Hundreds of Birmingham New Street commuters fined for ticketless travelling in one day - The Droitwich Standard

Hundreds of Birmingham New Street commuters fined for ticketless travelling in one day

Droitwich Editorial 23rd Aug, 2019   0

HUNDREDS of train users received fines as part of a ticketless travel clampdown at Birmingham’s New Street Station last Friday, writes Eve Watson.

In total, 206 penalties were issued and 39 people were referred for prosecution.

The tickets were checked as passengers made their way in and out of the station in a collaboration by revenue officers working for companies such as West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway. It was supported by the station’s operators Network Rail.

Steven Fisher, from West Midlands Railway, said he hoped it would reassure fare-paying passengers rail operators were doing all it could to prevent ticketless travel on the network.




Malcolm Holmes, director of West Midlands Rail Executive, said it was an excellent example of how the rail industry could tackle the issue.

Passengers without a ticket can be fined £20 or twice the full single ticket price for a journey, whichever is greater.


David Golding, interim managing director for Network Rail’s North West and Central Region, said: “With more people in the West Midlands choosing to travel by train it is important for us to support our train operators to ensure everyone pays for their journey.”

He added working together on operations such as this ensured railway use was fair for all passengers travelling through New Street.

Birmingham New Street is the busiest UK railway station outside London, with more than 43million passenger entries and exits recorded last year.

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