Train passengers caught without ticket should be let off with warning, says watchdog
A watchdog has called for train passengers caught without a ticket to be given a warning on their first offence.
Transport Focus is advocating for a 'yellow card' system across all British operators to "make things fairer for everyone". It is proposing recording the details of passengers who don't have the correct ticket or railcard, allowing for future checks.
This suggestion follows incidents where individuals faced prosecution for minor underpayments, drawing media attention. Engineering graduate Sam Williamson expressed concerns about potentially receiving a criminal record and hefty fines after being prosecuted by Northern for an unintentional £1.90 shortfall due to incorrect railcard use at the wrong time. However, Northern withdrew its legal action after media intervention.
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The current Penalty Fares system imposes a £100 fine plus the cost of the full single fare, which is halved if paid within 21 days. Fare evasion reportedly costs Britain's railways around £240 million annually, according to the Rail Delivery Group.
Transport Focus also recommends considering a digital railcard database to address fare evasion issues. In a move to validate that passengers are eligible for discounted fares, ticket inspectors could soon be empowered to check the status of travelers who claim they've forgotten their railcard or can't access it on their phones.
Transport watchdog Transport Focus is proposing increased measures in fare collection to ensure passengers are aware they will be required to show a valid ticket at the beginning, end, and during their journey. The organization highlights the "clear benefits to having safe, secure stations with proper barriers".
Natasha Grice, director for rail at Transport Focus, said: “Transport Focus has long been concerned about the complexity of rail fares and ticketing, particularly for passengers who find it hard to buy the right ticket for their journey. We understand and support the principle that all users of rail should be paying for their ticket, but we want to make sure that passengers who make an innocent mistake aren’t punished unfairly.
“There are some things that the industry could do now to make things better, and our research tells us that if the railway is to build trust and confidence, an improved approach to revenue protection is needed. Recouping this money could help boost investment in services, making things better for passengers.”