Transport for LondonPenalty fares and prosecutions
If you are using Oyster to pay as you go, you must touch your card on a card reader at the start of your journey. It is your responsibility to have the correct ticket or, when using Oyster to pay as you go, to touch your Oyster card on a card reader.
If you cannot produce, on request, a valid ticket for your entire journey or when using Oyster to pay as you go, your Oyster card containing a record of the start of your pay as you go journey, you may be liable to pay a Penalty Fare on buses, the Tube, Tramlink, DLR and London Overground or you may be prosecuted.
Penalty Fares also apply on some National Rail services (details are available on nationalrail.co.uk or call National Rail enquiries on 0845 748 4950).
Fare evasion
Revenue enforcement and prosecutions policy (PDF 96KB)
Fare evasion prosecution FAQs (PDF 84KB)
Tube
A Penalty Fare will cost you £20. You can appeal against it by writing, within 21 days of the Penalty Fare being issued, to:
The Penalty Fares Appeals Office
London Underground Limited
55 Broadway
London SW1H 0BD
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
Before you board a train, you must have a valid ticket 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.
A Penalty Fare will cost you £20. The Docklands Light Railway is franchised to Serco Docklands Limited who administer the Penalty Fares system on the railway on behalf of Docklands Light Railway Limited.
It needs to be paid either immediately or within 21 days following the date of issue. If not, legal proceedings may be brought against you.
If you wish to dispute your liability to pay the Penalty Fare, a statement giving your reason for failing to produce a valid ticket or other authority for your journey at the time of travel must be provided. It should be sent by post to the address below, or email penaltyfare@dlr.co.uk. It must arrive no later than 21 days following the date of issue.
If you are appealing, please include notification of the time and station from which your journey started. If possible, please also include a daytime telephone number or email address.
The Penalty Fare can be paid in person (Mondays to Fridays between 09.00 - 18.30hrs) or by post as follows:
The Penalty Fares Administrator
Serco Docklands Limited
Castor Lane
Poplar
London E14 0DS
If your appeal is unsuccessful, you will be notified. At the same time, you will be advised of the next step you can take.
London Overground
When 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 cannot produce, on request, a valid ticket for your entire journey or, when using Oyster pay as you go, your Oyster card containing a record of the start of your journey you may be liable to pay a Penalty Fare or you may be prosecuted. Penalty Fares also apply on other National Rail and London Underground services that call at our stations
A Penalty Fare will cost you £20. If you have any queries about Penalty Fares on London Overground please contact:
Appeals/Payments
IRCAS
PO Box 212
Petersfield GU32 9BQ
Bus
Fare 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 £20. You can appeal against it by writing, within 21 days of the Penalty Fare being issued, to:
Revenue Protection Services
London Bus Services
PO BOX 3893
London SW1W 9TN
You will be notified if your appeal is unsuccessful, and will be advised of the next step you can take.
Tramlink
A Penalty Fare will cost you £30 (reduced to £20 if paid within 21 days). 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.
