Nexus, which runs Metro, prosecuted 407 people during August for Metro fare evasion, netting fines and costs of £47,000.

The fare dodgers, from across Tyne and Wear, were all caught without a valid ticket, and were taken to court after failing to pay the standard £20 penalty fare within 21 days.

They will now face fines of up to £500 and a conviction.

Their names will be added to the Metro Loser Lists which are displayed prominently on posters on the system, and on the Metro website.

Metro director Mick Carbro said: "If you travel on Metro without a ticket, you're going to get caught.

"We have a stringent regime of ticket inspections right across the network, so there's no hiding place for cheats.

"Going to court for the sake of a fare as low as £1.30 just makes no sense at all."

Nexus has an anti-fraud strategy which involves more frequent targeted ticket inspections at stations and on board trains.

Inspections are also aimed at stations outside the central areas of Newcastle and Sunderland, as shorter journeys account for a high percentage of ticketless travel.

In September last year, Nexus secured £13m of Government cash to pay for 249 new ticket machines and electronic barriers.

The barriers, similar to the ones on the London Underground, will be installed at 13 key stations next year, including South Shields.