Train operator Northern has warned sleepy passengers that they will be woken up during ticket inspections.
The company, which operates services to Bolton station, has issued the warning ahead of World Sleep Day today ( Friday, March 15).
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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Those who do not have the correct ticket for their journey have been warned they could be subject to a penalty fare of £100.
Last June, the company – which says 96 per cent of passengers do pay for a ticket – published a ‘fare dodger bingo card’ listing excuses passengers make for travelling without a ticket.
Train companies have come under fire for tactics to prevent fare dodging.
Last week, Chiltern Railways said it would be taking down stickers displayed on station toilet mirrors asking passengers ‘Are you looking at a fare dodger?’.
Please be assured that the mirror vinyls will be taken down. We have taken onboard all customer feedback and will certainly look at how we can approach the fare evasion campaign differently going forwards. ^CK
— Chiltern Railways (@chilternrailway) March 8, 2024
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In Bolton, passengers have been warned that the lift to two platforms will be out of action until the summer while it is upgraded.
The disruption comes after Northern resumed regular service to Bolton after weeks of drainage works left the station without weekend service.
World Sleep Day is a global event designed to promote ‘sleep health’ and elevate the conversation around the importance of sleep.
Northern says it has invested in the largest network of digital ticket infrastructure of any train operator in the country.
According to the operator, 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, the operator said.
If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Bolton. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk.
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