ScotRail passenger who travelled from Bathgate to Edinburgh forced to fork out over £990 after dodging fares

A ScotRail passenger who dodged train fares over a five-week period has been made to pay more than £990.
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The customer had purchased a season ticket from Livingston North to Edinburgh Haymarket, but an investigation discovered the individual had actually travelled from Bathgate and had spent five weeks avoiding paying for their journey. As a result the customer had to cough up £992.50.

The incident comes just days after ScotRail revealed another customer had admitted to 17 instances of travel fraud, claiming to have boarded at Edinburgh Park, travelling into Edinburgh instead of Larbert. The amount they had to pay was £753.10.

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Last week, ScotRail said as part of an ongoing crackdown on customers attempting to travel without paying, more than 500 people had been caught, with more than 10,000 tickets confiscated.

ScotRail operates more than 350 stations across Scotland – but only 17 have ticket barriers, making it easy for passengers to get on and off without paying for all or part of their journey.

However, CCTV cameras can prove where their journey began.

A customer purchased a season ticket from Livingston North to Haymarket over a 5-week period. But further investigation found they actually travelled from Bathgate and so had to fork out £992.50. Pic: John DevlinA customer purchased a season ticket from Livingston North to Haymarket over a 5-week period. But further investigation found they actually travelled from Bathgate and so had to fork out £992.50. Pic: John Devlin
A customer purchased a season ticket from Livingston North to Haymarket over a 5-week period. But further investigation found they actually travelled from Bathgate and so had to fork out £992.50. Pic: John Devlin

Phil Campbell, ScotRail head of customer operations, said: “A minority of our customers have been taking advantage of the fact that due to coronavirus restrictions we have been unable to put ticket inspectors on our trains or at most of our stations.

“These passengers have been using the cover of Covid to avoid paying for their ticket. ScotRail say CCTV cameras can prove where a passenger's journey began - and then it’s an easy task to work out how much they owe.

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“The message to anyone thinking of dodging their fare is simple. We will catch you.”

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