Home / Business and Economy / New £10 Fine for Ticket Dodgers on Trains
New £10 Fine for Ticket Dodgers on Trains
20 Feb
Summary
- A minimum £10 charge will be enforced for fare evasion on trains.
- This new policy aims to recover over £11 million lost annually.
- A passenger education period begins April 1, 2026.
Starting in July 2026, ScotRail will implement a minimum £10 charge for passengers caught without a valid ticket. This initiative targets individuals deliberately evading fares, a practice that costs the state-owned railway over £11 million each year. The new charge aims to ensure fairness for fare-paying customers and reinvest funds into railway improvements.
While most shorter journeys will see the £10 charge exceed the standard ticket price, it will not apply if the actual ticket cost is already higher. Certain exclusions are in place, including situations where ticket offices are closed, stations lack ticket facilities, or passengers have registered disabilities preventing TVM use. Staff discretion is also a factor in applying the minimum fare.
Prior to the full rollout in July 2026, ScotRail will conduct an "education period" for passengers beginning April 1, 2026. Transport officials support the move, noting that approximately 95% of passengers already comply with ticketing regulations, and this action addresses the remaining percentage.
