I made 4 journeys on Northern's Hope Valley services last Saturday. All were 3 car 195s which must assist with revenue protection. Pre-Covid all might have been a single Pacer when we'd strugle to get aboard and tickets were never checked. Sometimes we now get a 4 car train, 2x150.
This line has been a fare dodgers paradise. Many free riders never expected to have to pay, certainly not on over full Pacers or in the front half of a 4 car 150 combination without walk through connection. A few get promise to pay tickets from the ticket machines as an insurance, but go as near as possible to the front of the train to avoid a conductor. Those I see doing this must have contactless cards. The only normally controlled barriers are at Piccadilly.
First well filled train a 5 minute hop into Sheffield. Conscientious conductor worked to the front of the train. Two teenagers didn't seem to expect to be asked to pay, but did. As we arrived in Sheffield a young man joined them very pleased with himself that he'd not paid. They left being instructed on how to get away with it next time.
Later in the day I joined an eastbound train from Marple, standees at that point, but plenty of seats if bags had gone on racks. Piccadilly and all previous stations have ticket machines and are manned on Saturday mornings. The conductor worked the train well and was collecting quite a few fares. A couple of Manchester City supporters were sprawled either side of the train, neither with tickets despite having got on at Piccadilly. The first gave in fairly easily after disputing the full price fare. The second put up every possible diversionary tactic. The conductor kept coming back until Hathersage. By then a QR code had been produced and was accepted, although I suspect it wasn't read. Hassle over, but the subsequent conversation suggested they were both hoping not to have to pay.