abstract:On the United Kingdom's public transport systems, a penalty fare is a special fare charged at a higher than normal price because the purchaser did not comply with the normal ticket purchasing rules. Typically penalty fares are incurred by passengers failing to purchase a ticket before travelling or by purchasing an incorrect ticket which does not cover their whole journey.
On its website, Virgin Trains warns travellers they will be charged an excess or penaltyfare if they board a train without a ticket or attempt to change from standard to first class without a first class ticket.