Bradfordians fined up to £600 for dodging rail fares

Some of the dodged fares, cost less than five pounds, but resulted in charges of more than £600. 

Tom Coulton, 19 of Colyton Mount, Allerton, Bradford was travelling between Nelson and Blackpool North when he failed to produce a ticket when he was asked by a ticket officer upon arriving at his destination on July 20, 2021.

His details were obtained and he was advised the facts would be reported, in which a letter was sent to the defendant requesting the payment of the fare that cost a total of £16.10. Mr Coulton failed to respond to the letter so a Fixed Penalty letter was then sent, however, this remains unpaid.

On January 11, 2022, he was fined £220 by Single Justice Procedure, ordered to pay compensation of £16.10, a £34 charge to fund victim services, and court costs of £150 - equating to a total of £420.10.

Brandon Lund, 25 of Havelock Street, Thornton was also fined on January 11, 2022, for failing to produce a valid rail ticket when travelling between Wigan Wallgate and Kendal on Tuesday, 20 July 2021.

His journey would have cost a total of £31 but as the defendant did not have a ticket, and could not pay for the journey he was making after being asked by an officer,e was issued with an Unpaid Fares Notice in good faith so that he may pay the outstanding fare within twenty-one days, however, he refused to sign it.

He was ordered to pay a total of £435 consisting of a £220 fine, £34 to fund victim services, £31 compensation, and court costs of £150.

Last month, a woman was charged over £600 for failing to produce a valid ticket when travelling between Bradford and Leeds.

Sayny J Grant, 25 of Sandford Place, Leeds, produced an Advance Single ticket from Leeds to Bradford Interchange with a 16-25 Railcard discount. However, when asked to produce the railcard, she advised she was waiting to receive it through the post.

Her details were obtained and she was advised the facts would be reported. Following the incident a letter was sent to the defendant requesting an explanation. As there was no response, a Fixed Penalty Notice was then sent - which remains unpaid.

She was then charged a total of £638.70 consisting of a £440 fine, £4.70 compensation, £44 to fund victim services, and court costs of £150. The fare avoided was £4.70.

Travelling on the railways without a ticket has been illegal for more than 130 years – when the Regulations of Railways Act 1889 was brought in, resulting in fare-dodgers often finding themselves before the courts.