TRAIN operators in the south have been accused of overcharging passengers by “hiding” the cheapest fares for many routes.

Commuters travelling from Southampton and elsewhere can make massive savings by buying a different ticket for each leg of their journey instead of paying a single fare.

Dubbed “split-ticketing”, the system allows rail users to slash the cost of long-distance journeys.

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But operators stand accused of failing tell passengers about the cheaper fares, with critics claiming commuters are “simply sold the ticket they ask for”.

Dennis Fryer, co-ordinator of the South Hampshire Rail Users’ Group, claimed that travellers were being ripped off. Mr Fryer, of Totton, said: “I’ve used split-ticketing for about ten years and must have saved hundreds of pounds – but I only came across it by an accident.

“Split-ticketing should be an option on train company websites – and they should tell you where you can split your ticket.”

Surveys have found that passengers in the south and other parts of the UK can achieve savings of up to 87-per-cent.

The normal cost of a return journey on Great Western Railway trains from Southampton to Bristol Temple Meads is £187.

But passengers can cut the cost of their journey by more than £100 – a saving of 68-per-cent – by splitting their ticket at Basingstoke and Didcot Parkway.

Split-ticketing can also reduce the price of a return journey from Brockenhurst to London.

Buying return tickets from Brockenhurst to Winchester – and Winchester to London – can cut the cost of the £89.50 journey by £10.

Now rail minister Paul Maynard is calling for rail companies to make the ticketing system more transparent.

It comes as UK commuters brace themselves for a 1.9-per-cent increase in train fares, which are already among the highest in Europe.

Last night Railfuture, an independent organisation campaigning for better rail services, accused the government and train operators of hiding the split-ticketing system.

Spokesman Bruce Williamson said: “Passengers shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to find these hidden savings, which can be considerable. It’s unfair that those in the know can obtain cheaper fares than other passengers who pay the full amount.”

The Campaign for Better Transport claims that unsuspecting commuters are being overcharged.

A spokesman said: “When they buy a ticket they should be offered the cheapest option available, including the chance to split their ticket, but that doesn’t always happen.”

Commuters and transport bosses in the Southampton area are also calling for changes to the system.

Rail user John Everitt, area manager for a hospitality event agency, said: “Split-ticketing has saved me hundreds of pounds I would have otherwise have spent on full-price tickets.

“Rail companies should be more open and show how passengers can save money.”

Royston Smith, Tory MP for Southampton Itchen, pictured left, added: “Passengers are being charged more than they need to pay.

“But I think some of the critics are being a tad disingenuous. Train operators are not going out of their way to publicise split-ticketing, which is not the same thing as hiding it.”

A spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group, which represents South West Trains and other operators, denied that the split-ticketing system was being concealed from commuters.

But he added: “We know there’s more we can do to make it simpler and easier for people to get the right ticket for their journey.

“We want to work with government and passenger groups to reform the rules and regulations that govern rail fares, and improve our retailing systems.

“Train companies offer a wide range of good value fares and discounts which are attracting record numbers of people to the railway.”

A Department for Transport spokesman said: “We are working with train operating companies to consider how to provide wider access to rail fares data in a way that allows private sector companies to offer fares information innovatively while protecting passengers from buying invalid tickets.”

The Office of Road and Rail added: “We believe that passengers should have clear and simple information to enable them to buy the right ticket for their journey.

“They can often save money by purchasing tickets in advance, travelling off-peak or splitting the journey into separate parts.

“But before they travel passengers should understand that there may be specific terms and conditions applicable to cheaper fares or they could end up paying more.”

Hampshire Chronicle:

OUR reporter Richard Percival, pictured above,  asked to buy the cheapest ticket to London from staff at Southampton Central railway station.

He inquired how much it would cost to go to London Waterloo the following day at 8am only to be told it would cost around £80.20.

He then asked whether it would be possible to get there any cheaper, to which the response was "no it wasn’t".

The member of staff said: “No I’m afraid not, sorry, I don’t control the prices I’m afraid.”

In fact on further investigation the same ticket could be brought for only £67.70, approximately 15.6 per cent cheaper by buying two individual tickets and splitting the journey.

The first ticket from Southampton Central to Woking would cost £47.00 and the other from Woking to London Waterloo for £20.70, both anytime returns.

As long as the train stops at Woking then the tickets are valid.