Rail Firms Introduce ‘Yellow Cards’ for Passengers Under New UK Rules
UK train companies will now issue ‘yellow cards’ for ticketing mistakes instead of fines, aiming to reduce unfair penalties for passengers
UK, Rail, Transport Focus, Fare Evasion, Northern Trains
UK: So, here’s the scoop. Train companies in the UK are rolling out a new system where they’ll give out “yellow cards” instead of slapping fines on passengers who mess up their tickets. This comes after a passenger got hit with a hefty £462 fine just for traveling before 10am on a ticket she bought by mistake.
The rail passenger watchdog, Transport Focus, is pushing for this change. They think it’s unfair to punish folks for honest mistakes. The idea is that if someone messes up for the first time, they’ll get a warning and have their name noted down, but no fines unless they keep making the same mistake.
Natasha Grice from Transport Focus said they totally get that everyone should pay for their ticket, but they want to make sure innocent passengers aren’t getting unfairly punished. She mentioned that improving how the rail industry handles these situations could help build trust with passengers.
Interestingly, this change comes after a court ruling that quashed tens of thousands of fare dodging prosecutions. Four train companies, including Northern Trains, were found to have unlawfully prosecuted over 74,000 passengers using a fast-track system that kept hearings behind closed doors. It’s a big deal, and it’s good to see some changes happening!