OUR story on Monday about the experiences of train passenger Martyn Evans 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 made similar complaints. The wife of Darlington GP Ahmet 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 farther south, in Darlington.

East Coast has argued that this is all in line with industry guidelines, and urged passengers to read their terms and conditions before travelling.

We do not question the fact that it is standard practice in the rail industry.

We just happen to believe that it is a standard practice that is a nonsense.

We would understand passengers being charged extra if they stayed on a train for longer than they were entitled to. But why on earth should they pay more 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.

Standard practice it may be and the railway companies may be well within their legal rights.

But it is a policy which leaves ordinary law-abiding people – not faredodgers – shaking their heads in bafflement.

It needs to be changed.