900 fined for fare dodging

ALMOST 900 passengers were caught fare dodging on Manchester’s Metrolink last year.

Of 37,609 tickets checked, 890 passengers were issued with a £100 fine — described by Metrolink as a standard fare — for not having a ticket.

Peter Cushing, Transport for Greater Manchester’s Metrolink director, said: “We take fare evasion very seriously.

“It is no different from a theft like shoplifting and that’s why our standard fare system is in place.”

He added that the figures for fare dodgers were taken from special operations to target passengers, which vary across locations and different times.