RAIL bosses today announced a new get tough line against East Lancashire fare dodgers and warned: "Our inspectors could be in any station, anytime, anywhere."

First North Western Trains, which runs services across the area as well as commuter links to stations all over the North West, said a new hit squad of inspectors was already saving £30,000 in lost fares.

The company warned it would prosecute anyone without a valid ticket for their journey and revealed it was already working closely with British Transport Police.

The news was welcomed by Derek Harrison of the Support the East Lancashire Line Association (STELLA) rail user group, who said he had seen dodgers sneak into toilets to avoid paying fares.

He went on: "This is a good thing because most people pay the fare and we want to see the ones who don't stopped. The trains I travel on are fairly meticulously manned already with inspectors or guards checking tickets but it is still happening."

The new hardline regime will be stepped up after it was revealed that up to a quarter of passengers were failing to pay fares on First North Western routes. A BBC survey showed one in four people travelling on the Manchester to Bolton service had no ticket while one in six had not paid on the Manchester to Lancaster line.

First North Western's commercial director Paul Bunting said the company had increased the number of revenue protection staff significantly in recent months.

He said: "The inspectors are carrying out ticket barrier checks and could be at any station within the network, at any time of day." Mr Bunting added that fare evasion was a major problem for rail companies across the UK and that First North Western was working closely with British Transport Police.

He went on: "We intend to treat those who abuse the system with the seriousness they deserve.

"We are determined to take a much harder line with all offenders and are also planning to install permanent ticket barriers at some stations while we are considering the introduction of automatic ticket gates elsewhere.

"All customers found without a ticket may be liable for prosecution."

Inspectors will roam between stations carrying out barrier checks as well as inspecting tickets on trains.

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