East Midlands Railway (EMR) reports that it recovered £1,912,887 in unpaid fares between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, reinforcing the operator’s commitment to protecting revenue streams that underpin service quality and investment. The figure was achieved through 11,798 penalty notices issued by revenue-protection officers and on-board teams.
Key facts and figures
- Total recovered: £1,912,887
- Penalty notices issued: 11,798
- Reporting period: 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025
- Standard penalty: £100 in addition to the single fare
Common infringement types
- Travelling without any valid ticket
- Using a child ticket while over the age threshold
- Holding a discounted ticket without a valid railcard
- Exceeding the destination printed on the ticket
Operator perspective
Philippa Cresswell, Customer Experience Director at EMR, stated that while “the vast majority of customers pay correctly, a minority continue to travel without contributing to the cost of the network.” She stressed that fare evasion remains a criminal offence and confirmed that dedicated revenue-protection, fraud and security teams—working in both uniform and plain clothes—will maintain regular patrols across the network to deter non-payment.
How passengers can stay compliant
- Purchase tickets in advance from ticket offices, ticket-vending machines or authorised online channels.
- For pay-as-you-go and smart-card products, always tap in at the start of the journey.
- If a ticket office is closed, use self-service machines or digital platforms before boarding.
Passengers found on EMR services without a valid ticket face a £100 penalty charge in addition to the cost of the journey.
Industry context
Fare evasion increases operating costs that are ultimately borne by fare-paying passengers and the wider taxpayer. EMR’s recovery of nearly £2 million demonstrates the scale of the issue and mirrors a national push by train operating companies to reduce fraudulent travel, invest in front-line enforcement, and protect revenue needed for network improvements.
Railway Prune will continue to monitor regional enforcement figures as operators refine their revenue-protection strategies ahead of the 2025–26 financial year.
