Carl Gurnell has expressed fury after his 12-year-old daughter, Prischa, was issued a £102 penalty on a Merseyrail train for forgetting her pre-paid termly rail pass. The pass had been left in her school blazer pocket, which she was not wearing due to exceptionally hot weather.
Incident Details
A revenue protection officer approached Prischa on a train heading to Bebington and issued the fine. Although she presented a photograph of her valid pass as proof, the inspector deemed it insufficient to avoid the penalty. Gurnell stated that his daughter was left in tears following the interaction.
Company Response
Merseyrail initially claimed that the student did not appear distressed at the time. The rail operator enforces a strict "buy before you ride" policy and does not accept photographic evidence. They direct all customers to an independent appeals process for penalties they believe were issued unfairly.
Appeal and Reversal
The initial appeal against the fine was rejected, causing significant frustration for the family. However, the decision was later reversed and the penalty rescinded, consistent with national rail travel conditions regarding forgotten passes. Gurnell believes the current system unfairly targets vulnerable children rather than deliberate fare evaders.
Ongoing Review
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, which manages the Merseyrail network, confirmed that a senior officer is reviewing the incident. Gurnell is now calling for a change in operational approach to prevent other families from enduring similar stress.
