Northern hopes to stave off a 'scam' after introducing new Barcode Season Tickets which will stop fare evaders from screenshotting and sharing season tickets for others to use.

The 'scam' which the rail company has likened to a 'Netflix style password sharing' scam has contributed to the rail industry losing tens of millions of pounds each year. The new season tickets will 'live' within the Northern app and will update repeatedly throughout the day with customers also required to upload a profile photo when purchasing the Barcode Season Ticket and will display the picture alongside the barcode. The barcode and photograph will then form part of the ticket inspection.

Mark Powles, commercial and customer director at Northern, said: 

 "Our season tickets are no different to people's gym memberships, store loyalty cards, or indeed their Netflix account - they're designed for use by the person whose name is on the bill.

"Whilst upwards of 95% of the journeys made on our network are by customers who do the right thing and buy a ticket before they travel – for the remaining 5% that are made by people who attempt to travel without paying their way, switching these particular sales to Barcode Season Tickets will ensure only the device that made the purchase is able to satisfy checks by our conductors and ticket gate lines."

The Barcode Season Ticket will still offer savings however with the ticket offering up to 33%-off the regular cost of commuting between stations on the Northern network and are available to adult customers as weekly or monthly options.

Northern Rail is the second largest rail operator in the country and operates routes throughout Cheshire.

For more information and details on how to buy a Barcode Season Ticket, please visit: www.northernrailway.co.uk/tickets/barcode-season-tickets