Passengers on their Monday morning commute donned cow masks and presented fake tickets today in protest against what they said was a late, overcrowded and expensive train service.

The protesters in the South West were targeting First Great Western (FGW), who they claim runs the most expensive rail routes in Europe. Despite fares rising by up to 10 per cent the demonstrators say they are still treated like cattle.

Last week the company announced that it was doubling compensation pay-outs for late running trains but the protest organisers dismissed the gesture.

“Commuters want a decent service at a fair price instead of increased compensation for some and a continued poor service for all,” said Mark Richardson.

“We have lost patience with FGW and would seriously question their ability and commitment to running a train service.

“They have become the laughing stock of the train industry, and it is now time that Ruth Kelly seriously considers removing their franchise.”

More than 40 commuters, including the comedian Dom Joly, were on fares “strike” this morning marching through barriers at Bath Spa station showing inspectors fake tickets bearing the slogans “Worst Late Western” and “Route To Hell And Back”.

FGW insisted that most passengers who presented false tickets had already bought a genuine ticket, but one angry passenger barged through the barrier and had his details taken by a security guard.

Adrian Ruck, a spokesman for the rail company, admitted that their service had not always been good enough.

“We accept that some services have been unacceptable. . . And we have had considerable dialogue with the public,” he said.

“So far here in Bath, 40 people who have shown their protest tickets to us have already bought tickets so there is no problem.

“We have only had one person who has pushed through the barrier. We will decide whether to prosecute.”

Despite running some of Britain’s least punctual and most overcrowded routes FGW introduced a 10 per cent hike in some fares on January 2. The new price increase was considerably over the rate of inflation and was accompanied by no guarantees of improved service.

Research last week revealed that rail travel is more expensive in Britain than anywhere else in Europe. For £10, a train passenger here can travel 27 miles. In France the same amount would get them 50 miles, almost twice as far. In Latvia, which has Europe’s cheapest railways, passengers could get 383 miles for the same price.

Tony Ambrose, who helped co-ordinate the More Train Less Strain campaign, said: “Support has been tremendous this morning - we feel optimistic that First Great Western will have to start listening.

“The service, particularly in Bath, has been a disgrace.”

The commuters have won support from the biggest railway union, the Rail Maritime and Transport Workers.

Bob Crow, the union’s general secretary, said: “First Great Western passengers have every right to feel short-changed by a company that proves that franchising cannot deliver the railway Britain needs.

“It is our members who have to face the daily anger of commuters who are overcharged and overcrowded by a system that puts profit first.”

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