Penalty fares reforms – Transport Focus response

10 December 2016

Responding to the government plans to reform penalty fares to protect rail passengers, Transport Focus chief executive, Anthony Smith, said:

“It is right that train companies should take steps to stop passengers who try to evade paying fares. But those who have made an innocent mistake and been caught out by the rules should be treated with understanding and not immediately assumed to be guilty.

“Transport Focus is pleased to see the Government has listened to complaints from passengers and the issues we raised in our 2012 and 2015 Ticket to Ride reports. Greater fairness, accountability and an independent right of appeal will be welcomed by passengers who make an honest mistake.”

Background

Transport Focus first made a series of recommendations on this issue in the 2012 report Ticket to Ride and continued to press for change in an updated report in 2015.