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UK Rail Passengers Rode First Class for Free!
12 Mar
Summary
- A software glitch allowed free travel on UK trains.
- Passengers could access First Class seating without tickets.
- The loophole was fixed after a journalist exposed it.
A significant software glitch in February allowed UK rail passengers to travel for free, including in First Class, due to a provider switch error. The loophole enabled users on Great Western Railway (GWR) to generate valid QR codes without purchasing tickets, bypassing automatic barriers nationwide. This allowed access to premium seating on various train operators, extending beyond GWR's usual routes.
The error, caused by a coding mistake during a switch to SilverRail on February 24, persisted for approximately three weeks. It was only rectified after a journalist from The Telegraph used the loophole for a 500-mile journey. GWR reported the issue was fixed on March 11, stating the vulnerability has been closed.
Beyond free travel, the fault caused thousands of pre-booked tickets to vanish from GWR digital accounts. The train operator advised account holders on retrieving transaction records and acknowledged that some station gatelines had erroneously accepted seat reservations as valid entry. A separate initiative offers standard ticket holders a £40 upgrade to Pullman Dining on select GWR services for a restaurant experience.
