The passengers' watchdog praises the decision to install barriers

Rail operator First Great Western says it was missing out on around �15m annually.

It was estimated that 20% of passengers travelling between Bristol Temple Meads and Chippenham went free.

Now the Swindon-based company has spent millions on installing automatic ticket barriers at of all its main line stations.

The action has been praised in the Rail Passengers' Committee's latest annual report.

Main line

It says the money saved from tackling the fare dodgers is now being spent on improving facilities for fare-paying passengers.

Gerald Taylor of First Great Western said: "We are further enhancing our revenue detection on trains and we are introducing random barrier checks on our west of England routes as well, so we are determined to stamp it out."

The company also receives praise from the passenger watchdog group over its improvement in main line services during the last six months.