SUPER-SIZED ticket barriers designed to stop brazen rail fare evaders who cost taxpayers $70 million a year are finally set to roll out across Sydney train stations.

The first set of the jump-proof London Underground-style barriers is now undergoing technical trials at Olympic Park station.

This exclusive photograph shows the E2 gate with its two chest-high paddles making it virtually impossible for a fare evader to leap over the barrier. They are also designed to stop fare dodgers “tailgating” other passengers through the gate.

media_camera The new jump-proof barriers installed at Sydney Olympic Park station / Picture: John Fotiadis

Last August, The Daily Telegraph’s audit of eight major Sydney stations revealed dozens of fare evaders an hour were jumping over, squeezing past or following people through the thigh-high ticket barriers.

A 2012 Bureau of Transport Statistics study showed about $70 million is lost each year through fare evasion on city trains. The new gates will be for Opal card users only, with some old barriers remaining as long as paper tickets are still in operation.

media_camera Terry Young tries the new jump- proof barriers / Picture: John Fotiadis

There is also a wide version of the E2 gate for people with wheelchairs, prams, bicycles or luggage.

Sydney Trains CEO Howard Collins, the former chief operating officer of the London Underground, said the higher gates were successful in reducing the number of barrier jumpers in the English capital. The fare evasion rate in London is 2 per cent. Figures from February last year show about 8 per cent evasion in Sydney.

Transport for NSW said the next stage would be customer trials before they were installed at stations.