Chiltern Railways recovered £12,000 from a habitual fare dodger who exploited fare evasion tactics and misused railcards.
Chiltern Railways trains go from London to several places. They travel to Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Warwickshire. Trains also run to and from the West Midlands area.
The train company investigated 8,064 possible crimes last year. This was handled by their special unit. It deals with economic crimes, fraud, and prosecutions. They recovered over £1 million. This money was lost because of fare evasion.
Chiltern Railways also issued 2,156 penalty fares. These fines brought in over £114,000. A penalty fare is extra money added to the ticket’s price. It applies to someone’s trip.
You can only get a penalty if you could buy a ticket at the station. Signs must also warn about not having a ticket. In early 2023, the government raised penalty fares to £100. Before that, it was £20 for over ten years. If you pay within three weeks, the fare drops to £50.
Tony Baxter works for Chiltern Railways. He said most people pay for their tickets. However, fare dodging causes railway losses. He wants fairness for paying customers. Buying a ticket is very easy now, he stated. Evading payment warrants a penalty fare or prosecution.
The Rail Delivery Group estimates huge nationwide losses. Around £240 million vanishes each year. This is due to people avoiding fares. Transport Focus wants a warning system. First-time offenders could get a yellow card. This avoids punishing them right away.