TfL steps up fare evasion crackdown as penalty fares rise 9%

Transport for London (TfL) has reported a significant increase in fare evasion enforcement activity, with penalty fares rising by 9% over the past year as the transport authority intensifies efforts to recover lost revenue across the capital’s network.

New figures show TfL issued 69,001 penalty fares between April 2025 and March 2026, while carrying out a record 6.9 million contactless card checks — a 51% increase compared with the previous year.

The transport authority estimates fare evasion currently costs the network around £190 million annually, with overall fare evasion standing at 3.5% of journeys.

The highest rates of fare dodging were recorded on London’s tram network, where 7.3% of passengers failed to pay, followed by the London Underground at 5% and the Docklands Light Railway at 4%. Bus services recorded the lowest rate, with 2.6% of journeys involving fare evasion.

Passengers travelling without a valid ticket or failing to tap in correctly face a £100 penalty fare, reduced to £50 if paid within 21 days.

Alongside increased ticket inspections, TfL has also expanded its prosecution activity. During 2025/26, the organisation secured 14,406 fare evasion convictions, an increase on the previous year, generating court awards worth £2.6 million.

Revenue generated through penalty fares also increased sharply, reaching £5.4 million — a rise of 142% compared with the previous year.

More than 3.3 million bus passengers had their tickets or payment methods checked as part of the enforcement campaign.

TfL says the vast majority of passengers continue to pay correctly, but argues stronger enforcement is necessary to protect investment in London's transport network.

Siwan Hayward, TfL’s Director of Security, Policing and Enforcement, said: “Fare evasion is not a victimless crime. It robs Londoners of vital investment in a safe, frequent and reliable transport network.

“We are committed to ensuring that those who evade fares face the consequences of their actions and that the cost of fare evasion is paid by the evaders, not our fare-paying customers.”

The latest figures reflect TfL’s wider strategy to tackle fare evasion, which includes increased ticket inspections, targeted enforcement operations and greater use of data to identify offenders.

The organisation currently spends around £22 million annually on fare enforcement and has set a target of reducing fare evasion across its network to 1.5% by 2030/31.

As passenger numbers continue to recover and operating costs remain under pressure, TfL views reducing fare evasion as a key part of maintaining investment in services and infrastructure across London's transport system.