Train firms face shake-up over ‘heavy handed’ policing of fare dodging

Ministers have ordered a review of how train companies police fare dodging – after claims of rail operators taking heavy handed action against commuters.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh announced the review today, saying: “Make no mistake, deliberate fare-dodging has no place on our railways and must be tackled, but innocent people shouldn’t feel like a genuine mistake will land them in court.”

She added: “It is clear that ticketing is far too complicated, with a labyrinth of different fares and prices which can be confusing for passengers.”

It comes after Engineering graduate Sam Williamson said he feared getting a criminal record and being fined hundreds of pounds after being told he was being prosecuted by Government-owned operator Northern because he unknowingly used a rail card at the wrong time, resulting in a £1.90 underpayment.

Northern dropped its action against him following media coverage.

Meanwhile, Ms Haigh has promised train and bus performance statistics will be “plastered on the walls” of her department – because she wants to ensure every member of staff is “taking responsibility” for the experience of passengers.

She told the Commons Transport Committee: “I keep on joking that I want – well, I’m not joking, actually, I’m being deadly serious – the performance stats and our outcomes plastered on the walls of the department, so that we are all taking responsibility for the actual experience of passengers, both on rail and bus, in the real world.”

And she told the committee the Government hopes legislation for the creation of Great British Railways (GBR) – a new public sector body to hold responsibility for rail infrastructure and train operation – will be introduced in summer 2025, with GBR becoming operational by the end of 2026 “at the earliest”.