Calls for a ‘yellow card’ system for train passengers caught without a ticket

It comes after cases where passengers were being prosecuted by operators over small amounts of money

The independent watchdog Transport Focus has suggested those caught without a ticket on trains should only be given a warning if it is their first offence.

The group argue this would "make things fairer for everyone." Anyone found not to have the correct ticket or railcard would be added to a record, which could be checked in future to see if its their first offence or not.

Other suggestions from Transport Focus include introducing a national database of railcards, allowing ticket inspectors to check a passenger's eligibility for discount if they have forgotten their card at home, and increased measures for collecting fares, meaning passengers would know their ticket will be checked during their journey.

Natasha Grice, director for rail at Transport Focus, said: “Transport Focus has long been concerned about the complexity of rail fares and ticketing, particularly for passengers who find it hard to buy the right ticket for their journey.

“We understand and support the principle that all users of rail should be paying for their ticket, but we want to make sure that passengers who make an innocent mistake aren’t punished unfairly.

“There are some things that the industry could do now to make things better, and our research tells us that if the railway is to build trust and confidence, an improved approach to revenue protection is needed.

“Recouping this money could help boost investment in services, making things better for passengers.”

The calls come after a number of cases of people being prosecuted by rail operators over small amounts of money following relatively minor ticketing offences.

Between August 2020 and May 2024, Northern Rail brought more than 28,000 prosecutions against passengers using the single justice procedure. These were all quashed in November last year, along with 41 prosecutions from TransPennine Express.

Some of the prosecutions were over small amounts of money, such as in the case of graduate Sam Williamson. He was told he would be prosecuted for paying £1.90 less than he should have done after accidentally using his rail card at the wrong time.

A number of similar cases were covered in the media, with Northern eventually dropping the prosecutions.

The Penalty Fares system is also used by train operators, which can see passengers hit with a £100 fine plus the full single fare for the journey. This penalty can be reduced to £50 if paid within 21 days.