Anyone travelling on Midland Metro without a ticket could be in for a nasty surprise if plans to increase the penalty fare sevenfold are approved. Currently the penalty fare is £10 which is no longer seen as a serious deterrent so Centro have applied to Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin for an order to increase this to £70.
Since Midland Metro opened the amount has been sent as £10 but 17 years later it seems that the fare dodgers of the West Midlands have realised it is worth the risk not to pay their fare for such a low sum.
Under the new plans anyone caught without a ticket would be charged £70 reduced by 50% if paid within 21 days. If anyone refuses to pay prosecution is likely to follow.
132 penalty fares were issued by Midland Metro in 2015.