Research by Which? has revealed some train companies are charging peak fares for travel well outside the rush hour.
For example, operators Virgin and East Coast start charging peak fares from 3pm.
East Coast's evening peak lasts for four hours, from 2.47pm until 6.59pm.
The research by Which? also revealed railway staff are failing to recommend the cheapest tickets to passengers.
Two in three station clerks didn't tell Which? researchers the cheapest fare for their journey.
www.which.co.uk