The UK government has announced £33.4 million (€39.1 million) in funding for new ticket gates at railway stations across England as part of a wider programme to tackle fare evasion and strengthen revenue protection across the rail network.
The investment will target stations identified as fare-evasion hotspots, installing ticket gates where none currently exist. The programme includes both standard waist-high barriers and taller gates designed to deter passengers from jumping over them. The new gates will support paper tickets, digital ticket scanning and contactless Pay As You Go travel where available.
According to the Department for Transport, fare evasion puts up to £400 million in rail revenue at risk every year. The government says protecting this revenue will allow more money to be reinvested in maintaining the network, upgrading rolling stock and improving passenger services.
Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy said: “Fare evasion is not a victimless crime – it undermines confidence in the railway and means passengers lose out on millions in revenue, which should be invested to improve services for everyone.”
He added: “By stopping fare dodgers before they reach the platform, we’re protecting taxpayer cash, supporting investment in the network and ensuring the railway works better for the millions of passengers who do the right thing every day by paying their way.”
The first phase of the rollout is expected to begin during the first half of 2027, with delivery of the initial programme scheduled for completion by mid-2028. Funding has been allocated to operators including Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway, Greater Anglia, Thameslink Southern Great Northern, TransPennine Express and West Midlands Trains, covering stations such as Liverpool Lime Street, Stafford, Manchester Piccadilly, Stevenage, Worthing and Tamworth.
The announcement represents the first stage of a wider programme to expand ticket gate coverage across England. It also forms part of the government’s preparations for Great British Railways, alongside the expansion of contactless travel, digital ticketing trials and the development of a national rail app designed to simplify the passenger experience.
Read the full Department for Transport press release here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/334-million-to-fund-new-gateline-improvements
