UK rail operators are planning to start issuing “yellow card” cautions instead of fines in a push for fairer treatment of passengers. Across the UK, train companies have received advice from the rail consumer watchdog to hand out “yellow cards” to travellers caught without the right ticket, rather than imposing immediate penalties.
This initiative comes after an incident where a passenger on Northern rail was charged £462 for travelling prior to 10am with an Anytime ticket acquired by mistake using her railcard, which only saved her £1.60. Transport Focus calls for a reform, noting that individuals should not face repercussions for genuine errors amidst growing fare-dodging concerns.
The proposed yellow card system would involve warning first-time offenders and logging their details, reserving fines for those who repeatedly flout the rules. Natasha Grice, Transport Focus director for rail, expressed sympathy for enforcing fare payment but emphasised the importance of shielding passengers who unintentionally falter.
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She said: “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.”
This follows a court ruling that will see tens of thousands of alleged fare evasion prosecutions brought by train companies overturned. Four companies, including Northern Trains and Greater Anglia, were found to have unlawfully prosecuted over 74,000 passengers in England and Wales using the single justice procedure (SJP), reports Birmingham Live.
This allowed for swift magistrates hearings on fare evasion cases to be conducted behind closed doors. The challenge was initiated when the Department for Transport (DfT) informed the Ministry of Justice that four train operating companies were utilising SJP to prosecute without authorisation.