Commuters were delighted when their train company issued a leaflet advertising a new service linking two towns.
First Great Western sent out the map showing a direct line between Falmouth and Redruth - a development that would help to ease travel problems in Cornwall.
There was only one problem - the line does not exist.
Now the firm - dubbed Worst Late Western by angry passengers - has been forced to apologise after it sent out thousands of the pamphlets as part of a cheap-fares promotion.
Bosses noticed the mistake only after customers began enquiring when the new service would start.
To add to their embarrassment, it was revealed that any passengers wanting to make the nine-mile trip via existing rail connections would have to change in Truro - a journey of 23 miles.
Julia Goldsworthy, Liberal Democrat MP for Falmouth and Camborne, said: "First Great Western does not have a good reputation and to issue misleading information about its services at the start of the summer is unhelpful. The only direct link between the two towns is by bus, so this is just rubbing salt in the wound."
The fictional rail connection is another embarrassment for Britain's worst-performing train operator, which carries 22million passengers a year.
Last year it topped the national league for overcrowding, fare rises and delays.
A First Great Western spokesman said: "We apologise for the error. A correct version is on our website."
