LOCAL rail passengers should take note that South West Trains has extended its penalty fare scheme across its network.
To include the Alton-to-Waterloo line, the scheme aims to clamp down on passengers who do not buy tickets, costing the company up to £20 million a year.
The changes are a result of the Strategic Rail AuthorityÕs (SRA) new guidelines which invited all train operating companies to review their penalty fare schemes to make them simpler for passengers to understand.
It is a requirement for passengers to purchase tickets prior to travelling where the facilities are available. Where they are not available, they need to purchase a permit to travel. Extra machines are being installed at some stations to ensure everyone can buy a ticket or a permit.
According to SWT commercial director Rufus Boyd: ÒThis is part of SWTÕs ongoing work to tackle fare evasion. The majority of our passengers pay their fares. We have a duty to them to make sure they are not subsidising the minority of passengers who want to evade them.Ó
The penalty fare scheme will come into operation if a passenger cannot produce a valid ticket for their entire journey. The individual will be charged either the fixed penalty fare of £10 or twice the full single fare to the next station at which their train stops - whichever is the greater.