Transport Focus, the rail watchdog in England, is calling on train companies to adopt a “yellow card” warning system for passengers who travel without the correct ticket. In its place of fines and prosecutions, passengers would be issued a warning and have their names recorded on a digital system. Repeat offenders would receive fines. Rail regulators are investigating how fare evasion prosecution and enforcement are carried out. Train operators, such as Cross Country and Southeastern, already have yellow card systems in place.
Fares are complicated and fair evasion is estimated to cost the industry £240m annually. Transport Focus’s director for rail, Natasha Grice stated that “We understand and support the principle that all users of rail should pay for their ticket, but we want to make sure that passengers who make an innocent mistake aren’t punished unfairly”.
In a case highlighted by the BBC, engineering graduate Sam Williamson faced going to court after paying £1.90 less than he should have done. His case resulted in passenger criticism of train operator Northern, who subsequently withdrew live prosecutions. The case led to the Department for Transport commissioning a review after 74,000 prosecutions for alleged rail fare evasion were quashed.
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