Fare Evasion

Fare Evasion is a Criminal Offence

Fare evasion is a criminal offence that could lead to a court appearance and a fine of up to £1000.

Fare Evasion is a criminal offence. Each passenger is responsible for purchasing a valid ticket for their journey. Ticket inspections are carried out on board Glider vehicles and trains, at stations, halts and interchanges by authorised persons.

NI Railways Penalty Fare

If you travel without a valid ticket – but had the opportunity to purchase one – you will be issued with a penalty fare of £50*, plus the value of the full single fare of the journey you're making.

This can be paid on the spot or within 21 days, provided you can produce acceptable identification. (If you do not pay on the spot and are unable to produce ID, the Revenue Protection Officer may bring the matter to the attention of the police.) Non-payment of the penalty fare may result in a court appearance plus a fine of up to £1000.

Glider Penalty Fare

You must have a valid ticket or smartcard for your journey. If you travel on Glider without a valid ticket or smartcard, but had the opportunity to purchase one, you will be liable to pay a penalty fare of £50 plus the value of the full single fare of the journey you were making. Please be advised that you must be in receipt of a valid ticket or smart card prior to boarding any Glider service. Tickets or smartcards can be validated at your chosen Glider halt/interchange.

Tickets cannot be purchased and/or validated onboard any Glider service. If you fail to validate your ticket or smartcard prior to boarding you will be issued with a Penalty Fare Notice.

The Penalty Fare Notice provides the passenger with details of the offence, information on how to make a payment and information on the right to appeal. You have 21 days following the date of issue to pay or appeal your Penalty Fare Notice.

When issued with a Penalty Fare Notice, the passenger will be asked to produce a valid form of ID. If the passenger is unable to do so, the Customer Revenue Protection Officer may bring the matter to the attention of the police.

How to Pay a Penalty Fare

If you have received a Penalty Fare Notice and wish to pay, you can do so in the following ways

  • Online (Glider Only)
  • By calling 028 9553 1033 (Glider Only)
  • By Post

For postal payment, please send a crossed cheque or postal order for the total amount payable to ‘Translink’ at the following address:

  • Glider - Translink PO Box 3584  Chippenham  Wiltshire  SN15 9EF
  • NIR/Metro/Ulsterbus – Treasury Manager  Translink  7th Floor  22 Great Victoria Street  Belfast  BT2 7LX

Please ensure that your Name, Address and Penalty Fare Reference, as specified on your Penalty Fare Notice, are included on the reverse side of the crossed cheque or postal order. Translink does not accept responsibility for monies or correspondence lost in the post.

How to Purchase a Ticket

You can buy an NI Railways ticket at the Sales and Information Desk in the station or, if travelling from an unmanned halt, from the conductor as he passes through the train.

You can avoid the queues by pre-purchasing your monthly and weekly tickets online or by visiting the Sales and Information Desks up to four days in advance of your new ticket starting. Passengers travelling on concessionary fares must be able to produce proof of entitlement.

Glider tickets can be purchased online or at one of our TVM machines located at all halts. Before you board Glider you must always buy your ticket or tap your Smartcard.

Report a Fare Evader

If you suspect that someone travelling on a Glider or NI Railways service is not in possession of a valid ticket or smartcard for their journey, we’d like to hear from you. Call us confidentially on 028 90 66 66 30. You may receive a reward of up to £1000 if the fare evader is prosecuted.

Contact Us

If you have any queries on penalty fares, please contact the Translink Contact Centre on 028 90 66 66 30.

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