The capital’s transport authority, which runs the tube, Elizabeth Line, buses, trams and much more, is interested in deploying new and innovative digital systems to help detect and discourage evasion
Transport for London is exploring the use of technology and data to not only improve its ability to catch fare-dodgers, but also help change the behaviour of those attempting to travel without paying.
The capital’s transport authority – which operates the London Underground, Overground and Elizabeth Line train networks, as well as buses, trams, riverboats, hire bikes, cable cars, dial-a-ride services and more – is seeking to engage with potential providers of digital or data-based systems.
Guiding this engagement will be a central question: “How might TfL use technology and data to better understand fare evader behaviour and then drive changes in fare evader behaviour through interventions?”
Data for 2022/23 shows that the organisation lost between £130m and £150m to fare-evasion during the year, equating to 3.9% of all journeys. The authority’s aim is to reduce this figure to 1.5%.
A newly published commercial notice reveals that TfL currently has in place various measures to tackle fare-dodging, including improvements to ticket gates, technology to support investigations, and so-called “behavioural” programmes that try to prevent evasion by public signage and other communications initiatives.
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But the organisation believes that additional use of tech or data could help support or expand these activities.
The notice adds: “Specifically, we would like to know if there are technologies/solutions that TfL can utilise that will: better detect fare evaders across our different modes (while TfL runs an integrated transport network, the design and operation of each mode on our network is unique); provide data and insight to support new interventions that will change the behaviour of fare evaders; increase the deterrent of fare evasion taking place on our network; [and] drive changes in fare evader behaviour.”
To find out more about these technologies and how they might be deployed, the transport authority has created a market sounding questionnaire (MSQ).
Potential providers interested in taking part in the engagement exercise by completing the questionnaire are asked to email MSQinnovation@tfl.gov.uk with the subject heading Fare Evasion Data MSQ Request followed by their company name. Submissions must be completed by 16 August.
TfL has not yet committed to undertaking any formal procurement process, but will explore the findings of the MSQ before deciding on its next steps.
Senior TfL officials last year revealed that the organisation has found success in identifying and catching fare-evaders as a result of an increase in offenders recording themselves in the act and posting the clips to social media.
Operational policy manager Jon Poett said: “Working with our policing partners, legal team and we’ve had success with our internal investigation team actually stopping a few people who have recorded themselves fare evading.”
