RAIL company Northern – which operates services on the Airedale line – is reminding school children of the need to buy tickets before boarding trains.

Revenue protection teams from the firm have been working at Crossflatts and Saltaire stations since the start of September, monitoring the situation and speaking to pupils attempting to travel without a valid ticket.

Northern says that around 40 pupils a day have been stopped without a ticket.

The students have either been given an opportunity to buy a ticket, or in some cases, refused permission to travel.

Jason Wade, Northern’s head of retail operations, said: “Everyone needs to buy their train ticket before they board, no matter how short the journey or age of the passenger.

“Train travel is not free and it is disappointing that such large numbers of pupils are choosing to attempt to travel without a ticket on a daily basis.”

Northern urges all passengers to buy their ticket before they board the train – which is a legal requirement where facilities to do so, such as open ticket offices and ticket vending machines, exist.

Anyone who fails to obtain a ticket before travelling could be subject to a penalty fare, fine and potential criminal conviction.

The company has also been working with schools in the area to educate pupils – and their parents – about the importance of buying before they board.