Northern Rail drops 16-25 Railcard cases against passengers after row

Northern Rail today confirmed it was withdrawing all cases against passengers who have faced prosecution for wrongly using their 16-25 Railcard on certain fares.

The rail operator said it would also be reviewing cases involving anyone previously prosecuted for using the Railcard on fares under £12 before 10am.

It comes after the case of a young engineering graduate who feared a criminal record over a £1.90 underpayment for a train ticket caused widespread attention.

Sam Williamson, 22, from Glossop in Derbyshire, prompted a huge debate after using a Railcard at the wrong time on a Northern rail service last month.

He had purchased an 'anytime' ticket on the Northern app, from Broadbottom to Manchester on September 5, using a Railcard discount for passengers aged 16 to 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.

When can you use a Railcard discount? 

A Railcard is a pass that can be purchased for a third off most fares and ticket types across the National Rail network.

There are nine types of Railcards as follows: 16-17 Saver; 16-25 Railcard; 26-30 Railcard; Disabled Persons Railcard; Family & Friends Railcard; Network Railcard; Senior Railcard; Two Together Railcard and Veterans Railcard.

There are different restrictions on when you someone can use their Railcard, and a minimum fare applies at certain times.

For example, the 16-25 Railcard and 26-30 Railcard have a minimum fare of £12 from 4.30am until 10am Monday to Friday.

This means the discount cannot be applied on tickets below this cost within that time period.

However, the minimum fare does not apply to Advance tickets; journeys on public holidays; or journeys during July and August.

As for the separate Network Railcard, the discount can only be used on services leaving at or after 10am Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. It can be used at any time on weekends.

In addition, discounts apply to services in the Network Railcard area only – click here for the map – and a minimum fare also applies to all journeys Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays, which is £13.

The Senior Railcard conditions state that discounts are not available on tickets for travel on morning peak services for journeys that start and end within the London and South East area - defined by the same map in the link above - on Monday to Friday, except on public holidays. 

The time when off-peak services start can vary by station.

Before 10am on weekdays outside public holidays or in July or August, his type of Railcard can be used only when the minimum fare is £12. The conductor proceeded to file a travel incident report.

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 then last Friday, he said he was contacted again by the train operator notifying him that they will 'be taking no further steps' against him.

Now that proceedings have been dropped, the rail company has confirmed it is also undertaking a wider audit of anyone prosecuted for the same mistake.

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.'

As for Mr Williamson, he is now calling on the government to help others avoid similar mistakes by 'simplifying ticketing fares'.

He told the PA news agency: '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 less people would make this kind of mistake. Most people, including myself, have no idea about this whole thing.'

He is also calling for a restriction on train operating companies such as Northern taking these kinds of cases to court.

He said that 'fines in the hundreds and a criminal record are completely disproportionate' as train operators have 'easier and better tools available to them'.

He continued: '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 number of recent cases of Northern passengers being prosecuted for invalid use of a Railcard have been highlighted on X by Bolton News senior reporter Jack Fifield.

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These include a 26-year-old man who was fined £462.30 over a £4.30 underpayment for a journey from Prescot, Merseyside, to Liverpool Lime Street.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: 'We expect all operators to ensure their policy on ticketing is clear and fair for passengers at all times - and have asked Northern and other publicly-owned operators to immediately review the details of any Railcard cases

“It is clear ticketing is far too complicated, with a labyrinth of different fares and prices which can be confusing for passengers.

“That’s why we have committed to the biggest overhaul of our railways in a generation, including simplifying fares to make travelling by train easier.”