SOUTH West Trains have admitted they are only implementing 20 per cent ticket price hikes from Hampshire stations where it faces no competition.

Thousands of commuters are facing massive increases in ticket fares following a pricing restructure by the rail operator.

From May 20, people wanting to arrive in London between 10am and 12.40pm will see their ticket price soar with the introduction of a third ticket type.

As well as standard tickets, enabling the customer to travel at anytime, there will now also be off-peak and super off-peak tickets.

It will mean anyone wanting to leave Southampton after the peak hour ends at 8.45am, and before the super off-peak starts, at 10.55am, will see their off-peak ticket price rise from £27.20 to £32.60.

That could mean commuters finding an extra £108 per month.

Yet despite South West Trains saying the increases will ensure fewer people travel during their busiest times, the fare rises only affects travellers leaving from stations where South West Trains have no competition.

From Basingstoke or Reading, where the company competes for business with First Great Western, the rises are just one per cent rather than 20 per cent.

Full story in today's Daily Echo.