Train operator Transport for Wales (TfW) is introducing penalty fares on its services running on the South Wales Mainline as part of measures to address an estimated annual £10m loss in revenues from fare evasion and fraud.
From March 25 anyone travelling without a valid ticket or permit to travel for their journey on TfW trains on the South Wales Mainline will be given a penalty fare of £20 or twice the full fare – whichever is the greater amount. It will be applied for journeys on routes between Severn Tunnel Junction in East Wales and Carmarthen in West Wales.
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Penalty fares will be administered by authorised revenue protection officers who can check tickets and issue penalty fare notices to passengers. TfW said they will always wear uniforms and carry identification badges.
The officers will be able to issue unpaid fare notices (UFNs) to passengers who cannot pay on the spot or who have committed a more serious offence, such as using a forged or altered ticket.
In the lead up to the new regime, over the next three weeks passengers travelling on TfW services on the South Wales Mainline without a valid ticket or permit to travel will be given information about the potential consequences by authorised revenue protection officers.
It is the second penalty fares scheme from TfW on its Wales and Borders network. The first saw penalties on its trains between Shrewsbury and Birmingham. The scheme will be rolled out across the rest of TfW services on its Wales & Borders network over the coming months, including on the Core Valley Lines where the £1bn rail electrification programme will see new tram-trains introduced.
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Alexia Course, chief commercial officer at TfW, said: "The vast majority of customers pay the correct fares and this revenue is vital for us as we continue to transform the Wales and Borders network with £800m of brand-new trains and the delivery of the South Wales Metro.
“Unfortunately, there are a minority who don’t pay their fare or use fraudulent activity to try and avoid paying the correct amount for their journey. Not only is this unfair on their fellow passengers, but it also costs TfW millions each year in lost revenue.
“TfW is a not-for-profit organisation with no shareholders, and all revenue is used to fund the running of the services and future improvements. By reducing the money we lose through fare evasion and fraud, we can also reduce the subsidy required from Welsh Government, which is funded by the taxpayer.
“We will be using the initial three-week period to educate customers about the new scheme and we encourage all passengers to buy before they board using the TfW website, app or by using the best value pay as you go fares, where available.”
Transport for Wales is the transport body of the Welsh Government.