Rail fare dodgers targeted (BBC News)
 

More than 60 people are warned, issued with penalty notices or prosecuted in a crackdown on fare evasion at railway stations in West Sussex.

More from BBC News...

Good. Now move on across the network carrying out the good work. Fare bilkers deserve everything they get. Maybe travel might be cheaper if everyone paid the proper fare.

I don't think it will be cheaper. Because there is not enough freight the railway is still subsidised quite a bit. They might once the debts are paid off.

Something similar happened in Auckland for two days last month. Ticketing was done on the platform at Britomart (instead of on the train), and no one was allowed to board the trains without a ticket. (It happened again at Sylvia Park when I was there to watch Iron Man 2.)

This should happen ALL across the Network. FAR Too many are travelling without a ticket for the simple reason the TOC's CAN'T be bothered to employ more truly Dedicated staff to do the job of catching offenders, so quite simply put the cost of a ticket for those who are HONEST enough to pay, on to the cost of theirs.

The trouble with fare-dodging is that it is so easy to get away with it. Particularly if you know a little about railways.

For example, if you are boarding a Virgin train north of Milton Keynes heading north it the afternoon, there is really no point in buying a ticket, as the chance of it being checked are virtually nill !

I do a similar journey about once a week, and my ticket has only been checked once in the last 18 months. I was so surprised when it happened - I almost couldn't find my ticket !!

[ NB on at least 99% of my journeys, I had a valid ticket - sometimes more than one ! ]

I was taught when on the job, that No ticket if injured/killed, meant No payout in compensation, yet it still doesn't deter the dodgers.

It would be nice to see a Documentary on tv about it and show these Morons, just what happens when they ARE finally caught.

thats good news for the people who do pay.