Fines handed out to people who don't pay for rail tickets are to soar from £20 to £100 in the New Year. New rules were passed in Parliament on Wednesday which will set a new minimum amount for fines handed out to fare dodgers, reports The Telegraph.
The new rules will apply to all national rail services in England
It is the first time the fines have been increased since 2005. Fines are already much higher on services such as the London Undreground and Manchester's Metrolink.
A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: "We need penalty fares to act as a proper deterrent, and we are putting in place a modern system that will help create a more sustainable railway."
Fare dodging costs the country £240million a year. Money from the fines will go straight into public finances.
