A TRAIN operator is cracking down on fare-dodging school kids.

Northern has written to the heads of 11 secondary schools in its area, including Knutsford Academy and Wilmslow High School, asking for help to tackle ‘persistent, calculated fare evasion’ by school-age children.  

Transport bosses want school leaders' help to identify repeat offenders - those routinely traveling without tickets, or even committing ticket fraud.

Incident are most often seen among students travelling from rural stations, which are less likely to have revenue protection measures in place, to schools in the suburbs of nearby towns.

Northern also claims it’s had to deal with increasing numbers of incidents with an anti-social behaviour element to them, with reports of verbal and physical assaults on train crew and station staff.

In some cases, Northern has requested support from British Transport Police to maintain order.

Mark Powles, commercial and customer director at Northern, said: “What we’re seeing is persistent, calculated fare evasion.

“With secondary school students, fare evasion incidents tend to occur on relatively short journeys between rural and suburban stations which are not barrier-controlled.

"That, combined with the limited time conductors have to carry out ticket checks, emboldens students to travel without a ticket.

“We’ve seen students climb on station canopies and assault station staff in order to avoid ticket checks - it’s completely unacceptable.

“That’s why we’re calling on headteachers to help us identify repeat offenders.”