THE cost of flexible rail fares should be capped by ministers to prevent train companies charging "absurdly high" ticket prices, MPs said today.

Britain's main train companies have been lambasted by the powerful Commons transport select committee for having a "see how much we can get away with attitude".

Current sky-high fares are putting the "thumbscrews" on passengers who have no option but use open tickets at peak times.

This can restrict where people live and work damaging economic growth, the report said.

The committee wants the Government to regulate the prices of all fares, introduce the same simplified fares system across the entire rail network and cap the cost of open tickets.

Currently half of all fares mainly commuter and saver tickers are regulated by the government.

The reports follows comments earlier this year from Bath MP Don Foster who said that that tickets between Bristol and London, via Swindon, can be among the most expensive in Europe.

An open return on First Great Western from Swindon to the capital costs £79.

Passengers can get cheaper tickets by booking in advance or travelling off-peak.

A survey by a national watchdog earlier this year revealed that more than half the passengers who travel on First Great Western trains believe that fares are too expensive.

Only 48 per cent of the train operator's customers considered they were getting value for money from the cost of train travel.

Today's report states that high walk-on fares bring train operating companies into "disrepute".

It urges the Government which invests £87m a week in the railways to "flex its muscles" over fares.

This includes beefing up the powers of the Office of Rail Regulation to clamp down on companies with exorbitant ticket prices.

Gwyneth Dunwoody MP, chairman of the transport committee, said: "The Government has taken its eye off the ball over the past decade, allowing free rein for train operating companies to focus ruthlessly on maximising their revenues.

"The result is an impenetrable fares system and exorbitant prices for walk-on travel."

In Britain, the number of miles people can travel by train for £10 based on average fares is 25.

This compares with 86 in Holland, 174 in Italy and a staggering 328 in Slovakia.

The average fare in Britain per 100 miles is £40. This compares with £11.90 in France, £5.75 in Italy and just £3.05 in Slovakia.

First Great Western said it was for the Association of Train Operating Companies to comment on the issue. ATOC said it would not say anything until the report was officially released.