CAMPAIGNERS say South West Trains have introduced higher weekend travel fares by the backdoor, without consulting passengers.

The increase means that fares have been hiked by up to 27 per cent for an ‘anytime’ journey.

Jeremy Varns, who regularly travels across the SWT network for work, told The Herald: “The company is the only commuter operator to premium price its weekend offering having introduced a new pricing tier and fare structure where previously super off-peak fares applied all day. Passengers arriving on trains towards London before midday on Saturday and Sunday and those travelling back before 6.30pm in the evenings are hit with the new surcharge.”

Mr Varns, who campaigns on behalf of passengers via a group Twitter account, South West Trains Watch @swtrains_watch, said:“Just based on two examples, these changes represent a backdoor fare increase of up to 27 per cent which has not been reported by the company.”

He added that to matters worse, many passengers had to travel earlier due to slower rail replacement bus services, resulting in many more people paying the extra charges.

“Passengers have been arriving at stations over the weekend and have had to pay these increased fares having not had the opportunity to change travel plans.”

One example of fare increases is: Haslemere – Woking anytime fare at weekends is now £13, a 27 per cent increase. The same fare in 2016 was £10.20

Journeys at any other time of the day qualify for a ‘super off-peak’ fare, a new initiative introduced this year.

The train company put up most fares again on January 2 this year, staying that regulated fare increases were in line with government limits.

A spokesman for South West Trains said that average fare increases across its network were 1.5 per cent.

“This is significantly lower than the July inflation of 1.9 per cent, which is used by the government to set all regulated fares, and is also below the average national increase,” she said.

“Passengers who travel at the weekend will have a wider choice as we will be making more cheaper tickets available on Saturdays and Sundays. The changes we are making will mean cheaper travel to destinations outside London and across the South West Trains network.

“For the very small number of passengers who want flexibility to travel at any time of the day at weekends, we will continue to offer discounted off-peak tickets.”

Mr Varns added: “I am frankly appalled at the level of these massive back-door fare hikes.

“We were promised cheaper ticket prices when the railways were privatised more than 20 years ago but fares have continued to spiral out of control.

“It’s bad enough that regulated fares have risen by more than wages over many years but we are now seeing unregulated fares increased, in many cases, to within a matter of a few pence of regulated ‘peak’ fares.”

Mr Varns believes this has led to more passengers avoiding off-peak travel.

“It is putting a greater burden on already full and standing rush-hour services,” he said.