Transport for LondonPenalty fares and prosecutions
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If you don't have a valid ticket for your entire journey or you don't touch in if using Oyster pay as you go, you may have to pay a penalty fare or we may prosecute you. The penalty fare is £50. This will be reduced to £25 if you pay within 21 days.
Fare evasion
Revenue enforcement and prosecutions policy (PDF 96KB)
Fare evasion prosecution FAQs (PDF 84KB)
Tube
Top of pageA penalty fare will cost you £50 which will reduce to £25 if paid within 21 days. You can appeal against it by writing, within 21 days of the penalty fare being issued, to:
London Underground
Penalty Fare Appeal Office
The Griffin Rooms
49 Pelham Street
London SW7 2NJ
If your appeal is unsuccessful, you will be notified. At the same time, you will be advised of the next step you can take.
Docklands Light Railway
Top of pageBefore you board a train, you must have a valid ticket or Oyster card for your journey. At all station entrances there is a red line and, as soon as you cross it, you become liable for ticket inspection. If you do not have a valid ticket, you may be liable to pay a penalty fare or may face prosecution.
Oyster pay as you go customers must touch on a validator before boarding a Docklands Light Railway train to ensure they have a valid ticket.
Passenger Service Agents are on board every train and you must present your ticket for inspection if requested to do so. Revenue protection inspectors also patrol trains and are often supported by Travel Safe officers and the British Transport Police.
A penalty fare will cost you £50 which will reduce to £25 if paid within 21 days. You can pay online at www.ircas.co.uk or by telephone on 0844 544 8458. Alternatively, you can post your payment to:
IRCAS
PO Box 212
Petersfield
GU32 9BQ
You can appeal within 21 days of the penalty fare being issued either online at www.ircas.co.uk or by post to:
Independent Appeals Service
PO Box 212
Petersfield
GU32 9BQ
You will be notified if your appeal is unsuccessful and advised of the next step you can take.
If you want to make a complaint, please contact DLR Customer Services.
London Overground
Top of pageWhen travelling on any London Overground service you must carry a valid ticket (and valid railcard if appropriate) for your entire journey. Tickets cannot be purchased on London Overground trains. If you are using Oyster pay as you go you must touch in at the start of your journey and touch out again at the end of the journey.
If you don't have a valid ticket for your entire journey or you don't touch in if using Oyster pay as you go, you may have to pay a penalty fare or we may prosecute you. Penalty fares also apply on other National Rail and London Underground services that call at our stations.
A penalty fare will cost you £50 which will reduce to £25 if paid within 21 days.
You can pay online at www.ircas.co.uk, by telephone on 0844 544 8458 or by post to:
IRCAS
PO Box 212
Petersfield GU32 9BQ
You can appeal within 21 days of the penalty fare being issued either on line at www.ircas.co.uk or by post to:
Independent Appeals Service
PO Box 212
Petersfield GU32 9BQ
Bus
Top of pageFare evasion on London's buses will not be tolerated. You risk a criminal conviction if you travel on a bus without a valid ticket or validated Oyster card.
Fare evaders are now more likely to be caught, prosecuted and hit with a £1,000 fine and a criminal record, even if it is their first offence.
Revenue Protection Inspectors (RPIs) patrol London checking tickets to catch fare evaders. Fare evaders are targeted by intelligence-led patrols on the network, often supported by Safer Transport Teams, the British Transport Police and colleagues from the MPS Transport Operational Command Unit.
The overwhelming majority of customers - around 97 per cent - pay the correct fare for their journey. However, fare evasion remains a serious issue, and one which costs us around £60m a year in lost revenue. This money could and should be spent on continuing to improve services for all Londoners.
It is easy to avoid being a fare evader - immediately touch your pay as you go Oyster card in on the yellow reader upon entering the bus.
Penalty fares
A penalty fare will cost you £50 which will reduce to £25 if paid within 21 days.
You can pay online at www.ircas.co.uk, by telephone on 0844 544 8458 or by post to:
IRCAS
PO Box 212
Petersfield GU32 9BQ
You can appeal within 21 days of the penalty fare being issued either online at www.ircas.co.uk or by post to:
Independent Appeals Service
PO Box 212
Petersfield GU32 9BQ
You will be notified if your appeal is unsuccessful, and will be advised of the next step you can take.
If you want to make a complaint please contact London Buses Customer Services.
Tramlink
Top of pageA penalty fare will cost you £50 (reduced to £25 if paid within 21 days after the date of issue). You can appeal against it by writing, within 21 days of the penalty fare being issued, to:
Tram Operations Ltd
Penalty Fare Administration
Tramlink
Shop 5 Suffolk House
George Street
Croydon CR0 1PE
If your appeal is unsuccessful, you will be notified.
