'The next stop will cost you money'

Some passengers will be forced to change at Reading

Rail passengers could be fined for getting off trains at Oxford - even if they have a ticket.

Virgin Trains is making some services pick-up only at the station from May.

Rail managers hope the unusual ban will help trains run on time and ease overcrowding in the rush hour.

But passenger groups have criticised the move, which forces those on affected services to change at Reading to get to Oxford.

'It's bizarre'

From the 18 May, three afternoon services between Bournemouth and the north of England and Scotland will call at Oxford to let passengers on, but not off.

Passengers wanting to go to Oxford can get on the train but will have to get off it at Reading to change to a later service while the train itself carries on to Oxford to pick up passengers.

Shaun O'Neill from the Rail Passengers Committee for Western England said: "I understand the intention but I think it's bizarre.

"I think it's going to be very confusing to people and very difficult to enforce."

Virgin spokesman David Ewart said: "We find that the overcrowding situation, as well as being uncomfortable for customers, is impacting on the reliability of our timetable."