Fare dodgers

Commuters who attempt to dodge rail fares are set to face minimum fines of £20 under plans detailed by the government.

Transport minister David Jamieson said on Tuesday that the penalty should be doubled from its current level of £10.

Government Response: Department for Transport

Transport minister David Jamieson said: "At a time when government is investing huge amounts of money into the railways it's estimated that hundreds of millions of pounds are lost to the industry each year through fare evasion.

"It's obvious that the current penalty of £10 is not enough to deter the persistent fare dodgers who repeatedly avoid payment in the belief that they can easily afford the fine when they are caught. These proposals should help to reduce the number of fare dodgers and act as a more realistic deterrent for others."

Stakeholder Response: Association of Train Operating Companies

George Muir, director general of ATOC, said: "Train operating companies have gone to much effort and expense to prevent fare evasion.  While many stations are now gated - two thirds of all rail journeys in the Capital go through 80 gated London stations - the penalty fare still has a role to play in deterring fraudulent travel.

"Train operating companies that apply the penalty fare would like it increased to an amount which really makes potential fare dodgers think twice about not paying for a rail ticket."

"£20 is more appropriate but the higher the figure, the less fare evasion there will be which will result in more money being available for train operating companies to spend on changing rail travel for the better."

Stakeholder Response: Transport for London

A spokesman for Transport for London said: "In February 2004 Transport for London increased the penalty fares on buses and the Docklands Light Railway from five pounds to £10 in line with London Underground Ltd existing policy and we keep these issues under review.

"It must be noted that there is a difference between those who have the wrong ticket and those people who deliberately intend to evade paying the fare, in the latter case we always endeavour to prosecute."