UK's largest rail operator scraps digital tickets at some stations in crackdown on fare dodgers
Greater Thameslink Railway announced the launch of the three-month ticketing trial last week.
The UK’ s biggest rail operator has blocked the use of digital tickets at some stations in a bid to clamp down on fare dodging.
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Greater Thameslink Railway (GTR), which operates Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern and Gatwick Express services, is targeting travelers using a fare evasion tactic known as “quick scanning”.
This method sees passengers board without a ticket before quickly buying a digital one if they notice an inspector or to scan through the gates at the final destination if the bariers are closed.
Fraudsters often only purchase tickets for the final leg of the journey or from the most recent stop, making the ticket cheaper in a tactic referred to as “short faring” or “short ticketing”.
GTR announced the launch of a three-month ticketing trial last week, scrapping digital tickets for phones from stations at its key hubs.
It means customers won’t receive a QR code to scan their ticket and will require a physical ticket for collection at a ticket office or machine.
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The firm has not said which stations will be affected to prevent fare dodgers from changing tactics and buying tickets from different stations.
Stephen MacCallaugh, head of revenue protection at GTR, said: “Last week we launched a new trial to target ‘quick scanning’ at certain locations on our network, where passengers intentionally buy a ticket only moments before their ticket is inspected.
“It is only fair that everyone travelling on our railway pays the right fare, and as the UK’s largest train operator in public ownership, reducing fare evasion and the taxpayer’s subsidy on the railway is crucial to our success.
“This trial is one of several initiatives we’re exploring to reduce fare evasion while making sure genuine customers can still buy tickets easily and conveniently.”
It comes as new ticket barriers will be installed at railway stations across England in a crackdown on fare evasion, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced.
New ticket barriers will be installed at railway stations across England in a crackdown on fare evasion, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced.A £33.4 million investment will fund taller gates to prevent passengers jumping over them, and more standard waist-high gates.
Industry body the Rail Delivery Group estimates that at least £350 million to £400 million of annual fares revenue is lost to fraud and ticketless travel each year.
The new barriers will be deployed at “fare dodger hotspots”, the DfT said.