Northern railway has announced it will be withdrawing all live prosecutions against passengers reported for wrongly using railcard discounts and reviewing the details of those who have been prosecuted previously.

It comes after The Bolton News highlighted the cases of two passengers — one who was prosecuted over a £1.60 underpayment and received a criminal record.

Cerys Piper, 23, from Westhoughton, travelled from Daisy Hill station to her job as a sales agent in Wigan last month.

She used an 'anytime day return' ticket she says she purchased from the station's ticket office, and got a £1.60 discount on the £4.80 ticket, using her 16-25 railcard.

But when she got on the train, she was told her ticket was invalid, as the discount cannot be used with 'anytime' or 'off-peak' tickets under the value of £12 before 10am.

She is currently facing a fine of £462.80 and a criminal record due to the mix-up.

Cerys, who has still not received confirmation that it will be overturned, said to The Bolton News: “I’ve been told by a few different people that prosecutions are not going forward and that Northern are looking to review past convictions.

“Although it’s a step in the right direction and the statement is fair but weak, I hope their statement extends to people like myself with full convictions.

“Dropping fines is fine, but it would be great to get an apology or some accountability from Northern. Especially as, for me personally, it seemed like they enjoyed doing it and they liked the power play.

“When it’s just someone who’s trying to get to work, it’s horrible to have someone who’s patronising you. It’s a massive let down. I don’t really think they know what they’re talking about.

“I want to see some accountability, not just Northern doing what’s convenient for them. Stop printing out fines and start printing out tickets, don’t beat around the bush.

“There are people who don’t know the rules, such as elderly people, who won’t be on social media and will still get on the trains with cash. It’s time to see Northern stand up and take responsibility for their mistakes.”

A second person who feared a criminal record over a £1.90 underpayment for a train ticket is urging the government to help others avoid similar mistakes by “simplifying ticketing fares”.

(Image: Sam Williamson / SWNS) Sam Williamson, 22, from Glossop in Derbyshire, gained widespread attention after using a railcard at the wrong time on a Northern rail service last month.

The engineering graduate had purchased an “anytime” ticket on the Northern app, from Broadbottom, Tameside, to Manchester city centre on September 5, using a railcard discount for passengers aged 16-25.

But after boarding the train at 7.20am he said a conductor told him his ticket was invalid as his railcard could not be used for discounts during peak-time hours.

Last week in a social media post seen by millions, Mr Williamson wrote that he had received a letter from Government-owned operator Northern threatening him with legal action.

But on Friday October 11, he said he was contacted again by the train operator notifying him that they would “be taking no further steps” against him.

Mr Williamson said: “They have dropped the case for me. Whilst this is obviously great news for me, there are still cases going to court with Northern today on similar infractions of using a railcard before 10am”

“I’m urging the government to look into simplifying ticketing fares so that fewer people would make this kind of mistake.

“Most people, including myself, have no idea about this whole thing.”

“It’s only because of the public pressure that they have caved at this moment, because in other cases where people have got them to drop it, it’s taken them to have to go and sit in a courtroom before it gets to that stage.”

A Northern spokesperson said: “We understand that fares and ticketing across the railway can, at times, be difficult to understand, and we are reviewing our processes for ensuring compliance with ticket and railcard terms and conditions.

“With regard to recent reported cases involving use of the 16-25 Railcard with fares under £12 before 10am, we are withdrawing any live cases and will also look to review anyone who has been prosecuted previously on this specific issue.

“We are actively engaged with government and industry to simplify fares to help customers.”