THE company behind a key North-East rail link is planning a name-and-shame campaign to catch fare dodgers.

TransPennine Express, which operates trains between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, York, Darlington and Newcastle, has a policy of "buy before you travel" on purchasing of tickets.

The company has taken action against more than 100 people for travelling without tickets.

At a meeting of the North-East rail passengers committee in Newcastle, TransPennine's managing director, Vernon Barker, said that the company planned to copy the example of Tyne and Wear Metro operator Nexus in naming and shaming fare dodgers.

He said: "You would not walk out of a shop without paying for your goods so people should not be walking off the railway network without paying for their travel."

The move has been backed by the rail passengers committee, which represents the interests of passengers