The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced a £33.4 million investment to install taller ticket barriers at railway stations across England as part of a crackdown on fare evasion. The new barriers are designed to prevent passengers from vaulting over them, complementing additional standard waist-high barriers.
Scale of Fare Evasion
Industry body the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) estimates that at least £350 million to £400 million in annual fare revenue is lost to fraud and ticketless travel every year. The DfT stated that the new barriers will be rolled out at “fare dodger hotspots” to curb these losses.
Stations Receiving New Barriers
The following operators have been allocated funding to install barriers at specific stations:
- Avanti West Coast: Liverpool Lime Street and Stafford
- East Midlands Railway: Market Harborough
- Greater Anglia: Hertford East, Manningtree, Rayleigh, Ware and Witham
- Thameslink Southern Great Northern: Elephant and Castle, Gipsy Hill, Royston, Stevenage and Worthing
- TransPennine Express: Manchester Piccadilly
- West Midlands Trains: Nuneaton, Tamworth, Worcester Foregate Street and Worcester Shrub Hill
Government and Industry Reaction
Rail minister Lord Hendy said: “Fare evasion is not a victimless crime – it undermines confidence in the railway and means passengers lose out on millions in revenue which should be invested to improve services for everyone. By stopping fare dodgers before they reach the platform, we're protecting taxpayer cash, supporting investment in the network and ensuring the railway works better for the millions of passengers who do the right thing every day by paying their way.”
Timeline for Installation
The installation of the new barriers is set to commence in the first half of next year, with the full rollout anticipated to be complete by mid-2028. The DfT expects the measures to significantly reduce fare evasion and recover lost revenue for reinvestment into the railway network.
