Overview

• The ORR found that strict enforcement under railway byelaws has led to prosecutions for minor mistakes such as selecting the wrong railcard discount.
• Passengers face confusion due to a multifaceted fare framework with numerous ticket types, restrictions and price tiers.
• Rail staff report deliberate fare evasion has become commonplace, costing taxpayers up to £400 million annually.
• ORR recommendations call for clearer ticket information and uniform enforcement standards across operators to ensure proportional responses to errors.
• Government and the Rail Delivery Group have pledged to follow ORR advice as they design a simpler fares system before Great British Railways takes over.