FARE dodgers who are costing a train company £1m a year were last night warned: "We'll track you down and take you to court".

First TransPennine Express, whose services include a Middlesbrough to Manchester Airport rail link, has pledged to prosecute anyone caught trying to cheat.

The company yesterday launched a poster and leaflet campaign on trains and at stations to warn of the new get-tough policy.

Edith Rodgers, First TransPennine Express customer services director, said: "We're running this campaign to encourage passengers to buy their ticket before they board our trains. The majority of passengers do pay and it's only fair that everyone should pay for the journey that they are making."

People convicted of deliberate fare evasion face a fine of up to £1,000 or three months in prison. They also get a criminal record and are asked to pay compensation and costs.

Last month, more than 50 people were prosecuted at magistrates' courts for deliberate fare dodging on First TransPennine Express trains. In total, more than £11,000 in fines, costs and compensation were imposed by magistrates for those evading fares from as little as 80p.

Ms Rodgers said: "These penalties can be levied on those who have tried to avoid a fare of less than £1. It's really not worth taking the risk or suffering the humiliation of a criminal record.''

The posters feature a picture of a fare dodger shouldering the burden of a heavy penalty.

The campaign builds on the company's other efforts to thwart fare dodgers. Tactics include spot checks at stations, regular ticket checks on trains and setting up a dedicated team of revenue protection officers.

First TransPennine Express began its eight year franchise in February last year and now run 220 trains a day, carrying an average of 1.2 million passengers a month.

GNER is introducing ticket barriers at stations to stop fare dodgers as well as assist with crowd control at football matches and race meetings. A spokesman said: "Our fare paying passengers would expect us to take it seriously. Less revenue means higher fares in the long run.

"Our message to people thinking of fare evasion is not to. Sooner than later we will catch you.''

GNER is also putting patrols on trains to check those on board are all fare paying passengers.