TRAIN passengers who want to return from London in the evening peak hours can dodge the new restrictions by buying a ticket to Redhill, it has just emerged.

The loophole was discovered by watchdog London Travelwatch, which is campaigning against operating company First Capital Connect's introduction of evening restrictions for cheap day returns.

Since the rules changed in June, passengers travelling from St Albans to London after 9.30am but returning between 4.30pm and 7.01pm have seen their fares almost double from £7.90 for a cheap day return to £14.50 for a standard ticket.

But with a £10 cheap day return to Redhill in Surrey, London Travelwatch has discovered, they can come back whenever they like.

Chairman Brian Cooke said: "We advise passengers to use this method in order to pay significantly less for their journeys.

"The fact that First Capital Connect didn't pick this anomaly up merely highlights how chaotic and unthought-out these restrictions were."

The watchdog is also asking why the evening peak period stops at 7.01pm rather than 7.00pm, suggesting there may be anti-competitive collusion with other train companies.

The extra minute does not affect any First Capital Connect Services, but there is a Midland Mainline departure at 7.00pm that passengers could catch to Luton Airport.

London Travelwatch has asked the Rail Regulator to investigate whether there has been any anti-competitive collusion by the companies.

A spokesman for First Capital Connect, which argues the evening restriction is necessary to reduce overcrowding, said there were many anomalies in the fare structure, and the company would consider removing the one relating to St Albans and Redhill.

She denied there had been any collusion with other companies, but said the 7.01pm time had been set by the Office of Train Operating Companies, which by law co-ordinated all proposed changes to prices and timetables.

A published timetable which London Travelwatch argued made misleading statements about the issue has been withdrawn and will be re-issued with the offending passage reworded.