RAIL chiefs have come under fire this week for increasing fares despite continuing disruption and poor service.

The attack follows news that South West Trains is among 17 companies in the South East bent on changing the rules for using network rail cards.

Introduced in 1986 to encourage travel outside the rush hour, the card currently costs £20 a year but entitles the holder to one-third off any off-peak journey made in the region.

However, with the launch of the summer timetable on June 2, card holders travelling on a weekday will only be able to get the reduction on fares of £10 or more.

According to Alton Line UsersÕ Association chairman Chris Campbell, this will mean that those undertaking journeys of less than around 45 miles will lose out.

ÒThis announcement couldnÕt have come at a worse time. When you consider what passengers have been through during the past 18 months it is complete madness. We need to encourage people back on to the railway not turn them away,Ó said Mr Campbell.

According to one report, the change will mean that, from June 2, a return fare from Woking to London which currently costs £4 with a network card will cost £7.60 and a £12 fare, which would currently be reduced to £8, would cost £10.

An Association of Train Operators Committee (ATOC) decision, the new condition will apply only to adult tickets purchased after 10 am Monday to Friday. There will be no £10 restriction on weekend or bank holidays and child discounts will remain as is.

Director of commercial services for ATOC Philip Benham said: ÒThe train companies have thought long and hard on the issue before coming to this decision but the card, which offers further discounts on tickets which are already discounted, is losing between £5 and £10 million and year and encourages travel in the peak.Ó

Rail companies are said to believe that passengers are using the card to get to work and to obtain further reductions on off-peak fares and cheap day returns which are already sold at a discount.

But local commuters believe it is a way of increasing fares and that it is a precursor by the rail companies to remove the card altogether.

One commuter, who does not wish to be named, told The Herald: ÒI think they want to withdraw the card but havenÕt got the guts to do it. This way they will deter people from buying it.Ó

The news comes at a time when SWT is seeking to recover from recent strike action, which following talks between the two sides, has now been called off for good.