TfL warned to crack down on ticket fare dodgers in London
The London Assembly has warned TfL that is must do more to address ticket fare evasion, which caused the company to lose almost £190 million in revenue over the last year.
The London Assembly Transport Committee highlighted that fare evasion rates are more than double TfL’s target of 1.5%, which it has said it aims to reach by 2030.
A key intervention recommended by the Committee was for TfL to reconsider its approach to staffing at ticket gates and put more staff in a position to address fare evasion directly.
The Committee said that TfL should also publish the details of its financial resources that are being committed to reduce fare evasion, including funding for infrastructure, staffing, and other measure.
Concerns were raised over whether the prevalence of unstaffed ticket gatelines are a priority for TfL, as well as whether the British Transport Police is able to adequately respond to events at stations.
The Committee said it has heard evidence that officers often do not arrive on the scene of an incident before those who have committed a violence offence have left, and it has written to the organisation to understand the action it is taking to address this issue.
Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, Elly Baker AM, said:
“Fare evasion is unacceptable – causing TfL financial losses that eventually become the expense of the vast majority who pay their fares,” said London Assembly Transport Committee Chair Elly Baker.
“All too often, fare evasion is also linked to violence and aggression towards TfL frontline staff who feels this issue is getting worse.”
“TfL must ensure more is done to ensure gatelines are in operation and staffed at all stations and reduce the amount of times staff are being asked to work on their own on our transport network,” Baker said.
According to the Freedom of Information request published by TfL, fare evasion cost the company around £188 million in 2024/25, with a fare evasion rate of 4.8% on the London Underground, 3.3% on the Overground, and 2.6% on buses in the same period.
Fare evasion rates have remained roughly steady over TfL’s network, although they have declined in the past two years for the London Underground network.
These rates remain well above the TfL fare evasion target of 1.5%, which it aims to achieve by 2030.
