A train operator that serves stations across East Lancashire has issued a warning to passengers that they could still face a penalty fare if their phone does not have sufficient battery to present a mobile ticket.

Northern says people claiming to have a ticket but cannot show it because their phone has died is an increasingly popular excuse given by those unable to satisfy ticket checks.

They add that conductors and revenue officers are left with no option but to issue the national penalty fare, recently increased to £100, as they are unable to distinguish between genuine customers who have been caught short and those deliberately attempting to fare-evade.

In the last 12 months, Northern has installed more than 11,800 plug and 17,200 USB sockets on their trains, providing ample opportunity for passengers to charge their devices.

They have also now begun a trial with phone charging station company BattPoint to provide power packs at stations for those travelling without their phone charger or power cable.

These will be priced at 99p for the first 10 minutes or £3.99 for the day and comes with Micro USB, Type-C and iOS adapters, making them suitable for a range of devices including Apple and Samsung phones, as well as games consoles like the Nintendo Switch.

These can be paid for with contactless and no app download is required.

Mark Powles, commercial and customer director at Northern, said: “Customers not only have a duty to buy a ticket before they board one of our trains – but also to be able to present it for inspection.

“We were fascinated by research from BattPoint which suggests 50 per cent of smartphone and tablet users run out of battery at least once a day and 96 per cent carrying no form of backup power with them.

“Through this trial – and the roll-out of nearly 30,000 plugs and USB sockets on our trains – we’re doing our best to make sure no one finds themselves ‘out of juice’ when they hear the words ‘tickets please’."