Rail operator 'changes position' after passengers feared prosecution

Rail operator Northern has 'paused' prosecutions on some penalty fares after a graduate feared he would be taken to court for mistakenly buying an invalid ticket with his railcard. 

Sam Williamson, 22, paid £1.90 less than he should have done when he used his 16-25 railcard for a journey between Broadbottom and Manchester before 10am on September 5. 

The engineering graduate from Glossop in Derbyshire purchased an 'anytime' ticket on the Northern app but was able to apply the discount which is normally only valid for off-peak fares.

Mr Williamson then received a letter from government-owned operator Northern threatening him with legal action.

Despite a furious backlash, Northern initially doubled down on their policy, saying customers are responsible for ensuring they have the right ticket. 

But the managing director of Northern, Tricia Williams, has now said the company has 'changed its position' on prosecutions. 

Speaking after a Rail North Committee meeting that she was summoned to attend to explain recent high levels of cancellations, she said: 'On penalty fares, we absolutely have changed our position on penalty fares. 

'We have paused prosecutions on a number of penalty fares where we understand that the ticketing is very complex and complicated for customers.'

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I'm facing court for buying the wrong ticket with my Railcard and paid £1.90 less than I should have

'Clearly if somebody is trying to travel without a ticket then that is not acceptable in any situation and we will continue our process for that,' she added. 

Mr William's case has since been resolved with Northern contacting him earlier this month to say they will 'be taking no further steps' against him. 

Following this decision, the rail company 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'.

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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'.

Mr Williamson 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.'

It comes as it was revealed this week that Northern rail is reportedly still using fax machines to communicate with train crew members. 

A former driver at Northern told MailOnline that the firm offered drivers a free tablet computer which they could use to book days off or holiday around five years ago.

But the source said the offer, part of a new technology agreement, was rejected by train driver's union ASLEF because the firm would not agree to an additional annual payment in recognition of the drivers' acceptance of the new technology.

The source said: 'The drivers were in favour of the tablets, the new system would've made their lives easier.

'But the union turned it down – they wanted not just one payment but an extra payment every year. In the end, I think the tablets were given to the conductors.'

He said the offer was made when the rail firm was run by private company Arriva Rail North, prior to being renationalised in March 2020.

The former driver added: 'I'm all for strong trade unions but if you give them too much power they take advantage.

'ASLEF virtually run the bloody show at Northern, and I can't see Andy Burnham doing much to stop them as he's a trade union man at heart.'

MailOnline has contacted Northern for comment.