‘Pay Up Duck!’ - Nottingham tram announces ‘zero tolerance’ campaign to stop fare evaders in their tracks

Anyone without a valid ticket will face immediate £70 penalty charge from next week
Percentage from any penalty fares to be donated to Ukrainian refugee charity
“We have given fair warning on fares and our message is clear, do the right thing and buy a ticket” says Tramlink CEO

NET are urging all tram users to “Pay Up Duck” in a new ‘zero tolerance’ campaign to further clampdown on fare evasion on Nottingham’s trams. From next Monday 21st March there will be an increase in on-board travel officers, with anyone without a valid ticket facing a penalty charge notice of £70 and the risk of a criminal prosecution.

With fares from just £1 and a range of ways to buy tickets online and in-person, the tram offers convenient, affordable travel for millions of people, yet a small minority of fare evaders continue to undermine the tram’s efforts to keep Nottingham moving and support the city’s post-pandemic recovery.

NET introduced new penalty fares and increased on-board travel officers last Autumn which have had a positive impact, but measures are now being stepped up even further to stop fare evaders in their tracks.

It is hoped that the threat of an immediate £70 fine, removal from the tram and the risk of a criminal prosecution will act as a clear deterrent to fare evaders, forcing them to do the right thing and buy a ticket before they travel. However, travel officers will take a zero tolerance approach, issuing an immediate penalty notice to anyone without a valid ticket – should any penalty fines be collected, a percentage will be donated to charity in support of the Ukraine emergency.

Tramlink CEO Tim Hesketh said:

“With tram fares from just £1 it has never been easier to buy a ticket but a small minority of fare evaders continue to take the city and our loyal customers for a ride, so we are stepping up our efforts with a new zero tolerance approach.

“A £70 fine, removal from the tram and the risk of a criminal record should be a clear deterrent to all fare evaders, and our aim is to collect fares not fines, but we will not hesitate to penalise any passengers without a ticket. We have given fair warning on fares and our message is clear, do the right thing and buy a ticket.”

The new ‘zero tolerance’ approach to fare evasion comes as passengers can now use a range of methods to buy a valid ticket before they travel, including ticket machines at every tram stop, the Robin Hood Smartcard and the NETGO! app. Passengers can also benefit from a range of different ticket types to suit their needs including the £1 Short Hop fare; £2.50 Event Tickets; the ‘Study by Tram’ scheme for students; and the ‘Work by Tram’ scheme for commuters and local businesses. Full information about how and where to buy a tram ticket, and the different ticket options available can be found at www.thetram.net/tickets.