Tram fare evasion crack down sees 45% more penalty fares issued in first month

Following the launch of Nottingham Express Transit’s (NET) zero tolerance campaign to crack down on fare evasion last December, there has been a 45% month-on-month rise in Penalty Fare Notices issued.  

During the first month of the campaign, which has seen an increased presence of plain clothed officers at tram stops and on trams across the network, more than 1,120 Penalty Fare Notices were issued.  

Throughout 2023, NET issued 7,682 Penalty Fare Notices and prosecuted 2,580 customers that refused to pay their Penalty Fare Notice. The zero tolerance campaign remains ongoing during 2024 in an effort to clamp down on anyone refusing to travel legally on the trams.  

Sarah Turner, service delivery and safety director at NET, said: 

“Since December last year we’ve taken a ‘no excuses’ approach to handing out Penalty Fare Notices, reinforcing the message that fare evasion is theft. This resulted in 1,127 notices being issued, which is nearly 50% more than the previous month. Verbal warnings have also drastically reduced, highlighting the consistency of this campaign across the network.  

“These recent figures highlight our commitment towards ensuring Nottingham’s trams remain a safe and reliable mode of transport for all, but this isn’t to be seen as the campaign ‘wrapping up’. NET’s zero tolerance policy towards fare evasion remains part of our day-to-day operations and we will continue to draw upon our connections with the local police force to ensure there’s an increased presence on the ground, supporting this campaign while also helping to keep the public safe. 

“Of course, our ultimate goal isn’t to increase the number of Penalty Fare Notices we issue in 2024, but to reduce the misuse of our trams and challenge perceptions of fare evasion – this percentage increase shown during the first month is testament to the attitude that people can now expect from our staff, reiterating this message.”  

NET operates a ‘buy before you board’ policy which means all tram users must purchase a ticket before boarding, or ensure their passes are validated. 

Tickets can be purchased from the ticket machines located at each tram stop, with passengers able to pay by card, cash, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Or, for a more convenient option, tram users can purchase tickets through the NETGO! App which can be downloaded from the Apple App store or Google Pay.  

Alternatively, contactless payment is also available by tapping a debit or credit card at the start of the journey on the lime green validators located at the end of tram platforms across the network. Tram users will only need to tap on at the start of the journey, and payment will be capped up to the adult daily fare of £5.30.  

Sarah added: 

“As part of our campaign, as well as reminding people of the real legal implications of fare evasion, we’ve also been making our ticketing messaging as clear as possible. If anyone is unsure about what ticket they should be purchasing or the correct way to validate their pass, there are plenty of signs to assist people at each tram stop, and by pressing the ‘help’ button, there will always be a member of the team available to answer your questions.” 

To increase accessibility, NET has also partnered with Widgit to create easy to understand guides to using the trams, using specialist symbols and images, to help those who may struggle to travel independently or may not speak English.   

These can be collected from our travel centre, downloaded from the website or accessed via QR codes at every tram stop.