Penalty trial to tackle West Yorkshire train fare evaders
Train operator Northern is getting ready to launch the latest phase of its campaign to encourage all customers to buy their travel before they board the train.
The latest phase of the campaign is to introduce the nationally-recognised penalty fares system on the Airedale and Wharfedale lines in West and North Yorkshire.
From 6 December, customers travelling without a ticket on a Northern train anywhere between Leeds and Bradford Forster Square, Leeds/Bradford and Ilkley, or Leeds/Bradford and Skipton, could face a penalty fare of £20.
Paul Barnfield, Regional Director for Northern, said: “The penalty fares are a natural extension of the Buy Before You Board Campaign we launched last year.
“Sadly there is still a minority who believe they have a right to travel without buying a ticket. Their actions reduce the overall income of the rail industry and, as a result, reduces the money available to invest in further improvements to the railway.
“Everyone who travels by train should have a valid ticket or pass. Or must be able to demonstrate they have made every effort to buy a ticket before they boarded.
“If they are unable to do either of these then, from 6 December, our authorised collectors will be on hand at stations along the routes to either issue £20 fines or ask customers to pay double the cost of a single ticket to their destination.”
As part of Northern’s ongoing modernisation of the rail network, significant investment has been made in introducing new ticket machines to give customers more choice and greater ease when buying their tickets.
Paul added: “We have invested in new state-of-the-art ticket machines at all stations on the Airedale and Wharfedale lines. These machines offer a full range of fares – including discounts.
“With online and mobile ticketing, as well as ticket offices at our staffed stations, there is really no reason for anyone to board a train without a valid ticket.
“For customers who want to pay by cash, our ticket machines will issue Promise to Pay notices which can be exchanged (along with a cash payment) for a ticket when on board the service or at the next available ticket office.”
Penalty fares are currently used by many other train operators. The system, which has been in operation for more than 20 years, works to a national set of rules which include signs and warning notices at stations. There is also a clear appeals process which has been tried and tested by the industry.
Posters explaining penalty fares will be displayed at all stations on the Airedale and Wharfedale lines and leaflets will be handed out to provide further detail about the scheme. For more information please see the Northern website northernrailway.co.uk/penalty-fares.
Contact Information
Glyn Hellam
Media Manager
Northern
01904 568652
07795 008693
Glyn.Hellam@northernrailway.co.uk
@northern_pr
Notes to editors
Frequently asked questions
What are penalty fares?
Penalty Fares are replacing the current Failure to Purchase Notices on the Airedale and Wharfedale lines. If a customer gets on a train without a ticket or Promise to Pay notice at a station where ticket buying facilities are available, they may be liable to pay a penalty fare. The penalty is the greater of £20 or twice the full single from the station where the customer got on the train to the next station at which the train stops. If the customer wants to travel beyond the next station they must also pay the relevant fare from that station to their final destination.
If a customer does not buy a ticket before travelling, is it an automatic Penalty Fare?
You are responsible for ensuring that you purchase a ticket or obtain a Promise to Pay notice that is valid for your entire journey before travelling, otherwise you may have to pay a Penalty Fare.
Northern is responsible for ensuring that the facility to purchase a ticket or Promise to Pay notice is available.
Can I pay at my destination if I am in a rush?
If you board a train without a valid ticket or Promise to Pay notice you may have to pay a Penalty Fare. If it is shown that your intention was to avoid your fare, then you are breaking the criminal law and you may be liable for prosecution.
What is a Promise to Pay notice?
A Promise to Pay notice is a ticket that must be obtained from our ticket vending machines if customers do not have the facility to pay by credit/debit card. The Promise to Pay notice allows customers to board the train with the intention of exchanging the notice at the first opportunity with a revenue officer, or at the next available booking office.
What methods of payment can I use to pay a Penalty Fare?
We accept all major credit/debit cards and postal orders.
Is there a right of appeal against a Penalty Fare?
If you wish to appeal against a Penalty Fare you must do so in writing within 21 days of the issue date and send it to the appeals address on the Penalty Fare notice. The appeals body adheres to an agreed Code of Practice (approved by the Department for Transport in the assessment of all appeals. The Independent Appeals Service will consider all the facts presented to them on appeal and notify the appellant of the outcome.
What if I want to buy a season ticket and the ticket office is closed, or the machine doesn’t sell the ticket I want?
Ticket Vending Machines sell most weekly season tickets for journeys on Northern services. Monthly season ticket holders can renew their ticket provided their details are recorded in our database. If the required destination station is not listed on the ticket machine, then please purchase a single ticket to your interchange station or use the promise to pay notice.
What happens if I refuse to pay the Penalty Fare?
You will receive a reminder letter advising you of the outstanding sums owed to us. If you travel on the railway with the intent of avoiding paying the fare then you may be prosecuted under criminal law. The current maximum penalty upon conviction is a £1,000 fine and/or three months imprisonment.
The stations at which penalty fares will apply are:
- Leeds
- Apperley Bridge
- Shipley
- Frizinghall
- Bradford Forster Square
- Saltaire
- Bingley
- Crossflats
- Keighley
- Steeton and Silsden
- Cononley
- Skipton
- Kirkstall Forge
- Baildon
- Guiseley
- Menston
- Burley in Wharefdale
- Ben Rhydding
- Ilkley