HAMPSHIRE'S hard-pressed commuters should not have to put up with above-inflation fare rises this year.

That's the message from the Rail Passengers' Committee for Southern England, which has called for any rises to be pegged to the annual cost-of-living increase - currently running at 2.3 per cent.

According to a report published by the committee, peak-hour fares for services to London are already at least twice as high as peak-hour fares in other parts of the country.

A standard peak-day return ticket from Southampton Central to London Waterloo with South West Trains currently costs £42.70, while off-peak is £21.90.

The committee says that there would be a case for "modest" fare rises - but only if improvements are made to existing services.

To raise more money, train companies should crack down on fare cheats, according to the report. Connex, which runs services in east Hampshire and Sussex, calculates that cheats cost it about £30m a year in lost revenue.

The committee adds that train companies should run longer trains and there should be stiffer financial penalties for companies that run trains shorter than they are supposed to be.

The body is also calling for an independent inquiry into the mounting costs of running the railways.

Among its recommendations, the committee is calling for:

Continued regulation of peak-hour fares in conjunction with the present performance-related system.

Extra fares revenue to be ring-fenced for improvements to the service.

Cheap day tickets as well as peak-hour fares to be regulated in the southern region.

Preservation of the London Travelcard.

A compulsory national railcard entitling passengers to discounted travel by train throughout the UK.

Committee chairman Wendy Toms said: "The present regulatory formula governing peak-hour fares is due to be replaced by the Strategic Rail Authority in 2004 and we warmly welcome the fact the SRA has chosen to consult widely before deciding what the new formula will be.

"However, while the SRA's paper correctly points out that London and the south-east commuter fares have gone down on average (after allowing for inflation) by more than train fares elsewhere in the country, it does not make clear that our fares were higher to start with - and still are - despite the average drop in real terms since 1995."