PAY the correct fare for travelling in the capital or face tougher punishment - that is the message from Transport for London.

The penalty fare for non-payment on buses, the Tube, DLR and London Overground is being increased from £20 to £50 from January 11.

However, there will be an incentive to pay quickly - the penalty will be reduced to £25 if it is paid within 21 days.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "Fare evasion costs Londoners £70 million a year, which is money that belongs to all Londoners that should be invested in making the transport network better.

"We are investing record amounts in renewing the network, and it is only fair that those who travel on the Tube or bus pay their way.

"These changes to penalty fares will provide a greater deterrent to those who would otherwise try to short-change Londoners."

Steve Burton, director of community safety, enforcement and policing for TfL, said: “We know that our honest, fare-paying passengers feel angry when they see others not paying for their journey and this should reassure them that we are tackling this issue head-on.

"However, the simple way to avoid this penalty is to ensure you pay the correct fare for your journey in the first place.”

What do you think? Will the increased penalty be an effective way to tackle fare dodging? Add your comments below.