COMMUTERS have hit out at a train operator for failing to tackle rogue motorists parking their cars at Orpington railway station.

The ticket barrier at the station car park has been faulty for three months but is only occasionally manned to check people's permits.

Orpington resident Christina O'Halloran, 44, who has a car park season-permit costing £99 for four months, is furious people have been parking their cars for free.

She said: "It's wrong Connex expects money from season ticket holders but is not making any real attempts to recover lost revenue.

"One of the guards told me they are losing £2,000 a week from people using the car park without permits.

"If they are losing money this year, then they will raise the cost of the permits next year to cover the deficit."

There is no requirement for commuters to display permits in their cars, so fraudsters can only be caught when the barrier is manned. Fines for not buying tickets are £25.

A spokesman for Connex said: "There are times when the barrier is not physically manned.

"People who pay for the car park are the honest ones."

Connex estimates £30m is lost each year though ticket fraud on its trains and at its car parks.