The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced a £33.4 million investment to install taller ticket barriers at railway stations across England, targeting fare evasion. The new barriers aim to prevent passengers from jumping over them, alongside additional standard waist-high gates.
Scale of Fare Evasion
Industry body the Rail Delivery Group estimates that at least £350 million to £400 million of annual fares revenue is lost to fraud and ticketless travel. The DfT stated the new barriers will be deployed at “fare dodger hotspots”.
Stations Receiving Funding
Operators allocated funding include:
- 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.
Ministerial Comment
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.”
Timeline
The rollout of the new gates is expected to begin in the first half of next year and be completed by mid-2028.
