Train company changes decision to prosecute after recent college graduate was at risk of having criminal record due to ticket mistake.

Sam Williamson was taken by surprise when he received a letter threatening him with legal action after purchasing the wrong train ticket for his journey. The rail operator had a strict policy of prosecuting anyone who bought the wrong ticket, and Sam, a recent graduate, was facing the consequences.

However, things took a positive turn when the rail operator, Northern, changed their stance on prosecutions. It all began when Sam saved £1.90 by using his 16-25 railcard on a journey from Broadbottom to Manchester before 10am on September 5. He had purchased an "anytime" ticket on the Northern app, but was able to apply the discount, which is usually only valid for off-peak fares.

Initially, Northern stood by their prosecuting policy. But after reconsidering the complexity of their ticketing system and the confusion it caused for customers, they decided to change their position. This meant that Sam no longer had to worry about having a criminal record.

Northern's managing director, Tricia Williams, stated, "On penalty fares, we have absolutely changed our stance. We have put a pause on prosecuting cases where we understand that the ticketing system is complicated for customers. However, we will continue our process for those who try to travel without a ticket."

Apart from Sam's case, Northern is also reevaluating other customers who have been threatened with prosecution. Sam is grateful for the change in policy, but he believes that the government needs to take action to prevent similar mistakes from occurring. He stated, "Although this is great news for me, there are still cases being brought to court today for similar offenses of using a railcard before 10am. I urge the government to simplify ticketing fares to avoid more people making this mistake. Most people, like myself, have no idea about the complexities of the system."

Northern has been making headlines not just for their prosecution policy, but also for other issues. Recently, it was revealed that their staff still use fax machines to book time off, despite being the second biggest rail operator in the country. The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, expressed his concerns, saying, "Where has all the money gone in the rail industry that we are still using technology from the 1980s? It's time for a change."

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