TfL: What's the penalty for fare dodging on the London Underground?
Those caught travelling on the Tube without a valid ticket will be slapped with a £100 fine
In London, fare evasion on the Underground can result in a penalty fare or more serious legal consequences.
Those caught jumping the turnstiles or travelling without a valid ticket on the Tube will be struck with a fine.
Last year (2023), TfL prosecuted 19,614 people for fare evasion, an increase of 56 per cent on 2022, and investigated 421 people for habitual fare evasion who made more than 50,000 irregular journeys across the Underground network.
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See what Londoners had to say about the penalty fare in our video above.
How much is the penalty?
Earlier this year, TfL raised the penalty fare from £80 to £100.
If you pay the penalty within 21 days, this can be reduced to £50.
In more severe cases, fare dodgers may be prosecuted and face a fine of up to £1,000 or even a criminal record.
How long do I have to pay the fine?
You have 21 days to pay your TfL fine.
The initial penalty fare is £100, but it's reduced to £50 if you pay within the 21-day window.
You can pay online, by phone, or by post.
You can appeal a penalty fare online, by post, or by fax within 21 days. You should include details of your journey, your contact information, and a statement explaining why you couldn't produce a valid ticket.
Why is there a penalty for travelling on the Tube without a ticket?
Transport for London (TfL) enforces these rules to maintain fair use of the system. Traveling with a valid ticket or pass is always advisable to avoid these fines.
In February this year, TfL introduced tough new action on fare evasion and staff abuse, making body-worn video part of its essential kit and increasing the penalty fare from £80 to £100 to further deter fare evasion.
At the time, The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: "TfL relies on revenue from fares to deliver the safe, clean and reliable public transport that Londoners deserve. Fare evasion deprives us of much needed revenue and so I welcome this tough new action from TfL to increase enforcement and ensure more fare evaders are brought to justice.
“Latest figures show real progress is being made, but I will continue to work with TfL and the British Transport Police to crack down on fare evasion, and build a better, safer, and fairer London for everyone."