Transport for London: Fare dodgers cost network £130m a year

TfL says it employs some 450 revenue inspectors who operate across the network

Fare dodging cost Transport for London (TfL) £130m in 2022-23, data obtained by the BBC has revealed.

Fares are evaded in a range of ways, such as failing to tap in and out and using counterfeit tickets.

TfL said its target was to bring evasion rates below 1.5%. The current rate is at 3.9% collectively across buses, trains and trams.

TfL added it had plans to increase the penalty fares.

In 2019, TfL data shows that fare dodgers cost the network about £116m.

The figure has increased by at least £14m, according to the most recent data.

However, TfL said the recent numbers were not directly comparable with those from 2019, as the network has improved methods for calculating fare evasion.

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TfL said that following the Department for Transport's decision to increase the penalty fare to £100 (plus the price of the full single fare) across the national rail network, it was planning to increase the penalty fare on its services "to act as a further deterrent".

Penalty fares currently are set at £80, reduced to £40 if they are paid within 21 days.

The revenue this generates will be "invested in improving the transport network", TfL added.

Fares for TfL services have increased since in March, with the average single journey bus fare up by 10p and the average pay-as-you-go Tube fare increasing by 30p.

Fare evasion can lead to a fine of up to £1,000 and a criminal record. Last year there were more than 18,000 offences reported by TfL revenue teams for possible prosecution, it said.

A TfL spokesperson said: "Fare evasion is unfair to the vast majority of people who do pay their fares properly, which is why we have a comprehensive programme in place to deter offenders, including 450 officers undertaking ticket inspection, and revenue enforcement activity across every mode of transport every day. This programme is informed by a range of data and intelligence to identify and tackle fare evasion."

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