The penalty for rail fare dodgers is to soar five-fold to £100 in a crackdown.
The Department for Transport (DfT) hopes to recoup more of the £240million lost to fare evasion on the railways in England and Wales each year.
It follows concerns that the current £20 fine, introduced in 2005, was no longer a deterrent.
A DfT spokesman said: ‘With over £240million lost every year due to fare evasion on our railways, it is vital deterrents are effective and fair.’
The Department for Transport (DfT) hopes to recoup more of the £240million lost to fare evasion on the railways in England and Wales each year
On top of the £100 fine, fare dodgers will also have to pay the cost of the ticket they failed to buy. The penalty will be cut to £50 if payment is made in 21 days.
The increase, to be introduced in the spring, brings railways in line with other transport providers, such as Manchester’s Metrolink.
It also means fines in England and Wales will be higher than in many European nations, such as Germany where evaders pay £55, and France, where they pay £46.
DfT said: “Fare evasion cost train operators, rail travellers and taxpayers who eventually subsidise journeys by those who travel on train but don’t pay correct fare.”
It follows concerns that the current £20 fine, introduced in 2005, was no longer a deterrent
‘The Rail Delivery Group estimates that in a normal year around £240 million is lost through fare evasion on Great Britain’s railways.
“When compared to the impact coronavirus had on passengers numbers and revenue, it is more crucial than ever to reduce the cost of fare fraud to railways.
Penalty fares can only be issued in cases where a ticket could have been purchased at a departure station.
DfT stated that it would issue an update in spring 2022 about when the new penalty fare will be in effect in England and Wales.