Kenilworth passengers caught travelling without a ticket on West Midlands Railway (WMR) services will face tougher penalties when new rules come into effect next week.

From Monday (January 23), the penalty fare will increase to a minimum of £100 – reduced to £50 if paid within 21 days – plus the price of a full single fare applicable.

The change represents a significant increase to the existing penalty fare of £20 or twice the full single fare to the next station, whichever is greater.

The new charge will apply across the rail network and follows a national consultation by the Department for Transport.

Annamaria Izzard, head of revenue protection at WMR, said: "Every year around £240million of revenue nationally is lost to the railway through fare evasion, taking money away from vital improvements to the network and ultimately costing the taxpayer.

"The vast majority of our passengers already do the right thing and buy their ticket before travelling but I hope these changes will encourage more people to think twice about ticketless travel."

The national penalty fare scheme means passengers could have to pay a penalty fare if they:

• Travel without a valid ticket
• Can't show an appropriate railcard for a discounted ticket
• Travel in first class with a standard class ticket
• Are travelling on a child ticket, but are 16 or over
• Travel beyond the destination on their ticket