RAIL fare prosecutions will undergo an independent review after train operators were accused of treating passengers too harshly.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh announced today that regulator the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) will analyse how suspected fare evasion is handled.

This will include an assessment of whether ticketing terms and conditions are clear for passengers, and when prosecution is appropriate.

Ms Haigh said: “Make no mistake, deliberate fare-dodging has no place on our railways and must be tackled, but innocent people shouldn’t feel like a genuine mistake will land them in court.

“An independent review is the right course of action, and will help restore passengers’ confidence in the system.

“It is clear that ticketing is far too complicated, with a labyrinth of different fares and prices which can be confusing for passengers.

“That’s why we have committed to the biggest overhaul of our railways in a generation, including simplifying fares to make travelling by train easier.”

ORR director of strategy, policy and reform Stephanie Tobyn said: “We welcome the opportunity to conduct this review.

“It is important passengers are treated fairly and dealt with consistently and proportionately when ticketing issues arise, while also balancing the legitimate revenue protection interests of operators and taxpayers.”

Industry body the Rail Delivery Group has previously estimated that around £240 million is lost through fare evasion on Britain’s railways each year.

Alex Robertson, chief executive of watchdog Transport Focus, said: “People who have made an innocent mistake should be treated with understanding and not immediately assumed to be guilty.

“Positive action on revenue protection with a focus on ensuring penalties are given only to those who deserve them will help build trust and confidence in the railway.”

TSSA general secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said, “It’s clear that passengers need train station ticket staff to explain the complex ticketing system.

“The best way to make sure you buy the right ticket is to buy it from a station ticket office. Today’s announcement highlights the fact that passengers are buying a ticket in good faith only to find out on the train that they’ve got the wrong ticket. That’s not fair and it’s right that the Transport Secretary is taking steps to address that.

“But the best way to ensure that passengers are buying the right tickets is to keep station ticket offices open and staffed throughout the day.

"Scottish Transport Secretary, Fiona Hyslop, should take this announcement as a reminder of the importance of ticket office staff and instruct ScotRail to shelve their plans to reduce ticket office opening hours immediately."