Millions of rail passengers are being overcharged because rail companies are hiding the cheapest tickets for two thirds of cross-country routes.
An analysis of 50 cross-country routes on nationalrail.co.uk, which sells tickets on behalf of train operators, found customers can save up to £85 by buying single tickets along the same route of their journey.
An investigation by The Times found long-distance journeys can cost more than twice as much as the cumulative price of shorter "split ticket" fares.
Passengers are entitled to split their ticket at any station along their route at which the train stops and are not required to leave the train.
Rail minister Paul Maynard said rail companies must offer an urgent plan to make the system more transparent.
Mr Maynard told The Times: “Rail passengers should always be able to get the best deal and the industry must work harder to make this a reality.
“Train operators have made some improvements and passengers are benefiting from better on-screen information at some stations. But there has got to be improvement right across the network.
"I will be raising this with the rail delivery group that represents all train operating companies as a priority. Passengers deserve better.”
Louise Ellman, chairwoman of the Commons transport select committee, told the paper: “It’s clear that passengers are being left confused and — at worst — are paying a lot more than they need to for their tickets.”
