A Wiltshire mum has accused train operator GWR of targeting teenagers after her son was fined £52 for not having a valid rail ticket despite claiming he had tried three times to buy one.

Rachel Stacey-McKay has twice appealed the fine handed to her son after she said he tried three times to buy a ticket for his rail journey from Bradford on Avon to Bath on Thursday, June 6.

She said: “My son got fined £52. He couldn’t get a ticket at Bradford on Avon because the ticket machine was out of service, or on the train because there was no-one there for him buy one from.

“He got off at Bath and asked someone where he could buy a ticket and explained that he did not have one.

“He was sent round to a guy who just issued a £52 fine to him. He was genuinely trying to buy a ticket.

“He’s only 15. We appealed the fine twice but they were just not interested. It’s disgusting.”

Sometimes passengers are unable to buy a ticket because the machine at Bradford on Avon Railway Station is out of service. Bradford on Avon Railway Station ticket machine pictured out of service. (Image: Trevor Porter)

Mrs Stacey-McKay, 50, who lives in the Christchurch area of Bradford on Avon, says she believes Great Western Railway is targeting teenagers who try to dodge fares.

“To make matters worse, my husband and I were in a similar position. We were just ‘allowed’ to buy a ticket.

“I feel it’s an assumption about their age and behaviour which makes my blood boil. I appealed and appealed the unsuccessful appeal.

“They were not interested and told me that if I didn’t pay it would double, so I paid it.”

Mrs Stacey-McKay added: “I’m sure that it’s because he is a teen and they were ‘teaching him a lesson’.

“But the fact was he had tried on three occasions to get a ticket and explained himself. It’s so wrong. He genuinely tried and was upset about it.

“As I said to GWR, actually they had a duty of care to support a minor and they let him down. They did not support him in any way. For me, it’s a safeguarding issue.”

Sometimes passengers are unable to buy a ticket because the machine at Bradford on Avon Railway Station is out of service.The machine at Bradford on Avon Railway Station pictured out of service. (Image: Trevor Porter)

Other parents also responded to a post on social media saying that a teenage boy had been fined for not having a rail ticket.

Sandra Carleton said: “My son coming home from school tried to buy ticket from guard on train who refused to give him one and instead issued a fine.

“They ignored his excuse that he didn’t want to buy ticket in advance on line in case all the trains got cancelled like last Friday when he had to wait to be picked up.”

She added: “On 19th July - on day of an outage - we had to catch the train and were worried if trains would be running and were relieved when we got to Trowbridge to see lots of guards on the platform which I assumed was to help passengers know what train was what as notices weren’t working.

“To my surprise no that wasn’t why they were there - they didn’t know what train was which and were there to catch school kids coming out of school going on trains without a ticket on last day of school.”

Sandra Clarke said: “I think it's because many schoolkids try to dodge paying the fare.

“I've seen it many times when coming home from Bath. It's the same old story I'm afraid, the few spoil it for the many.”

A GWR spokesperson denied they were targeting teenagers and said: “It’s every passenger’s responsibility to ensure they buy a ticket before they board, or at the first available opportunity if they cannot.

“Failure to buy a ticket when the opportunity exists may result in a penalty fare.”