Rail passengers in Sussex will be given on-the-spot fines if they are found without a ticket.

Fare dodgers using South Central trains across Sussex will face a minimum £10 penalty when the fines come into force in January.

If their ticket would have cost more than £10, they will be ordered to pay its full value as well as a single fare to the next stop.

The scheme will be policed by a team of revenue protection officers, who will patrol trains asking to see tickets.

If passengers do not have the cash to pay the fine their name and address will be taken.

Conductors will not be able to demand fines but will hand passengers warning notices informing them they could be caught by a revenue protection officer.

Passengers who buy tickets from conductors on trains will still have to pay the full value of the ticket, as is currently the case.

About 40 smaller stations within the South Central area, which do not have ticket machines or ticket booths, will be exempt.

The scheme, which will affect commuters to London, has received a mixed reaction.

Wendy Toms, chairman of the Rail Passengers' Committee for Southern England, said: "We always welcome initiatives which encourage people to buy tickets, as the passengers who do pay deservedly resent those who do not.

"But there must be facilities for buying tickets at stations if regulations like this are brought into force.

"It seems that by excluding some stations, passengers will be easily confused about where they should and should not be paying.

"If there are not adequate facilities at all stations, this scheme should not be introduced."

One conductor has contacted The Argus to express concern about the changes.

The man, who does not wish to be named, said: "It will surely lead to even more staff assaults, causing more time off work, causing even greater staff shortages, causing even more disruption."

South Central said passengers would be given adequate time to adjust to the changes and would have 21 days to appeal against a fine.

A spokesman said: "We will be launching a poster and leaflet campaign to make sure passengers know exactly what's going on. We will make sure everyone knows the rules."

Connex South Eastern has operated a fining system on its trains since 1997.

Thameslink also fines passengers but a spokesman for the train operator said inspectors were encouraged to use their discretion and judge each case on its merits.

South West Trains only operates the system within the Greater London area and was yesterday unable to confirm whether or not it would be extended into Sussex.