On Monday, The Northern Echo carried a story about the experience of train passenger Martyn Evans which has become a national talking point.

Professor Evans, of Durham University, was charged an additional £155 after he bought a ticket from Birmingham to Durham but opted to get off a stop early in Darlington. The charge was waived after The Northern Echo highlighted his case.

Now, other North-East passengers have come forward with similar tales of woe. The wife of Darlington GP Ahmed Fuat was charged an extra £124 after she bought a ticket from Durham to London but had the audacity to catch the train a stop further south in Darlington.

East Coast says this is in line with industry guidelines and urged passengers to read the terms and conditions on their tickets.

I have no doubt that it is standard practice in the rail industry. I just happen to believe it is a standard practice that is a nonsense.

It would be entirely understandable if passengers were charged more for staying on a train longer than they were entitled to. But why on earth should they pay extra for freeing up a seat half an hour earlier than they had paid for.

We charge people 45p for reading this newspaper - but imagine if we asked them to pay again for not reading every page.

It may be standard practice but it leaves ordinary law-abiding people (not fare dodgers) shaking their heads in bafflement.

It needs to be changed.