Penalty Fares Policy
We are committed to ensuring all journeys are paid for
About our Penalty Fares
Passengers make 170 million journeys with us each year and we lose a lot of money when a small minority travel without paying. This is also very unfair on the honest, paying majority. We are committed to ensuring all journeys are paid for. All passengers must have a valid ticket (or permit to travel) for their journey.
Travelling without a ticket
If you travel on a train without a ticket, you will be liable to pay the full single fare or full return fare or, if appropriate, a penalty fare for your journey.
Examples of when a penalty fare may be charged, if a passenger:
- travels without a valid ticket
- cannot produce an appropriate railcard on a discounted ticket
- travels in first class accommodation with a standard ticket
- is aged 16 or over, travelling on a child-rate ticket
- travels beyond their ticket destination
The penalty is £20 or twice the full single fare from the station where the passenger got on the train to the next station at which the train stops, whichever is the greater.
Electronic Penalty Fare Notices (EPFN)
Southeastern has recently introduced a new Electronic Penalty Fare Notice (EPFN) across our network.
Previously we issued paper penalty fare notices to those travelling without a valid ticket, but the EPFN system eliminates the need for revenue support officers to create hand-written notices.
Contact us for more information.