East Midlands Railway announces expansion of Penalty Fare Routes to help reduce fare evasion

East Midlands Railway (EMR) is expanding its network of Penalty Fare Routes as part of a wider effort to reduce fare evasion and ensure fairness for fare-paying customers.

Penalty Fares are a nationally recognised tool to deter fare evasion. They apply when a customer boards a train without complying with ticket purchasing rules and without a valid reason. This is not a fine or an unpaid fare notice but a regulatory mechanism to encourage correct ticketing.

Fare evasion costs the rail industry an estimated £400million a year. For EMR alone, it accounts for around £20 million annually. This lost revenue means less investment in the services and stations customers rely on.

The new routes will be introduced following updates to EMR’s Penalty Fare Scheme and the development of supporting ticketing infrastructure.

Once finalised, the following routes will be added:

• Derby – Matlock (extension of the current Derby to Belper route)
• Nottingham – Crewe (extension of the existing route between Nottingham and Derby)
• Nottingham – Liverpool (in line with TransPennine Express and Northern’s existing Penalty Fare route)
• Peterborough – Doncaster
• Nottingham - Lincoln (Castle Line) 

EMR has taken care to assess these routes, ensuring that all affected stations have the facilities customers need to buy a ticket before they travel - this includes staffed ticket offices and Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs).

The expansion is being delivered in close collaboration with multiple train operators to ensure a consistent and fair approach for customers travelling across different services.

Philippa Cresswell, Customer Experience Director at East Midlands Railway, said: “The vast majority of our customers travel with a valid ticket, and we are committed to supporting them by tackling fare evasion across our network.

"We will always try to make sure our customers have the opportunity to purchase the right ticket they need to travel, and we’re investing in customer communications and awareness campaigns so people are well informed before any changes are introduced.

"It’s important that everyone pays the correct fare so we can continue to reinvest in the railway and deliver improvements for all our passengers.”

Penalty Fares can only be issued by authorised members of EMR’s Revenue Protection Team, who are fully trained and carry identification.

Under the Railways (Penalty Fares) Regulations 2018 (amended 2022), passengers who travel without a valid ticket on a designated Penalty Fare Route may be issued with a £100 Penalty Fare, reduced to £50 if paid within 21 days, in addition to the full single fare for the journey.

Customers can purchase tickets:

• In advance at eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk
• At station Ticket Offices
• Via Ticket Vending Machines
• Using an EMR Smartcard
• Or, where facilities are unavailable, by seeking assistance from a member of on-board staff

To ensure customers are fully aware, EMR has launched a targeted customer communications campaign - across stations, online platforms, and social media - providing clear guidance and notice ahead of the changes being implemented.

For more information about Penalty Fares and how to avoid them, visit: eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/penaltyfares