Train fares will go up by more than twice the inflation rate in biggest price hike for three years
Train companies can hike unregulated fares, such as off-peak leisure tickets, by as much as they like
TRAIN fares in Britain will be hiked by an average of 2.3 per cent from January.
The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators and Network Rail, announced the increase this morning.
The increase covers both regulated fares, which includes season tickets, and unregulated fares, such as off-peak leisure tickets.
A rise in regulated fares has already been capped at July's Retail Prices Index inflation rate of 1.9 per cent.
Train companies can hike unregulated fares, such as off-peak leisure tickets, by as much as they like.
The news of an increase comes as Southern Rail today announced that thousands of passengers will be paid a month's travel as compensation for "extraordinary" delays.
A passenger with a Brighton to London annual season ticket will get £371 back under the plans.
Lianna Etkind of the Campaign for Better Transport raised concerns that passengers are "finding themselves priced off the railways".
She said: "The train operating companies and the government need to work closely together to provide fairer, simpler and cheaper fares making sure people are always sold the cheapest ticket available.
"Between 1995 and 2016 passengers have seen average fares increase by 23.5 per cent and much more needs to be done by train operators and the government to give them a truly affordable railway."
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"Once again the rip-off private train companies are laughing all the way to the bank as they whack up fares and axe staff in all-out dash to maximise their profits.
"This culture of private greed on Britain's railways has to stop and RMT will step up the fight for a publicly-owned railway where services and safety are the priority, not corporate profits."
Paul Plummer, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, said: ""We understand how passengers feel when fares go up, and we know that in some places they haven't always got the service they pay for.
"Around 97p in every pound passengers pay goes back into running and improving services."
England, Scotland and Wales will be affected by the price hike. Northern Ireland is treated separately.
The price hike will see 7-day commuter tickets from Reading to London, which costs £106, rise by £2.50.
Other commuters could see their yearly ticket go up by as much as £225.40.
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