West Midlands Metro fare penalties set to soar in New Year
Fines are going up from £10 to £100
From the start of the new year, West Midlands Metro passengers travelling without a valid ticket face a steep increase in fines, rising from £10 to £100.
It's part of the Metro’s ticketing system that aims to make paying for journeys simpler and to crack down on fare evasion.
Under the updated rules, passengers must purchase tickets before boarding trams to avoid penalties.
The move follows widespread feedback from regular customers who described fare evasion as “unfair” and welcomed stronger deterrents.
The ‘buy before you board’ policy and increased penalty charges were approved by the West Midlands Combined Authority Board in 2024. Ahead of the new measures, the Metro has been running a campaign to ensure passengers are aware of their ticketing options.
Validator poles are being installed at tram stops across the network and will go live in the new year. These will allow travellers to tap in and out using bank cards, smart devices, travel passes, and other contactless options, complementing existing ticket machines, the MyMetro app, and Swift cards.
Current conductors are also being retrained to serve as enforcement officers or tram drivers, equipped with the latest technology to check tickets and issue fines where necessary.
Michael Reading-Skilton, Metro’s Head of Commercial, said:
While fare evasion on the Metro is no higher than on other tramways, the vast majority of our customers feel it is unfair that some people think they can get away with travelling without a ticket.
“We share their frustration, and the increase in the penalty fare will act as a further deterrent to this unacceptable behaviour as we move towards a new, more convenient ticketing system that promotes fairness and aligns the Metro with wider industry standards.
Passengers are being urged to familiarise themselves with the new system and ensure they have a valid ticket before boarding.