MORE train passengers have come forward to describe how they were charged extra to travel a shorter distance than they were entitled to.

The Northern Echo reported on Monday how Martyn Evans, a Durham University professor, was asked to pay more for his train ticket when he got off one stop early.

Prof Evans returned to the North-East from Birmingham, but elected to get off at Darlington, nearer his home in Hurworth, rather than travel onto Durham.

Because he was not entitled to disembark at Darlington, he was asked to pay an additional £155 – a fee that East Coast later waived.

Other passengers have contacted The Northern Echo with similar stories.

Ahmet Fuat’s wife was due to get a train from Durham to London with East Coast on Tuesday. Because she was late, Dr Fuat took her to Darlington. Staff told his wife she would have to pay an extra £124.

He said: “We can understand if she tried to get on at Newcastle but I think this is a ridiculous rule that needs to be changed.”

Vince Johnson was also late for his train from Newcastle to Birmingham, so went to Darlington en route.

Staff told him he could not get the train. Instead he bought the cheapest ticket from the machine to gain access to the platform and catch it.

East Coast said its pricing and tickets were in line with industry guidelines. It urged passengers to read their terms and conditions before travelling.

A spokesman said it would look sympathetically on passengers who missed their train because they were delayed by other trains.

He added passengers must ensure they were in time for their trains to receive the benefits of the cheaper tickets.

A spokesman for the Association of Train Operating Companies added more flexible tickets were available.

He said: “Hundreds of thousands of people take advantage of cheap advance tickets every week with no problem at all. In return for significantly reduced prices, there are certain conditions which apply which are clearly advertised when the tickets are bought.”

Guy Dangerfield, from the rail consumer watchdog Passenger Focus, said: “It is completely unreasonable for the rail industry to penalise somebody trying to save themselves time rather than avoiding paying more for their ticket.”