Transport for Wales vows action against fare dodgers to tackle £10m lost revenue

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Anyone travelling by train in Wales without a valid ticket could soon face a £20 fine.

From March 25, anyone travelling without a ticket or permit between Seven Tunnel Junction and Carmarthen on Transport for Wales (TfW) services could be penalised.

This will either be a £20 fine, or double the cost of the ticket – whichever is more expensive.

TfW estimates it loses around £10m a year in lost revenue to due to fare dodging and fraud.

While the policy will only be in place along the South Wales Mainline to begin with, TfW has confirmed it will be rolled out across the rest of its network from later this year – including the Rhymney and Ebbw Valley lines.

From Monday March 4, anyone travelling without a valid ticket will be given information about the incoming penalties, ahead of the new policy.

TfW’s chief commercial officer, Alexia Course, said: “The vast majority of customers pay the correct fares and this revenue is vital for us as we continue to transform the Wales and Borders network with £800m of brand-new trains and the delivery of the South Wales Metro.

“Unfortunately, there are a minority who don’t pay their fare or use fraudulent activity to try and avoid paying the correct amount for their journey.

“Not only is this unfair on their fellow passengers, but it also costs TfW millions each year in lost revenue.”

Ms Course continued: “TfW is a not-for-profit organisation with no shareholders, and all revenue is used to fund the running of the services and future improvements. By reducing the money we lose through fare evasion and fraud, we can also reduce the subsidy required from Welsh Government, which is funded by the taxpayer.

“We will be using the initial three-week period to educate customers about the new scheme and we encourage all passengers to buy before they board using the TfW website, award-winning app or by using the best value pay-as-you-go fares, where available.”