Almost 20,000 rail passengers were caught dodging fares in the past year and a half.

Irish Rail says these petty criminals cost over €1.2million.

There were almost 20,000 of these petty criminals caught on our trains since the start of 2018 up to July this year.

Social Democrats co-leader, Catherine Murphy, provided the figures to the Irish Mirror after she received them directly from Irish Rail after first sending a Parliamentary Question to Minister for Transport, Shane Ross.

Ms Murphy also got figures from Dublin Bus, who revealed that they had a far lower level of enforcement, collecting €25,000 from 500 offenders since the start of 2017.

180 of these went to court over the fines and 124 were prosecuted.

Ms Murphy praised the fare enforcers at both public transport companies, but said that some of the funds collected should be reinvested in improving security on routes and in stations.

Irish Rail’s Revenue Protection Unit inspectors issued 19,908 fine notices after catching chancers trying to get a free ride.

6,149 of these appealed their fines, but only about one in ten, 741, were successful in challenging their fines.

The dodgers make fools of the rest of the travelling public who pay their way.

If everybody paid their fair fare, it’s possible that the price of travelling on trains and buses could go down for all.

Catherine Murphy is a TD for one of the country’s biggest commuter counties, Kildare.

She said that commuter issues is one of the biggest concerns for her constituents and that everybody should obey the rules.

She added that it would be a good idea to reinvest some of the money collected from the fare dodgers in better security on board trains, buses and in stations and waiting areas.

One suggestion would be to fast-track the rollout of more CCTV across the board.

Her call comes after a recent spate of attacks on both passengers and hard-working drivers on buses and trains.

She said: “The difference between revenue raised by Irish rail and Dublin bus from issuing fixed payment notices and seats on feet offences is stark.

“Irish rail appears to be fairly efficient in this regard, and their dedicated revenue protection team is proving to be very effective.

“Perhaps Irish rail could invest some of the substantial money raised in better and broader onboard and in-station security in view of the ever increasing reports of anti-social behaviour on trains.”

A spokesman for Irish Rail said that they have no system in place for earmarking of these funds at the moment and that the fines go into the general fares coffers.

“RPU (Revenue Protection Unit) payments fall directly into passenger revenue so any monies under this heading go to fund Railway Undertaking similar to fare income.”