Gates to be deployed at hotspots across England
New ticket barriers are set to be installed at train stations across England as part of a crackdown on fare dodging, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced, reports BritPanorama.
A £33.4 million investment will fund taller gates designed to prevent passengers from vaulting over them, alongside additional standard waist-high barriers.
Industry body the Rail Delivery Group estimates that at least £350 million to £400 million in annual fare revenue is lost to fraud and ticketless travel every year.
The new barriers will be rolled out at “fare dodger hotspots,” according to the DfT. The following operators have been allocated funding to install barriers at:
– 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 said: “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 installation of the new barriers is set to commence in the first half of next year, with the full rollout anticipated to be complete by mid-2028.
Investments in transport infrastructure that are aimed at reducing fraud and ensuring fair use could have implications for overall revenue generation. As rail companies brace for the rollout of new measures, the effectiveness of such initiatives remains to be seen. Such steps reflect a broader commitment to enhancing service quality and user experience in public transport, a crucial aspect of the UK’s infrastructure strategy.
