Daisy Mumba, a pregnant passenger, found herself embroiled in an unexpected legal battle after being fined £600 for allegedly traveling without a valid train ticket. This ordeal unfolded despite Mumba's purchase of a £70 ticket before her journey. A minor printing error set off a cascade of events leading to her conviction in absentia. The letter containing her evidence reportedly never reached the court, and Mumba believes it was lost in transit.
The sequence of events began when Mumba, seven months pregnant, boarded a train from Reading to Sheffield. Due to overcrowding, she had no choice but to sit on the floor, frequently having to stand up to let other passengers pass. Despite using the Trainline app for over a decade without issue, she was informed this time that e-tickets were unavailable for her journey. She was instructed to collect and print her ticket at the Sheffield station.
Mumba complied and had her ticket printed at the station's ticket office. However, during the journey, the ticket inspector informed her that her ticket displayed on the Trainline app was invalid. This misunderstanding led CrossCountry to request evidence of her ticket purchase.
“I filled out the attached paperwork and pled not guilty, attaching a photo of the physical ticket, a screenshot of the online ticket via the Trainline app and a screenshot of the purchase on my HSBC bank statement,” – Daisy Mumba
Despite providing this evidence, it never reached its destination. Consequently, Mumba was found guilty in her absence. CrossCountry later acknowledged the overcrowding issue but emphasized the need for passengers to have a valid ticket before boarding.
“We’re sorry that Ms Mumba’s journey between Reading and Sheffield was affected by overcrowding. However, no matter how busy a service might be, it remains a legal requirement for passengers to possess a valid ticket prior to boarding rail services.” – CrossCountry
“This ensures full and correct revenue collection and helps to tackle fraud by preventing the refund of an unscanned ticket, which is a significant issue for train operators,” – CrossCountry
Faced with these challenges, CrossCountry has now taken steps to rectify the situation. The company plans to inform the court to dismiss the case and overturn Mumba's conviction and fine. They are also collaborating with prosecutors to withdraw her case entirely.
“Though we’re now working with our prosecutors to withdraw Ms Mumba’s case, her story highlights how important it is for those in similar situations to engage with prosecutors to prevent the significant personal stress of a court summons, and to avoid wasting the limited time of the courts,” – CrossCountry
Daisy Mumba, who has consistently maintained her innocence throughout this ordeal, expressed her frustration with the process.
“I am not a criminal, nor am I in the wrong, as I have all the evidence to support the purchase of the ticket.” – Daisy Mumba
The incident has drawn attention to the importance of clear communication and verification processes in such scenarios. CrossCountry has urged all rail passengers to double-check their tickets and ensure they meet all travel requirements.
“We’d ask anyone travelling by train to double-check their tickets – including the journey details, ticket type and ticket format – before travelling to avoid such a challenging set of circumstances.” – CrossCountry