MAJOR changes to train ticket rules will be rolled out next month in a bid to stop fare dodgers.
The new conditions for refunding tickets will come into effect on April 1.
From April, passengers will be unable to get a refund on Off-Peak and Anytime train tickets after 11:59pm the day before travel.
This means travellers who change their plans last minute will not be able to get their money back.
Rail bosses said that the new rule was to clamp down on fraud that has cost the network around £40million a year.
They said fare dodgers had been claiming refunds on tickets that were not scanned through barriers, even if they made the journey.
The current rules allow ticket holders to get refunds of up to 28 days after the day of travel, if the ticket has not been used.
But this leaves many travellers who might have to cancel their train journey a day before, due to illnesses or cancelled events, with no opportunity of a refund.
Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said: “Deliberate fare dodging has no place on our railways.
“It drains much-needed revenue and undercuts the trust of passengers who play by the rules.
“Changing refund rules will help stamp out fraud, keeping money in the railway – which will ensure we can deliver an improved railway with passengers at its heart.”