DfT announces £33m funding for rail ticket gates at fare dodger hotspots

The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced £33.4m of investment to install new ticket gates at railway stations across England as part of efforts to reduce fare evasion and protect revenue for the rail network.

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The funding will support the installation of ticket barriers at stations that currently have none, alongside the introduction of taller gates designed to deter barrier jumping and additional standard automatic gates. DfT said the measures form part of its wider programme of rail reform and are intended to ensure that more fare revenue is retained for investment in passenger services.

According to the department, fare evasion costs the railway up to £400m each year. The government said reducing ticketless travel would help protect funding for network maintenance, station improvements and service enhancements.

Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy said, "Fare evasion is not a victimless crime. Every ticket not paid for is money that cannot be invested in improving services for the millions of passengers who do the right thing and pay their fare."

He added, "These new ticket gates are a practical step towards creating a fairer railway, protecting taxpayers' money and ensuring more of the railway's income is spent where it belongs – on delivering better services for passengers."

The announcement forms part of the government's wider rail reform programme ahead of the establishment of Great British Railways. Alongside infrastructure measures, the DfT is continuing to expand contactless Pay As You Go ticketing, trial digital ticketing in parts of England and develop a single Great British Railways app intended to bring together journey planning, ticket purchasing and passenger information.

Installations will be targeted at locations identified as fare evasion hotspots, with the aim of improving revenue protection while maintaining passenger flow through stations.

The investment follows increasing industry focus on tackling fare evasion as passenger numbers continue to recover and the rail sector seeks to improve its financial sustainability. The Office of Rail and Road has previously highlighted the importance of reducing revenue loss while ensuring enforcement measures remain proportionate and customer-focused.