Overview
- The commuter avoided nearly £20,000 in rail fares by using invalid tickets and a 16-17 Saver Railcard he was not entitled to.
- South Western Railway’s revenue protection team tracked the offender using CCTV and undercover operations, culminating in his interception at London Waterloo station.
- The case is featured in Channel 5’s documentary 'Fare Dodgers: At War with the Law', which showcases the railway’s data-driven approach to tackling fare evasion.
- SWR estimates seven million journeys annually are made without valid tickets on its network, resulting in nearly £40 million in losses each year.
- Public sentiment strongly supports enforcement, with a YouGov poll showing 76% of Britons believe deliberate fare dodgers exploit the system and should be penalized.