The UK government has announced an independent review into the punishments for rail fare evasion following growing concerns about train companies taking disproportionate action against passengers who make innocent mistakes.
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has tasked the Office for Rail and Road (ORR) with investigating how prosecutions and enforcement are handled, particularly in cases where passengers may have misunderstood or inadvertently breached ticketing rules. While the government is not seeking to remove the ability of train operators to prosecute those who deliberately evade fares, there has been mounting concern over the treatment of passengers who have made genuine errors.
The review will focus on the clarity of ticketing terms and conditions, as well as how effectively these are communicated to train users. One of the central issues is the use of prosecution, which can result in a criminal record and a court appearance, for passengers who may have underpaid or made a mistake without intending to evade fare payments.
In her statement, Haigh emphasized, “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 that the independent review is a crucial step toward restoring passengers’ confidence in the system.
A key example of the concerns around ticketing rules involves Northern Rail, which last month dropped all charges against Sam Williamson, an engineering graduate, who was facing prosecution for a £1.90 underpayment. Williamson had used a 16-25 railcard on a train to Manchester, but the ticket was invalid due to specific terms and conditions related to off-peak travel. Despite admitting his mistake and offering to pay the correct fare, he was reported for prosecution, leading to significant public criticism.
Following the incident, the Department for Transport instructed Northern to review its ticketing policy to ensure greater clarity and fairness for passengers. The company subsequently withdrew all active prosecutions in similar cases and promised to review past instances of ticketing disputes.
The ORR‘s Director of Strategy, Policy, and Reform, Stephanie Tobyn, welcomed the review, stating that it is vital to ensure that passengers are treated fairly and consistently while balancing the legitimate interests of operators in protecting revenue.
The review is expected to provide important recommendations on when prosecution is an appropriate response, helping to ensure that rail fare enforcement is both fair and transparent.