Fare-dodging train passengers caught during crackdown on Rugeley to Walsall rail line
Hundreds of passengers have been caught in the space of just six days not paying for a ticket on the infamous chase line.
A total of 192 passengers were hit with penalty fares for not having a ticket while using the line between Rugeley and Walsall.
A further eight offences were recommended for prosecution.
The problems on the line have been well documented, with Cannock Chase MP Amanda Milling and Walsall North MP David Winnick raising the issue in Parliament.
One of the main problems raised by the MPs and residents is that of fare dodgers, as they say tickets are rarely inspected allowing people to use the train for free.
Read Amanda Milling's experiences on the service
Other issues on the line include overcrowding and services being cancelled or delayed.
Responding to the complaints, London Midland, who run the line, mounted a week-long exercise with the British Transport Police to clamp down on fare dodgers.
Between Monday and Saturday last week they targeted the line and issued the 192 penalty fares.
The clampdown also had a positive effect on ticket sales, with managers saying they sold 1,004 tickets more during the same period.
London Midland's head of route, Rob Hornsey, said: "We mounted this exercise after listening to genuine passengers who raised concerns about the increase in ticketless travel on the line.
"This week we have been focusing on educating new and infrequent rail users of the need to buy a ticket before boarding the train.
"Our revenue protection team deliberately varies the times and places when they will come on to stations and trains.
"So the message to the fare cheats is it's not worth trying to second guess the system."
Mr Hornsey added the company will continue to monitor ticketless travel on the route and says its revenue managers can appear on trains at any time.
