422 occasions where passengers were caught travelling on Northern Rail services without a valid ticket across the North-east last year
Northern Rail train
Rail passengers who travel without paying are facing a crackdown after figures were released showing the scale of fare dodging on Teesside.
Northern Rail, which operates local services across the North-east, said across the North-east there were 422 occasions where passengers were caught travelling on Northern services without a valid ticket last year.
Of these, 57 started from Middlesbrough, which has a staffed ticket office and ticket machines where customers can buy a ticket before they board the train.
A further 60 started in Newcastle, which has similar facilities.
In an attempt to reduce the number of people receiving fines for not buying a ticket, Northern has launched two online videos and a series of station and train posters showing two scenarios where someone takes something for free.
Alex Hynes, managing director of Northern, said: “We know from talking to our customers they have a real problem when they see others not paying for their journey. We don’t want to see passengers get into trouble and want to make sure they understand the implications of taking a free ride.
“The videos show two situations that we know people wouldn’t do, and show that not paying for a train ticket is the same, so why do it?
“We hear all sorts of excuses from passengers as to why they don’t have a ticket – they don’t have any money or a conductor did not come down the train and sell them one. It’s the passenger’s responsibility to buy a ticket, so they must seek out the conductor to get one or if that is not possible, then buy a ticket at their destination station.”
Northern has revealed that, in the North-east, the most common journey where people were caught travelling without a ticket was from Newcastle to Hartlepool.
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