TfGM have claimed that fare evasion across the Manchester Metrolink has fallen by a third since the start of a new crackdown by KeolisAmeyMetrolink in partnership with the TravelSafe Partnership.
According to new figures released fare evasion has fallen from 16% in July 2023 to 10.6% in January 2024. This comes off the back of a new plan to tackle fare evasion which started in October last year which saw the increase in penalty fare from £100 to £120 and recruiting an additional 50 customer service representatives (CSRs) to bring the total number of frontline staff to 169 across the network.
Five million tickets are now checked per annum (up from four million) and CSRs have also received new revenue inspection devices to help them identify persistent fare evaders.
Metrolink is now on target to generate an extra £2 million in net revenue per year, all of which will be reinvested into the network for the benefit of all passengers.
Danny Vaughan, TfGM’s Head of Metrolink, said: “Fare evasion is something we take very seriously and while most people who travel by tram do so legally by purchasing a ticket, there are some who continue to think the rules do not apply to them. Since implementing our new plan to tackle fare evasion last year, we’re seeing hugely positive results. We have more people than ever checking tickets, and that higher visibility not only provides a deterrent to those ignoring the rules but also helps provide that reassurance to passengers.”
Damien Chabas, Managing Director of KAM, said: “I am incredibly proud of our staff on the frontline who are making a real difference in tackling fare evasion on Metrolink. We know that our customers have welcomed the increased staff presence, which has also helped us grow patronage to pre-Covid levels.
“But there is still plenty of work to do, and that is why KAM is working closely with TfGM to see how we can build on what we’ve achieved so that fare compliance can continue to improve.”
In the year up until 6th January 2024, CSRs issued 67,545 penalty fares for fare evasion (up from the previous year’s 54,156). Since April 2019 more than 210,000 penalty fares have been issued across the network.