Train operating companies published a list of some of the excuses used by passengers found travelling without a ticket. Examples of excuses given by fare dodgers for not buying a ticket include: “I just got out of jail, and the police said I could travel for free.”
“I’ve just been getting my nails done and I’m not going to get them broken by buying a ticket.”
“My mum’s got my ticket and we buried her this morning.”
“I don’t need a ticket as I’m getting a lift back.”
“I only got on the train to use the toilet and it left while I was in there.”
“I fell through the door and landed on a seat.”
“I thought it was free on a Sunday.”
“The bloke told me last week to buy a ticket, but this week I forgot.”
“The guy at the station said you don’t need tickets for these trains.”
“I’ve never paid before so I don’t see why I should pay now.”
Fare dodgers are depriving other passengers and the rail network of an estimated £240m a year, according to figures published by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC).
Those who choose to travel without buying a ticket are estimated to be making more than 120,000 train journeys each day on the rail network. Train companies say that they are determined to take a firm but fair approach to fare dodging and have spent over £21m on installing ticket barriers and random ticket checks.
The money lost every year due to fare dodging is money train operators could otherwise invest in services for passengers, says ATOC. It is estimated that the £240m lost every year due to fare dodging would be enough to:
– Lease over 1,500 extra commuter carriages, or;
– Lease around 920 extra inter-city carriages for longer distance journeys, or;
– Pay for the upkeep of around 450 stations for the next five years.
Train companies have a number of safeguards in place aimed at ensuring that customers unable to buy a ticket are not given a penalty fare. Staff are regularly updated about ticket machines which may not be working and other circumstances which may prevent people from buying tickets. Passengers should check with their train operator what its policies are on ticketing and fare evasion.
David Mapp, Commercial Director for ATOC, said: “For the large majority of honest passengers who do pay for their ticket it is frustrating that ‘dodgy’ excuses by a selfish minority end up sucking millions of pounds out of the railways each year. That’s money train companies and passengers would rather see going back into further improving services.
“Train companies deal with fare dodgers in a fair but firm manner. Where there is a genuine reason for someone travelling without a ticket, train companies will use their discretion. Strong deterrents are in place to ensure that the majority of passengers don’t end up paying for the few who think they can always get away without having to buy a ticket.”
Notes
Based on evidence from train companies’ initiatives to detect fare dodgers, ATOC estimates that between 3pc and 5pc of journeys made on the network every day are made without tickets. Applying the conservative lower estimate of 3pc, 45m journeys were made last year by fare evaders. Multiplying the number of journeys by the average price paid for a ticket, £5.37, ATOC estimates that around £241.6m is lost to fare evasion.
Train companies and Network Rail spend £1.3bn every five years on renewing and maintaining the country’s train stations. £240m represents around 18% of that expenditure. There are just over 2,500 stations in the country. Therefore, £240m would pay for the equivalent of the upkeep of around 450 stations for the next five years. For £240m per year, it is estimated that train companies could lease and maintain around 1,500 extra train carriages of the type typically used for commuter trains or around 920 extra carriages of the type typically used for inter-city trains.
Most train operators expect passengers to buy a ticket before they board a train. A small number of train companies allow passengers to pay their fare on the train – this will be made clear at the station before you start your journey. In all cases, passengers must have a valid ticket, to make their train.
