South Western Railway and Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) have announced a joint crackdown on fare evasion enabled by digital ticketing, targeting so-called “donutters” — passengers who buy a ticket for only the shortest leg of their journey and tap through station gates just before arrival, skipping payment for the bulk of the distance travelled. The initiative has the backing of the government department set to take direct control of most English rail services once the network is renationalised next year.
What is a “donutter” and how do they cheat the system?
A donutter is a passenger who purchases a digital ticket covering only a fraction of their actual trip — typically the final short stretch — timing the purchase to occur moments before the train reaches its destination. By tapping in with a valid-looking ticket for that short segment, they can pass through automated barriers without having paid for the full journey, exploiting the fact that digital tickets are issued instantly and gate systems cannot always verify where a passenger actually boarded.
Rail operators say this tactic, along with other digital ticket abuses, has become more common as the industry moves away from paper tickets toward smartphone-based and contactless travel. The ease and speed of buying a ticket via an app has made last-minute, distance-shrinking purchases far simpler than it ever was with paper tickets bought in advance at a counter or machine.
Why are operators acting now?
The rise of digital ticketing has made revenue protection harder, prompting South Western Railway and GTR to strengthen enforcement before more of the network comes under government control. Both operators are treating the practice as a serious and growing drain on revenue, warranting a coordinated fightback rather than isolated, operator-by-operator responses.
Fare evasion enabled by digital tickets is a problem we intend to stamp out, the operators said.
What does this mean for rail renationalisation plans?
The crackdown has explicit support from the government department that will oversee most of England’s train operators once renationalisation takes effect next year, signalling that fare enforcement will be a priority under the new public ownership model. As services transition to state control, ensuring consistent and effective revenue protection across previously separate private operators is likely to become a bigger focus, with digital ticket fraud seen as an early test case for tighter, unified enforcement standards.
