ARRIVA Trains Wales new plans to put the onus on the passenger to buy a ticket rather than on the company to sell a ticket is only going to increase the frustration of rail passengers in Wales.

Arriva have announced that passengers must now buy a ticket before travelling or immediately seek out a guard when boarding a train. If they fail to do so, they could face a fine of £70 as a fare dodger.

This new ruling presents many problems for passengers. Despite a large increase in ticket vending machines at stations many stations and platforms are still lacking machines. I have been contacted by a number of residents who complain about broken machines and machines that don’t accept cash payments, so Arriva’s decision to force passengers to use them potentially discriminates against passengers who either don’t have or don’t wish to use a debit card.

Passengers who use the South Wales Lines like the line here in the Vale of Glamorgan will be more than aware of the overcrowding which affects the network and that it is often impossible for passengers to walk the length of the train in order to find the guard.

While Arriva should be doing everything in its power to cut down of fare dodging, it has to give its passengers a fair chance to actually buy a ticket first. If it cannot guarantee that to all of its passengers, this fine first, ask questions later policy simply can’t be considered fair.

I have written to Arriva to raise my concerns and have asked them to reassure passengers that guards will still proactively patrol the train and that passengers looking to buy a ticket on board will be treated fairly and honestly.

Eluned Parrott

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for South Wales Central and Shadow Transport Minister