Back in June, the company even released a Fare Dodger Bingo Card featuring the most popular excuses (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo)
A UK train operator has issued a warning to fare-dodgers who pretend to sleep during ticket checks, saying they could incur a £100 penalty.
Train company Northern aptly released their reminder to drowsy customers ahead of World Sleep Day, which falls today.
The awareness day is a global event designed to promote ‘sleep health’ and elevate the conversation around the importance of sleep.
For the train operator, it was the perfect opportunity to address this recurring problem.
Jason Wade, a spokesperson for Northern, said: ‘World Sleep Day is an admirable initiative with an important health message.
‘Unfortunately, there are those who feign sleep in order to avoid ticket checks – which is unfair to the overwhelming majority of our customers who do the right thing and buy a ticket before they board.
‘Our colleagues have seen every tactic and heard every excuse. Why some people think they’re exempt from buying a ticket is a mystery to me.’
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Back in June, the company even released a Fare Dodger Bingo Card featuring the most popular excuses that fare evaders give when caught travelling without a ticket.
They described the tactic of sleeping through ticket inspection as one of the most frequently deployed.
Some train companies have been criticised for their approach to fare evading.
Last week, Chiltern Railways announced it would be taking down stickers displayed on station toilet mirrors asking passengers ‘Are you looking at a fare dodger?’ following negative feedback from customers.
Fare evaders are prosecuted under the provisions of the Regulation of Railways Act 1889 and the Railway Byelaws made pursuant to the Transport Act 2000. In cases of ticket fraud, perpetrators are prosecuted under the Fraud Act 2006.
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