Train chiefs threaten blitz on fare cheats

A major new campaign against ticket cheats is to be launched next week by London's three busiest rail operators.

Commuters face more spot checks as the number of ticket inspectors is boosted. More barriers will be introduced throughout the region.

South Eastern Trains, South West Trains and Southern say if they clawed back the estimated £40million lost to ticket evasion, they could buy 50 state-of-the art carriages or hire more than 2,000 extra staff.

Starting on Monday, SET, which estimates it is losing £10million a year, is expanding its on-the-spot £10 fines across many new areas in Kent and Sussex.

The penalty fares system - under which passengers without a ticket face having to pay double the single fare for the journey or £10, whichever the higher - currently operates only on inner-London services.

From next week, however, a phased expansion will see penalty fares extended to most stations on the UK's busiest network by spring.

A spokeswoman for SET said: "The scheme is being extended as a result of passenger feedback. The vast majority of people pay their fare and they resent having to subsidise those who don't."

Stagecoach - owned South West Trains says it is losing £20million a year due to fare evasion of one sort or another.

It has launched a feasibility study with Network Rail and Transport for London to put automatic ticket gates at Waterloo.

A Southern spokesman said fare evasion is costing it around ?7million a year but added: "There has been a significant reduction in the number of people travelling without a ticket and we intend further to reduce that."

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