Hundreds more fare-evaders caught since the Noarlunga ticket gates were installed

Hundreds more people have been caught trying to hitch a free ride on the Seaford railway line since the installation of ticket gates just over a year ago.

Hundreds more people have been caught trying to hitch a free ride on the Seaford railway line since the installation of ticket gates just over a year ago.

More than 1500 people were fined up to $220 for fare evasion in the 2018 calendar year.

The figure includes 440 detected at the Noarlunga Centre interchange.

In the 2015/16 financial year, 1346 were caught – the only comparable measure available, as the Transport Department does not have figures for Seaford line freeloaders in 2017.

A spokeswoman explained that officials did not record the location where people were fined that year.

She said the electronic gates at Noarlunga were now being used as “part of the fight against fare evasion”.

“Evaders would previously proceed through without fares and are now being detected,” she said.

Commuters at Noarlunga Railway Station. Picture: Mark Brake

The ticket gates were installed in December 2017 as part of the State Government’s $2.1 million package to reduce fare evasion and upgrade security at Noarlunga and Salisbury railway stations.

Commuters are required to validate their ticket or scan their metrocard to access platform three to board a train and after exiting the ramp onto Burgess Drive, opposite Colonnades shopping centre.

Both gates are manned by staff.

Passengers on the Seaford line – one of Adelaide Metro’s busiest railway lines – are among the worst offenders for fare evasion, according to State Government figures.

The most common offences are passengers not having a ticket or not paying for a full-price fare and failing to carry a valid concession card.