NET says fine for tram fare dodgers will rise to £120 in weeks

The tram operator’s boss also hopes changes to the scheme will reduce the number of appeals

Nottingham’s tram operator has confirmed it will nearly double the fine issued to those travelling without a ticket as its boss hopes to stop people ‘playing the appeals game’.

NET first launched a zero-tolerance campaign on fare evasion in 2023 to reaffirm the message that travelling on the network without a valid ticket constitutes theft.

Yet the firm’s boss recently told Nottinghamshire Live that fare evasion was still higher than he would like it to be – at between five and eight percent.

The Department for Transport has now confirmed permission for NET to increase the cost of the fines it hands out to those dodging fares.

The Penalty Fare Notice (PFN) currently handed out means people have to pay £70 within 22 days and, if this is repeatedly ignored, the case could end up going to court, with a maximum fine of £1,000.

The PFN will go up to £120 on May 1, under the new scheme, although an early payment discount will be introduced for the first time.

That means that if the PFN is paid within 14 days, the cost will be reduced to £60 – lower than the current PFN cost.

Tim Hesketh, the chief executive of NET, told Nottinghamshire Live in December: “We have an application in with the Department for Transport to increase the cost of the penalty fare from £70 to £120. Alongside that, we’re introducing the ability for a discounted early payment.

“If you get a penalty fare it’s £70. If you keep appealing, then you might get an increased cost as well, or if you keep dragging it out, there’ll be an increased cost as well.

“What we want to do is encourage people to go ‘you know what, fair cop, here’s your money’.

“By introducing that early payment option, just as if you’ve got a parking fine somewhere else, It might encourage a few more people not to play the appeals game.”

NET says more than 10,000 people were caught travelling without a valid ticket in 2025, though the actual number of fare dodgers will be much higher.

Mr Hesketh said: “Fare evasion is theft and isn’t something we take lightly, so this PFN increase acts as a way for us to strengthen this message by increasing the risk for those who see it as something trivial.

“We’re all aware that if you’re caught shoplifting you would expect to be prosecuted, so, similarly, anyone caught travelling without a valid ticket – which is a crime – should expect to be treated accordingly.

“The last time we increased the cost of a PFN was five years ago, and, while the cost of a PFN is much higher now, there are also more options available due to the early payment discount.

“Just like most of the public who pay for their ticket and use the trams properly, we want to ensure that our network is safe to use, and reducing fare dodging is part of that.

“By paying for your ticket, you’re also helping to support this vital transport infrastructure in the city, that thousands of people rely on to get to work, visit family and more.”