Fine for dodging rail fares soars five-fold to £100

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.’

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 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.