TRAIN companies are “holding passengers to ransom” by charging “exorbitant” fares and forcing them to negotiate an “impenetrable jungle” of ticket types, according to a damning new report from the Commons transport committee.

The MPs want the government to legislate to ensure people get a better deal. They argue that the fact that rail travellers on the Continent pay much less for tickets proves that train companies here are overcharging.

It is already possible to get cheap train tickets, though, if you know where to look and when to buy, so we’ve put together a guide for passengers.

One of the main gripes raised by the transport committee was the “absurdly high” cost of open tickets bought on the day of travel.

A standard open return ticket for immediate travel from London to Manchester costs £202 — enough to fly you from London to Spain and back with Ryanair seven times, taxes included. A first-class fare for the same journey is £311.

The train companies argue that customers can avoid paying these astronomical prices by buying their tickets in advance.

However, the National Rail Fares manual includes details of more than 70 ticket types and research from Passenger Focus, a consumer watchdog, reveals that most people find it hard to seek out the best deals from the huge variety of advance, saver and super- advance fares.

Jane Cobell of Passenger Focus said: “Fewer than half of rail travellers believe they are getting value for money, according to our national passenger survey. And the majority find the fare structure confusing.”

One of the main problems is that train companies offer only a limited number of cheap advance fares, and there is no guarantee when — or even if — they will issue these.

Cobell said: “Train companies generally release cheap tickets up to nine weeks prior to the date of travel, but are not obliged to do so. Consequently, you could look at the company’s website one day and find they have not yet been issued, and then check a few days later and find that they have all gone.”

This is not the case in Europe, where passengers searching for travel on a certain date can sign up for an e-mail reminder when the tickets come on sale. Passenger Focus would like to see the European ticketing system introduced here. It does, however, point out that things are improving.

Cobell said: “The companies are getting better at releasing tickets early. And a number of firms, including Virgin, GNER and First Great Western have also promised to simplify their ticketing systems.”

The advance deals available are also getting cheaper. Midland Mainline currently offers London to Derby for just £6 — if you buy nine weeks in advance subject to availability — and GNER and Virgin also offer some very low fares.

You could, for example, cut the £222 cost of a GNER standard peak open return between London and Glasgow to £13.50 on the way up and £20.50 on the way back by buying eight weeks in advance.

The internet is the best place to compare all the different fares on offer. Many of the best deals are available only on single journeys — often making two singles a cheaper option than a return ticket.

Cobell said: “A passenger contacted us recently to say that she travelled from London to Manchester with a single ticket for £8 on the way up and £10 on the return with Virgin. She booked that three weeks in advance, but I would advise starting to look on the internet up to nine weeks before travelling to get the cheapest fare.”

While websites such as nationalrail.co.uk and thetrainline.com are a useful way to view all the times and fares available, they do not always display the cheapest tickets. Cobell recommends checking individual firms’ sites to see if you can get a cheaper fare direct.

For commuters, many of whom have to put up with overcrowding as well as high fares, the best option is to buy a season ticket. The savings on annual tickets generally mean you are paying for 40 weeks of rail travel rather than 52.

Another option if you make frequent train journeys is to join a loyalty scheme. Virgin, for example, runs Traveller, which offers members free first-class travel at weekends.

There is no fee, but you must make at least eight first-class return trips or 16 single journeys within a three-month period. Your membership is then valid for 12 months.

Frequent Eurostar travellers can also save money by joining one of the company’s two loyalty schemes. With both, a fare of less than £52 earns 25 points, while tickets costing more than £500 equate to 400 points. A standard single ticket to Paris costs 450 points. See www.eurostar.com for more details.

TIPS ON GETTING THE BEST DEAL

If you are a commuter who has to travel at peak times, invest in a season ticket. Annual season-ticket holders pay for 40 weeks of travel, rather than 52. Inquire about season-ticket discounts when buying your pass.