If you've been charged, you must go to the police station and provide the fingerprint/photo/DNA information. If you don't, you can be forcibly made to attend and have those things forcibly collected.
You'll probably be handed a court date when you go to the police station, or receive a summons / postal requisition to appear at court in the post.
It sounds like you will be facing a Regulation of Railways Act 1889 recordable offence.
This is long past a Penalty Fare, and I doubt a police officer is even able to issue one.
If you plead guilty at court, and you were not abusive, disruptive or uncooperative at the time AND the value of the fare(s) is relatively small:
Category 3 | Band A fine | Conditional discharge – Band B fine |
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You will almost certainly be fined under Band A conditions.
| Starting Point | Range |
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Fine Band A | 50% of relevant weekly income | 25 – 75% of relevant weekly income |
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So if you earn £500 a week (gross), you will be fined around £250. If you plead guilty straight away, you will receive a discount, making the fine around £175.
(CPS) Prosecution Costs will be about £85-£100 (but no higher than £160 if you plead guilty without trial)
Compensation will be the value of the fare.
Victim Surcharge 10% of the fine or £34 (whatever is the higher amount).
So budget for £500, and you should be good, unless your salary is particularly high. Even with a very high salary you won't be fined more than £1000 (you would have to be earning £2000 a week gross to hit that!)
However you will receive a criminal record, for intentional fare evasion. This is likely to be considered a crime of "dishonesty" for the purposes of certain visas, careers etc.