A summer crackdown on rail fare dodgers is planned by train and police chiefs to combat losses amounting to more than £200 million a year.
The campaign by revenue inspectors, often working with British Transport Police, will cover all train operators serving the capital.
They will especially target stations without ticket barriers and also late long-distance trains favoured by “away-day” criminals who travel to London for its rich pickings.
A swoop in the morning rush-hour by BTP and train operator London Midland at Euston Station uncovered more than £4,000 of fare dodging after 20,000 tickets were checked.
In one of the largest raids so far, offences included passengers deliberately trying to avoid paying fares, using counterfeit season tickets or attempting to abuse the Oyster card system.
Four passengers were interviewed under caution pending possible action. BTP inspector Mark Summerfield, who led the operation involving 40 officers and revenue inspectors, said 138 fare dodgers were issued with penalty notices.
“The operation will be carried out on a regular basis by officers including late night trains between Euston and Birmingham,” he said. “The joint exercise is designed to educate and encourage passengers to buy tickets before they travel and disrupt the activities of travelling criminals who use the trains freely in order to commit crime.”
Tom Joyner, London Midland’s passenger services director, said: “Our new approach is all about being flexible, so fare dodgers will never know when and where they might be challenged. You could say we want to keep people on their guard, so it is never worth the risk of trying to cheat.”
He said the crackdown “is already being welcomed by genuine passengers. It will drive down antisocial behaviour and educate people about the need to buy a ticket before getting on a train.”
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A spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group, which represents all the train operators, said: “Fare dodgers deprive the railways of about £200 million every year, money which could otherwise be invested in providing better services.
“Train companies take a firm but fair approach to people who don’t pay. The vast majority of passengers who pay the correct fare don’t feel they should subsidise those who try to get away without paying.”
At Southeastern, the UK’s busiest commuter carrier, a spokesman said: “Our own revenue inspectors will carry out regular and unannounced checks.”
Latest reports show losses from Tube fare dodging have increased by more than 200 per cent during the past five years — with more than £60 million revenue lost last year alone.
Steve Burton, Transport for London’s director of enforcement and on-street operations, said: “Fare evasion on our rail and bus networks has fallen to around just two per cent of all journeys, at the same time as overall passenger numbers have risen massively.
“We take fare evasion of any kind extremely seriously and communicate the consequences of being caught without a valid ticket.”
