A TRAIN company has fined more than 100 people a total of almost £22,000 for fare dodging.

Greater Anglia won cases against 128 people who appeared before Southend Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday March 15 after the train company’s revenue protection inspectors caught them travelling without a ticket on train lines between Southend and the outskirts of London.

Magistrates imposed fines of £21,591 and ordered the defendants to pay Greater Anglia compensation of £1,268, which represents the cost of the avoided fares.

Costs of £12,000 were also awarded to Greater Anglia.

Andrew Goodrum, Greater Anglia Customer Services Director, said: “Ultimately it’s much cheaper for a passenger to buy a ticket rather than risk a penalty fine or a court-imposed fine. Our Revenue Protection Inspectors always use discretion to find people who are deliberately trying to avoid paying a fare, as this prosecution demonstrates.

“Revenue from tickets is spent on improving the railway. By not buying a ticket, fares go up for everyone and we have less money to invest.”