
Leeds
LS1 4DY

Tel 0845 00 00 125
Fax 0113 2479 059

http://www.northernrail.org"

I have sent them your picture.
Best wishes,
Edmund

Edmund,
Thanks for sharing Northern Rail's reply. Are you planning to take this any further with them, pointing out there is a very misleading sign in the car park?
Best regards,
Paul (FixMyTransport Volunteer)

Paul,
I have replied - and shared your photo!
We'll see what happens.
Cheers,
Edmund

Edmund,
Thanks for this update. Let's hope they agree to sort it out. I wonder if this is a one-off case or whether there are other Northern Stations with similar misleading information. I guess stations which are always unmanned (unlike Leyland) will be fine as they will make it clear you have to buy the ticket on the train.
Paul (FixMyTransport Volunteer)