Minister steps in to protect fined rail travellers

THE GOVERNMENT will today unveil a scheme to protect rail passengers handed penalty fares as the result of honest mistakes.

The announcement comes just three days after the region’s biggest train operator extended its controversial fines policy to include many services between Leeds, Sheffield, York and Harrogate.

Northern Rail said passengers found without a ticket would face a £20 penalty from next month.

But the Rail Minister Jo Johnson will say today that those with a genuine reason for not having a ticket will now be able to challenge their fine by appealing to an independent committee, not connected to the company. An appeal would “stop the clock” on the 21day penalty deadline.

Mr Johnson said: “If you make an honest mistake, you should feel confident that the appeals system will recognise this and treat you fairly.”

Alex Hayman, of the consumer group Which?, said the new rules would protect passengers who had left their season ticket at home, or paid the wrong fare because of the “complex and confusing ticketing system”.

Northern introduced its policy of fining passengers last year in response to widespread accusations that staff had “bullied” vulnerable passengers and handed them “telling-off ” notices for failing to buy a ticket before boarding. Its extension to its fines policy this week came on one of the worst days for delays, with cancellations to Ilkley and Harrogate.

BRITISH AUTHORITIES are “likely” during the 2011 Libyan civil war to have contacted a banned Islamist militant group said to have links to Manchester terror attacker Salman Abedi.

The communication with the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), as well as the 17 February Martyrs’ Brigade, was “part of our broad engagement” as the UK joined a Nato bombing campaign supporting rebels fighting to oust Muammar Gaddafi, Foreign Minister Alistair Burt said.

Shadow Foreign Minister and Leeds North East MP Fabian Hamilton said: “These revelations show that the British Government must look more closely at who it supports and has communications with, not only in Libya, but across the world.”

Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle, who uncovered the information in a written parliamentary question, highlighted claims that suicide bomber Abedi had links to the LIFG.

He said: “The public needs to know what support Britain provided to these Islamist militias, which radicalised a Briton who went on to kill 23 and maim hundreds of his fellow citizens.”