An in-depth review into how revenue protection is handled by the rail industry has highlighted three issues and five recommendations for improvements to make the system simpler and fairer for passengers, train operating companies and the taxpayer.

During the review, the Office for Rail and Road (ORR) found that better information would be beneficial in helping passengers when it comes to buying the right ticket for their journey.

It also found that different approaches to revenue protection by rail companies across the country had led to a range of differing experiences and outcomes for passengers.

It also highlighted the need to tackle fare evasion and appropriate punishment for those who try, or consistently travel without paying for their journey, while at the same time improving fairness to passengers who make honest mistakes when travelling with a ticket that is not valid.

The ORR looked into and identified the main causes for fare evasion and how the industry attempts to tackle the situation, though, while there has been an increase in train companies tackling fare evasion, it still costs the industry millions of pounds every year.

The five recommendations include:

Making it easier and clearer for passengers to purchase the correct ticket for their journey, in an attempt to reduce issues, confusion and mistakes.

Making prosecutions consistent and fairer across the whole country instead of by individual region. This could be achieved by the possible creation of a national standard prosecution test, leading to proceeding with such cases when suitably justified or in the interest of the public.

Treating passengers fairly when issues arise when it comes to travelling with invalid tickets, and responding appropriately to those who have made accidental mistakes.

Creating a possible nationwide body which focuses on offering the best practices across all areas of revenue protection, giving better oversight and coordination.

Making information clearer to passengers about the penalties and precautions around fare evasion, including information on passengers’ rights and how appeals and out-of-court settlements work.

The ORR will offer support to the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Transport Secretary as they decide how and when these recommendations will be addressed and any such actions to be implemented.

“Effective revenue protection is essential for a sustainable railway, but it must be fair and proportionate for passengers. Our recommendations aim to protect both industry revenue and support passenger confidence.

Our evidence shows a system that has evolved over time where the legal framework and enforcement processes are increasingly complex and appear weighted towards industry, leaving some passengers who make innocent errors vulnerable to disproportionate outcomes. But meanwhile, fare evasion remains a significant problem, and rigorous action should be taken against those who intentionally seek to defraud the railway.”

Stephanie Tobyn, ORR’s director of strategy, policy and reform

This report shows that decades of failed privatisation have created a mess of deep-rooted issues across our railways, which have been left unchallenged and are now causing chaos and frustration for passengers.  

Through the creation of Great British Railways, we’re bringing operators together to establish oversight and better standardise practices, putting an end to inconsistent prosecutions and making sure passengers are treated fairly.

Deliberate fare-dodging costs the taxpayer up to £400m annually – money which could be better spent on improving passenger experience – and must be dealt with, but ham-fisted prosecutions that punish people who have made an innocent mistake is not the way to do this.

We will look at this report in detail and set out what we’ll be doing to address the issues raised in due course. In the meantime, we are working at pace to stop this from happening again by simplifying ticketing and developing plans for GBR to sell tickets online, alleviating confusion and making it easier for people to buy the right fare.”

Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy