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Major discrepancies in rail fares - TICKET RIP OFF

City commuters living in Billericay and Wickford are forking out more for their rail season tickets than Southend passengers.

The bizarre fact is one of a string of discrepancies uncovered in the ticketing policy being used by the area's train companies in the new price listings.

Commuters buying their annual season ticket from Southend Victoria can expect to part with £ 2,980 - while commuters travelling from Wickford will pay £ 3,200 for a shorter journey.

Gill Casswell of rail company ONE, pointed out that they were trying to attract customers from rival company c2c with this policy, despite the fact that the two companies are owned by National Express.

However, the discrepancies are not limited to the ONE network. c2c also has irregularities in its ticket pricing policy.

According to National Rail Enquiries, travelling from Basildon to Upminster on a standard single (off peak) will cost you £ 3.90 each way, but only if you but the ticket at Basildon.

If you buy your ticket from Upminster, however, and travel in the other direction from Upminster to Basildon and back at the same time of day,  it will cost only £ 3.50.

But c2c spokesman, Graeme Bashford, defended the company's policy, saying that the fares reflect the greater demand to travel towards London.

He added; 'For a number of years the single fares have been more expensive because going to wards London has less capacity.'

Pauline Cridland of the Thurrock Rail Users Group, said the fare discrepancies are 'disgraceful'. She added: 'I don't see how c2c can warrant charging different fares and I don't believe passengers travelling into London should have to pay more than passengers travelling in the reverse direction.

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