Our Penalty fare is now £100

You must have a valid ticket before boarding the tram, or risk getting a £100 Penalty Fare.

The Penalty Fare for travelling without a valid ticket on the Metro network is now £100.

This brings us in line with national transport standards and reflects our commitment to fairness across the Metro network. Travelling without a valid ticket is unfair to customers who do pay. Every ticket purchased helps fund improvements to service reliability, network expansion, and better passenger journeys.

This change is part of a broader strategy to modernise the ticketing experience across the West Midlands Metro network, making travel simpler, smarter, and more convenient for everyone.

In the future, as part of the new ticketing model – Buy Before You Board (BBYB), all passengers will soon be required to buy a valid ticket or have a valid pass before boarding the tram. This means tickets must be purchased in advance before they board the tram and not from conductors onboard.

For now, you can still purchase a ticket from the conductor on board the tram. We encourage all customers to start using the available options to buy tickets before travelling. This will help avoid a penalty fare charge when inspected by our new team of Revenue Officers.

In the coming months, Revenue Officers will be present across the Metro network to carry out regular checks on tickets and mobile payments. Their presence will ensure fairness, deter fare evasion and reinforce the importance of buying your ticket before you board.

Soon, travelling without a valid ticket may result in a £100 Penalty Fare.

Ways to buy your tickets before you board

MyMetro App

Download the app

Pay for daily, weekly or monthly tickets by zones or destinations.

Ticket Machine

From the tram stop

Pay for a daily, weekly, or monthly tickets by destination or zone as well as top up your Swift card.

Direct Debit

Monthly payments

Best value tickets to travel. Setting up a monthly direct debit is the cheapest way to travel.

Swift

Pay as you go

Top-up your Swift card balance to pay for your journey.

Metro Contactless Tap and Cap

Tap in and Out

Tap in and out using your contactless card, smart device to pay for your journey. – To go live in 2026

Have more questions?

Click on the FAQs button below for more information on the upcoming Penalty Fare policy.

What is a Penalty Fare, and why is it increasing?

A Penalty Fare is a higher fare issued to passengers travelling without a valid ticket. From the new year, the Penalty Fare will increase to £100. This change brings the West Midlands Metro in line with national standards and ensures fairness for all passengers.

When will the new Penalty Fare be enforced?

The new £100 Penalty Fare will be enforced in the next few months. Ahead of this, we encourage all passengers to purchase tickets in advance to prepare for this change.

How can I buy a ticket before I board?

You can purchase your ticket easily from the following options before you travel:

Ticket Machines at every tram stop.
MyMetro App, which you can download for free on your smartphone.
Swift cards, including Swift Pay-as-you-go and monthly passes.
Contactless validators (coming soon) for Tap‑in, Tap‑out payments with your card, pass, or smart device

What if the ticket machine at the tram stop is out of order?

If a ticket machine is not working, you can easily purchase a ticket using the MyMetro app on your smartphone. The app is available for free from the Apple and Google Play Store.

Will discounts or concessions still apply?

Yes. All existing concessionary passes, child fares, and discounts remain valid. The only change is that they must be validated before boarding.

Will there be reminders at tram stops or on board?

Yes. We’re rolling out signage, digital screens, and platform stickers to remind passengers to Buy Before You Board to avoid a £100 Penalty Fare. Colleagues will also be available to support and answer questions during the transition.

Can I still buy my ticket from a conductor?

At the moment, Yes. This will change soon, as passengers will be required to have a valid ticket or pass before boarding the tram.

Will conductors still be on board the tram?

Yes. Conductors will remain on board during the transition to help customers, but they will be redeployed over time as the Buy Before You Board system is fully rolled out.

Who can be issued a Penalty Fare?

Any passenger travelling without a valid ticket or pass, or travelling beyond the zone specified on their ticket, may be issued a Penalty Fare.

What happens if I forget to buy a ticket?

If you board without a valid ticket or pass, you may be issued a £100 Penalty Fare. To avoid this, use one of the many ways to buy before boarding the tram.

Will there be a way to appeal a Penalty Fare?

Yes. If you believe a Penalty Fare was issued in error, you will be able to appeal. The detailed appeals process will be published when the new policy comes into effect in the New Year.

Our Penalty fare is now £100

You must have a valid ticket before boarding the tram, or risk getting a £100 Penalty Fare.

The Penalty Fare for travelling without a valid ticket on the Metro network is now £100.

Soon, travelling without a valid ticket may result in a £100 Penalty Fare.

Ways to buy your tickets before you board

MyMetro App

Download the app

Ticket Machine

From the tram stop

Direct Debit

Monthly payments

Swift

Pay as you go

Metro Contactless Tap and Cap

Tap in and Out

Have more questions?

Click on the FAQs button below for more information on the upcoming Penalty Fare policy.

A Penalty Fare is a higher fare issued to passengers travelling without a valid ticket. From the new year, the Penalty Fare will increase to £100. This change brings the West Midlands Metro in line with national standards and ensures fairness for all passengers.

The new £100 Penalty Fare will be enforced in the next few months. Ahead of this, we encourage all passengers to purchase tickets in advance to prepare for this change.

You can purchase your ticket easily from the following options before you travel:

Ticket Machines at every tram stop.

MyMetro App, which you can download for free on your smartphone.

Swift cards, including Swift Pay-as-you-go and monthly passes.

Contactless validators (coming soon) for Tap‑in, Tap‑out payments with your card, pass, or smart device

If a ticket machine is not working, you can easily purchase a ticket using the MyMetro app on your smartphone. The app is available for free from the Apple and Google Play Store.

Yes. All existing concessionary passes, child fares, and discounts remain valid. The only change is that they must be validated before boarding.

Yes. We’re rolling out signage, digital screens, and platform stickers to remind passengers to Buy Before You Board to avoid a £100 Penalty Fare. Colleagues will also be available to support and answer questions during the transition.

At the moment, Yes. This will change soon, as passengers will be required to have a valid ticket or pass before boarding the tram.

Yes. Conductors will remain on board during the transition to help customers, but they will be redeployed over time as the Buy Before You Board system is fully rolled out.

Any passenger travelling without a valid ticket or pass, or travelling beyond the zone specified on their ticket, may be issued a Penalty Fare.

If you board without a valid ticket or pass, you may be issued a £100 Penalty Fare. To avoid this, use one of the many ways to buy before boarding the tram.

Yes. If you believe a Penalty Fare was issued in error, you will be able to appeal. The detailed appeals process will be published when the new policy comes into effect in the New Year.

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