Midland Metro fare-jumping fines to increase by SEVEN times

Anyone stopped without the correct ticket on the tram system currently faces a penalty fine of £10.

But under a proposal by the West Midlands Combined Authority, which runs the line, the fine will go up to £70.

If paid within 21 days it will cost £35.

The organisation wants to make the changes for the start of next year.

But it must apply for powers to set its own rates of fines, instead of needing approval from the Secretary of State.

An application to change the procedure will be made in January - but not before it goes in front of the WMCA's Transport Delivery Committee today.

In a supporting document to the proposal, it states: "The current penalty fare on Midland Metro is £10 and is deemed an unsuitable deterrent for fare evasion."

A spokesman for the WMCA added: "When you consider the cost of a single journey from one end of the Metro line to the other is just £4.10 you can see why some people think it’s worth the risk of not paying at all.

“That can’t be allowed to continue.

"It is not fair on National Express West Midlands who operate it on our behalf nor the vast majority of passengers who do pay their way.”

Ticket inspectors operate on every tram. They approach people on the tram to check or sell tickets. If someone does not buy a ticket the tram will stop.

A penalty fine could be given for someone who hides in the tram or holds an invalid ticket.

The £10 charge on the Midland Metro is set by the Midland Metro (Penalty Fares) Act 1991.

This legislation was introduced after the plan to build a new tram system in the West Midlands was first developed in the late 1980s.

Transport chiefs want to set up a system where fines can be reduced if paid promptly, as is common with parking fines.

A total of 132 penalty fares were issued by Midland Metro in 2015.

The line currently goes from Grand Central in Birmingham to Wolverhampton but work will start on a second line from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill next year.