Fare-dodgers cost Connex £30m

Fare dodging is costing Connex more than £30 million a year, it was revealed today.

In response, Connex is planning its biggest ever clampdown on fare evasion with ticket inspectors getting special training in how to cope with the expected increase in passengers' anger.

It is estimated that up to 9,000 passengers a day deliberately try to avoid paying the fare. Connex managing director Olivier Brousse, who has already warned the company is facing big financial losses next year, is planning to prosecute all offenders.

The company will stop issuing £10 "fines" levied on those without tickets and concentrate on legal action instead. It recognises that legal fees will soar but hopes that extra ticket income will more than compensate. Tickets will no longer be sold on trains and inspectors will use a football-style card system to warn of legal action. The new regime will come into force from 1 January.

Anyone caught without a ticket will be shown the equivalent of a yellow card and have their name and address logged. The second "red card" offence will mean "automatic prosecution", said Mr Brousse today.