In 2024, a rail company successfully recouped over £1 million from individuals who evaded fares.
Chiltern Railways announced that it had referred 8,064 passengers for investigation due to non-payment during the year.
The operator disclosed that between £12,000 and £15,000 was retrieved from three individuals who had consistently neglected to pay the appropriate fare over an extended duration.
The network managed by Chiltern encompasses areas in the West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and provides services to London via Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Hertfordshire.
Tony Baxter, the operations director, noted that the company loses a significant amount of revenue each year as a result of fare dodging.
In addition to recovering funds, the company issued 2,156 penalty fares in 2024, resulting in 149 cases that progressed to prosecution.
Overall, £114,330 was gathered, bringing the total recovered revenue lost to fare evasion by Chiltern Railways in 2024 to £1,165,617.
Mr. Baxter remarked: “While the vast majority of our customers purchase their tickets prior to traveling, a considerable amount of money continues to be lost due to fare evasion each year.
“We are committed to ensuring fairness for those who pay, and it’s important to emphasize that there is no justification for evading fares, especially since buying a ticket has never been easier.”
