True stories from the Great Railway Disaster No 99: so it's cheaper to go via Amsterdam? Amsterdam?

John Williams of Carmarthenshire went to buy tickets for his wife to travel to the Netherlands to see her parents and discovered a bizarre anomaly.

Normally, travel on the early train from Swansea to London costs the full fare of pounds 90 return because no Apex or other cheap reductions are available. What Williams discovered was that a return to anywhere in the Netherlands cost pounds 79 return and entitled his wife to take the early morning trains.

He said: "The lesson is simple. If you want to catch the early morning service from Swansea to London, do not buy a ticket for London. Buy one for Groningen, Emmen or Amsterdam."

"The Independent on Sunday's Great British Railway Disaster", which includes more than 60 items from this column, has just been published by Ian Allan at pounds 5 99. If you have difficulty obtaining a copy, send a cheque or postal order, or Visa/Access authorisation, to: The Great British Railway Disaster, Ian Allan Ltd, Coombelands House, Coombelands Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 1HY. (Tel: 01932 855909 ex 235/236).