Free Traffic Legal Advice

The driver is seeking advice regarding a parking notice received at the train station.

This was the driver’s first time using the station, and based on the information available online, it was understood that parking is free for train users. Upon arrival, no payment machine was visible, which seemed to confirm that understanding.

However, upon returning to the car, a parking notice (attached) was found. After enquiring with station staff, the driver was informed that vehicle registration must be recorded at the reception to qualify for the free parking — a step he was unaware of due to lack of clear signage or prior experience.

We kindly request your advice on how best to proceed in light of this misunderstanding.

Thank you for your time and assistance.

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Thank you

I will search for more on the forum

Thank you for the latest update

I will go through the link to get more insights because I don't even know how to appeal to drag it for long

There's a couple of fairly recent live cases on here, search under "APCOA" "station parking" for details. I think one was in Bedford, can'r remember wher the other was.

Going through all to have a good appeal

I think you under the misapprehension that this is like a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) where you can appeal it. This isn’t a private parking “fine” — it’s a Penalty Notice issued under Railway Byelaw 14. That means there’s no formal appeal process.

The notice is effectively an invitation to pay a fixed penalty to avoid possible prosecution in the Magistrates' Court under Byelaw 24(1). You're not legally obliged to respond — and crucially, you're not required to identify the driver.

The notice refers to the registered keeper, but the Byelaw only permits liability for the owner of the vehicle — a distinction that matters legally. The DVLA logbook (V5C) itself states it’s not proof of ownership, so unless Northern can prove that the keeper is also the owner, enforcement becomes shaky. It's not for you to disprove that you are the owner.

There’s no harm in writing to Northern to explain the situation, but it’s not a legal appeal — it’s a request for discretion. If you do go down that route, it’s best to wait until Northern send a Notice to Owner (NtO) or formal demand. That’s when you’ll receive a new written deadline.

It’s best to wait until that letter arrives, and then, if you want to contest the matter or explain the circumstances, you should only do so shortly before the new deadline they set. This delays the process and limits their window to initiate court proceedings, which must be done within six months of the alleged offence. For now, do not identify the driver, do not respond to the windscreen notice, and don’t engage early — timing is everything with these.

If they issue a formal demand later, you’ll still be well placed to challenge it — but for now, no need to panic or rush to engage. Stay calm, don’t identify the driver, and play for time.

Thank you so much

Well understood

On Friday 8th August (make a not in your diary) you should send the following email to DRPU@northernrailway.co.uk and also CC in yourself:

Debt Recovery & Prosecutions Unit
Northern Trains Limited
FREEPOST NEA 3188
Bradford
BD1 1BR

By email to: DRPU@northernrailway.co.uk

Dear Sir/Madam,

Re: Notice to Owner – Penalty Parking Notice No. [Insert Number]

Date of Issue: 23 June 2025 – Barnsley Station

I write in relation to your recent correspondence regarding the above parking notice. I am the registered keeper of the vehicle referred to, and I am responding without prejudice as to the identity of the driver or owner.

The vehicle was parked at Barnsley Station on the date in question during a journey using Northern rail services. Prior to travel, information publicly available online indicated that station parking was free for rail users. Upon arrival at the station, no payment machine was visible, which appeared to confirm that understanding. The absence of clear signage or prominent instructions did not alert the driver to any requirement to register the vehicle at the station reception.

It was only upon return that the driver became aware of the parking notice. A subsequent enquiry with station staff revealed, for the first time, that vehicle registration was required at the reception desk to avoid a penalty — a requirement that was not clearly conveyed by any signage encountered.

This appears to have been a genuine misunderstanding caused by inadequate or non-prominent signage, compounded by a lack of prior experience using this particular station. In the circumstances, I would respectfully request that Northern Trains exercise discretion and cancel the notice. The railway byelaws are intended to regulate intentional misuse of station facilities, not to penalise first-time users acting in good faith based on incomplete or unclear information.

Should you decline to cancel the notice, please be advised that I do not accept liability and do not intend to make payment. Any attempt to pursue this matter further would require Northern Trains to prove, beyond reasonable doubt, that the legal owner of the vehicle committed the alleged offence. As you will be aware, the DVLA registration document (V5C) is not proof of ownership.

I trust you will give due consideration to this request for discretion. Please confirm in writing whether the penalty has been cancelled.

Yours faithfully,

[Your Full Name]

There is no proper appeal process for this type of notice. It's not like a parking ticket from a private company or a council where there's a set appeals system you can follow. This is a Penalty Notice under railway byelaws, and the only real way they can enforce it is by taking the case to the Magistrates' Court.

So, writing to Northern isn't a legal appeal — it's just asking them to use their discretion to cancel the notice. You're not arguing over a charge that can be appealed like a fine. You're politely asking them to drop it based on the circumstances: that the driver was a first-time visitor, used the train, didn’t see any clear signs, and made an honest mistake.

This kind of letter sometimes works because companies like Northern do have the power to cancel these notices if they think it’s fair to do so. But again, it’s not a formal appeal — you’re simply asking for them to show some flexibility. The letter has to be worded carefully so it doesn’t admit anything or make things worse.

The letter is being sent near the final deadline to give Northern as little time as possible to take the matter to court. They are issued under railway byelaws and can only be enforced by taking someone to the Magistrates' Court within six months of the alleged offence. That deadline is 23 December 2025 in this case.

The keeper is not legally required to identify the driver or pay the notice. The law says that only the owner of the vehicle can be liable, and the registered keeper is not automatically the owner. Northern would have to prove who the owner is and that they were responsible for the parking incident, and they must prove it beyond reasonable doubt, which is a very high standard.

The letter being sent does not admit who was driving and does not admit who owns the vehicle. It simply explains that this was a misunderstanding caused by poor signage and asks Northern to cancel the notice out of fairness. The wording is careful so it cannot be used to suggest that the keeper was the driver.

The idea is to appear reasonable without giving away any useful information. By waiting until the last possible day to respond, it also shortens the time Northern have to take any legal action. If they do nothing before the six-month deadline, the case is over and cannot be pursued.

The letter sent said 14 days and not working days

Will 8th August not fall after the 14days period

Just asking for clarification

Thank you