Chiltern Railways’ Buy Before You Board Policy
Last updated: June 2026
Introduction
You must have a valid ticket to travel on Chiltern Railways’ trains. Where you can, you must buy a ticket before you start your journey with us.
If you board one of our trains or enter a Compulsory Ticket Area without a valid ticket and there was an opportunity to buy one you may:
- have to pay the full, non-discounted single or return fare for your journey (discounts including Railcards will not be available);
- be issued with an Unpaid Fare Notice;
- be charged a Penalty Fare;
be reported to our Revenue Protection department for consideration of prosecution.
How to buy a ticket
Ticket office
We have ticket offices at many of our stations. Tickets can be bought for any journey, including one starting from a different station, and those that include London Underground stations.
You can pay for your ticket with cash, debit or credit card. Please allow enough time to buy your ticket.
Self-service ticket machines
These are available at many of our stations. You can buy a variety of tickets, including 7-day season tickets and discounted tickets for Railcard holders. Please ensure that you leave sufficient time to buy your ticket when using self-service ticket machines.
If the station does not have a ticket office or a self-service ticket machine that accepts your only method of payment you can buy your ticket on the train or at your destination station.
Online
You can buy tickets at chilternrailways.co.uk
Download our app
Search Chiltern Railways in your app store.
By phone
Call our Customer Support Team on 0345 6005165 (07:00 – 22:00 daily)
Standard network charges may apply.
Calls from mobile numbers may be higher
Pay-as-you-go
If your journey is in the contactless, Oyster or Swift pay-as-you go areas, or your ticket is held on a smartcard, then you must touch in at the ticket gateline or on the platform validator before you board the train and touch out at the end of your journey.
Contents
Smartphones and digital tickets
If you’re using a smartphone or other electronic device to display your ticket, then it’s your responsibility to make sure that your device is working and has sufficient battery remaining for your entire journey. If you’re using a flexi-season ticket, you must activate your ticket before starting your journey.
If you need to collect a ticket purchased through an app or website, then you must collect it before you start your journey and it is your responsibility to ensure that you leave sufficient time for ticket collection.
What if there are long queues or I am in a rush?
You are responsible for making sure you buy a valid ticket for your whole journey before you travel and that you leave sufficient time to account for long queues. Being in a rush is not a valid reason for not having a valid ticket and if you do not have a valid ticket, you may be charged a Penalty Fare, given an Unpaid Fare Notice or reported to our Revenue Protection Department.
You may find it more convenient to buy tickets through the Chiltern Railways app, or think about buying a season ticket if you travel regularly.
Penalty Fares
Penalty Fares are issued by members of staff who are trained and authorised as a Collector of Penalty Fares. You can ask to see their ID badge to confirm this.
A Penalty Fare is £100 plus the price of the full single fare applicable, or £50 plus the full price of this single fare applicable if paid within 21 days starting after the day you were given the Penalty Fare.
Penalty Fares are issued in accordance with The Railways (Penalty Fares) Regulations 2018 as amended in 2022.
Unpaid Fare Notice
We may issue an Unpaid Fare Notice if you travel without the right ticket and can’t pay when we ask you to.
The notice will tell you how you can challenge or pay the fare owing.
Report to our Revenue Protection department
If you are reported to Chiltern Railways’ Revenue Protection department, this department will write to you with details of what will happen next. The Revenue Protection department will review each case individually and decide how it may best be resolved.
If you travel without a valid ticket, you are legally required to provide Chiltern with your full name and address, and in some circumstances your date of birth.
We take your privacy seriously and Chiltern Railways will only process your personal data in accordance with applicable data protection legislation and our Privacy Policy.
Report to our Revenue Protection department
If you are reported to Chiltern Railways’ Revenue Protection department, this department will write to you with details of what will happen next. The Revenue Protection department will review each case individually and decide how it may best be resolved.
If you travel without a valid ticket, you are legally required to provide Chiltern with your full name and address, and in some circumstances your date of birth.
We take your privacy seriously and Chiltern Railways will only process your personal data in accordance with applicable data protection legislation and our Privacy Policy.
What if I want to travel further than the destination on my ticket?
You must make sure you have the right ticket before you travel. If your plans change, let a member of staff know straight away so that you can buy a valid ticket.
Please don’t wait to be asked for your ticket. If you can’t produce a valid ticket, you may be liable to pay a Penalty Fare, issued with an Unpaid Fares Notice or be reported to the Revenue Protection department.
You could be prosecuted if it was shown you intended to travel further than the destination on your ticket, without paying the correct fare.
What if I want to buy a season ticket and the ticket office is closed?
If you have a photo card, you can buy a weekly season ticket from one of our ticket machines.
However, if you want a season ticket for a month or longer, you should buy a single from the ticket machine and then buy your season ticket at your destination. The cost of your single ticket will then be deducted from your season ticket.
What should I do if I have forgotten my photocard or season ticket?
You should buy a daily ticket for your journey before you travel. You can then apply for a refund at the ticket office when you show your season ticket. You can only do this twice in a 12-month period, and you may be charged an admin fee.
What if I discover that I’ve forgotten my season ticket once I’ve boarded the train?
If you’re issued with a Penalty Fare, you should follow the instructions to submit an appeal. Send a clear photocopy of your season ticket and photo card to the Appeals Service.
Disabilities and vulnerable people
If you have a disability and ticket purchasing arrangements at the station where you start your journey are not accessible, you must buy an appropriate ticket to complete your journey as soon as you are reasonably able, either onboard from a member of the train staff or as soon as you leave the train and before you exit the station at your destination.
What are the National Rail Conditions of Travel
These are national conditions of the sale and use of rail tickets. If you would like more information about these or to see a copy of them details are available from the National Rail website at nationalrail.co.uk