You reported that the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) was satisfied that the forthcoming increase in rail fares was acceptable (December 6). Smugly self-satisfied, it seems.

Many months ago I contacted a local train company over a seemingly simple matter to do with fares and tickets. Rail tickets typically have printed on them such words as “Saver”, “Supersaver” or “Off-Peak”. Fair enough you might think. Except when it comes to using them.

None of these tickets has any discernible information as to when the tickets are actually valid, other than the date. Or sometimes it might state “Not via London”, for example.

That can cause problems because the rules about when they are valid are complexity writ large. Except that such complexity, instead of being written on the ticket, remains within the minds and computers of the rail companies and their online booking systems. It gets even more complicated if the train journey involves travelling via London.

I have often seen people surcharged huge sums of money because they inadvertently fell foul of the literally unwritten rules. Yes, there are some passengers who try it on, but like the myths about benefit fraud, they are very probably in the minority.

I contacted First Great Western (FGW) Trains to suggest that the travel time restrictions be printed on tickets, instead of meaningless terms such as Saver. After all, the airlines have done this for decades. Their printed tickets are typically larger than the usual rail ticket but a little ingenuity could solve that problem. Both types of ticket are printed to order so there is no excuse for not accessing the most up to date information from the computerised database at time of issue.

Anyway, FGW told me that it was out of its hands to alter the content of a printed ticket. I was told that was a matter for the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) and for that to be discussed by all train operators.

I asked ATOC. I was told that it was a really important issue. I asked when it would be discussed. I was told there was no way to tell. I kept asking, from time to time - same response - delay and lack of information.

Some people, no doubt of a suspicious nature, might be led to believe that all this is in the interests of train companies, their bosses and their bonuses that this state of affairs continue.

The term monopolistic behaviour comes to mind. If they really cared about passengers they would do something about it.

Imagine this scenario. You are flying across the Atlantic Ocean. A member of the aircraft’s cabin crew comes along. “I’m sorry but your ticket is not valid on this journey. That will be another £123.56”.

I doubt that would ever happen. So why on our trains? And why does the patchwork quilt of companies and quangos allow it?

Swindon, for example, already suffers from having some of the highest train fares in the United Kingdom. It lies just outside the Network South East travel zone, in which real savings are possible for very many journeys. That is another matter.

It is high time that the plethora of train companies, the RDG, ATOC, Passenger Focus, government and others put an end to this smug rip-off. Or else there should be an investigation into the rail travel ‘market’.

Geraint Day Southampton Street Swindon