Couple fined for getting off train too early

A couple have told how they were fined £114 for getting off a train too early. Emma Clark and her fiancé Davyd Winter-Bates were travelling home to Southampton, Hants, from London when they decided to alight two stops early at Eastleigh. However, they were shocked when they handed over their tickets and were told they had to pay a penalty for not staying on the train until their destination.

They were each fined £57 by the rail operator South West Trains – twice the cost of a standard fare of £28.50. Miss Clark, a 22-year-old art student from Bishopstoke, Hants, said: “It is utter madness. I could understand being fined if I had stayed on the train two stops beyond my destination.” The train company said the couple incurred the fines because they were using discounted tickets, which were not valid for travel to Eastleigh.



The pair had bought the single tickets for £6 online and were not aware of the conditions. A South West Trains spokesman said: "The customers in this case booked a journey from London Waterloo to Southampton through the megatrain.com website. Megatrain.com does not offer journeys or fares from London to Eastleigh. It is made very clear in the terms and conditions of travel that leaving the train at an intermediate station is not permitted on these heavily discounted tickets.

"As with any service offered by any company, it is important passengers comply with the terms and conditions. This particular journey is provided on a South West Trains service. It took place in a penalty fare zone, where anyone travelling without a valid ticket is liable to pay £20 or double the full standard single fare, whichever is greater. In this case, the tickets were not valid for travel to Eastleigh. The cost of the full standard single fare from London to Eastleigh is £28.50, resulting in a penalty fare of £57 for each passenger."