A NORTH rail firm is launching a poster and leaflet campaign in an attempt to crack down hard on fare dodgers.
The campaign by First TransPennine Express warns people the face heavy penalties for boarding its trains without a valid ticket.
The company, which runs trains from the North-East to destinations such as Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester, says the fraud costs it about £1m a year in lost revenue.
Last month, it took 50 people to court for deliberate fare dodging and more than £11,000 in fines was levied by magistrates on people who evaded fares as small as 80p.
Customer services director Edith Rodgers said: "The majority of passengers do pay and it's only fair that everyone should."
Anyone convicted of deliberate fare evasion faces a fine of up to £1,000 or three months in prison.
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