Taller ticket barriers to stop fare dodgers at railway stations
£33.4 million investment targets fare evasion hotspots across England
The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced a £33.4 million investment in new ticket barriers at railway stations across England to combat fare evasion.
The initiative involves installing taller gates designed to prevent passengers from jumping over them, along with additional standard waist-high gates.
The Rail Delivery Group estimates that annual fare revenue losses due to fraud and ticketless travel range between £350 million and £400 million.
These new barriers aim to address the issue at known "fare dodger hotspots," according to the DfT.
Stations benefiting from the funding include:
- Avanti West Coast: Liverpool Lime Street and Stafford.
- East Midlands Railway: Market Harborough.
- Greater Anglia: Hertford East, Manningtree, Rayleigh, Ware and Witham.
- Thameslink Southern Great Northern: Elephant and Castle, Gipsy Hill, Royston, Stevenage and Worthing.
- TransPennine Express: Manchester Piccadilly.
- West Midlands Trains: Nuneaton, Tamworth, Worcester Foregate Street and Worcester Shrub Hill.
Rail minister Lord Hendy stated:
"Fare evasion is not a victimless crime – it undermines confidence in the railway and means passengers lose out on millions in revenue which should be invested to improve services for everyone. By stopping fare dodgers before they reach the platform, we’re protecting taxpayer cash, supporting investment in the network, and ensuring the railway works better for the millions of passengers who do the right thing every day by paying their way."
The deployment of new gates is due to start in the first half of next year, with completion expected by mid-2028.