A group of influential MPs has criticised the practice of cheaper train fares being available online.

A report published by the Commons’ committee on public accounts describes the fact that passengers need to have internet access to benefit from the cheaper fares as “unacceptable”.

The publication looks the Department of Transport’s (DfT) performance since taking over from the Strategic Rail Authority, the service to rail passengers, and how taxpayers’ interests are protected.

MPs praised the letting of rail franchises and but said the government had failed to measure the impact or rising car parking charges, complex fare structures and overcrowding.

Commenting on the fare systems, committee chairman Edward Leigh said: “It is unacceptable that you have to have access to the internet to get the cheapest fares.

“Those without such access, without time to search or who travel at short notice are stuck with paying through the nose. Fare structures should be easy to understand and the cheapest fare for a journey should be publicised and readily available at station ticket offices.”

Mr Leigh said the DfT should also hold train operators to their contract terms, even though revenues are likely to fall for the companies due to the economic downturn. To counter the problem, the department should develop robust contingency plans to keep train services running if a number of train operators fail financially, he added.

Today’s report also said the government’s plans to add a total of 1,300 additional rail carriages to operator fleets across 16 rail franchises will stabilise, but not significantly reduce, the crowding that many rail passengers continue to experience.