Penalty fares on London transport up 9%, TfL says

The number of penalty fares issued has risen by 9% in the past year, Transport for London (TfL) says. Overall fare evasion stands at 3.5% with TfL issuing 69,001 fines between April 2025 and March 2026 having checked 6.9 million contactless cards, an increase of 51% on the year before. The highest rates of fare dodging, which costs TfL some £190m each year, are on the trams (7.3%), Tube (5%) and the DLR where 4% of passengers do not pay for their journey. Just 2.6% of bus fares are evaded. Siwan Hayward, TfL's director of security, policing and enforcement, said: "Fare evasion is not a victimless crime. It robs Londoners of vital investment in a safe, frequent and reliable transport network." If passengers do not tap in at the start of their journey or hold a valid ticket, £100 penalty fares are issued, reduced to £50 if paid within 21 days.