PASSENGERS will be subjected to random checks on Adelaide's public transport, and will not be allowed to leave until they produce a valid ticket, to stem fare evasion.

Among efforts to stem the evaders will be random checks by inspectors and passengers not allowed to leave until they produce a valid ticket.

Fare evaders, who last year cost the system about $13 million, can soon expect to be issued with a $220 on-the-spot fine, which has rarely been enforced by authorities.

New Transport Department figures reveal 3.3 million commuters rode the bus, train and tram network free last financial year - but fewer than 600 received the fine. Paying passenger numbers on trains since 2009-10 fell by 2.14 million, but the number of evaders rose to 1.63 million from 1.22 million.



Tram patronage fell by 300,000 over the same period but the number of fare evaders rose by 85,000 to 215,000. About 1.52 million people rode free on buses last year.

In response, the State Government is planning one of its biggest crackdowns on fare evasion, which will include random station and platform closures "in the near future".

When a station or platform is closed, every person who wants to exit from trains or trams will be asked to produce a valid ticket and proof of any concession entitlement, or face a $220 fine that includes a $60 victims of crime levy.

"Given the recent increase in observed tram fraud, some major tram platform closures will be undertaken shortly," Transport Department spokeswoman Sam Rodrigues said.

Authorities and police will also launch Operation Lightning where undercover officers, trail bikes, push bikes and marked cars will be used to deter crime, fare evasion and anti-social behaviour. Other strategies to tackle fare evasion will include:

SIGNIFICANTLY increasing the number of transit police on bus, train and tram networks.

LARGE numbers of passenger service assistants and prescribed officers working across the AdelaideMetro network.

WILSON Security working with Transfield Services to step up security on buses.

Of the estimated 3.3 million fare evaders - an average of more than 9000 a day - only 595 expiation notices were issued with a $220 fine.

In total, the number of fare evaders is up about 10 per cent on 2010-11.

At an average cost per trip of $4, fare evasion last year cost the state upwards of $13 million.

An estimated one in six passengers on the train network rode free in 2011-12. Transport Services Minister Chloe Fox said it was likely that fare evasion had contributed to the reduction in reported patronage.

"Compliance campaigns are already conducted on the train network and include a range of strategies, including station closures where all passengers must produce a valid ticket to exit the platform or otherwise face a fine," Ms Fox said.

Ms Rodrigues said there were several ways fare evasion was measured, including through the number of fines issued and by service audits where "a mystery shopper or auditor rides the services and observes the level of fare evasion".

A Transport Department employee, who did not want to be identified, said the rise in fare evaders was leading to more crowded public transport services.

"They only allocate carriages (seating) to accommodate recorded passenger numbers."

People for Public Transport spokeswoman Margaret Dingle said it was relatively easy to avoid validating tickets on trains if you were not going through the Adelaide Railway Station.

"Sometimes it is inadvertent. People want to pay a fare but don't know how to use the machine to purchase a ticket," Ms Dingle said.

Opposition transport spokeswoman Vickie Chapman said the Government had taken its eye off the ball when it came to public transport, particularly fare evasion.

"They are aware of the problem but they consistently put their head in the sand," she said.