UK train fares will rise by an average of 2.3 per cent from the start of next year, the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) has confirmed.
The increase in prices is the highest since January 2014, when fares rose 2.8 per cent.
“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,” RDG chief executive Paul Plummer said.
“Fares are influenced by government policy, either through government-regulated fares such as season tickets or as a result of the payments train companies make to government,” he added.
The RDG said around 97p in every pound passengers pay goes back into running and improving services.
Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union general secretary Mick Cash said: "This latest fares hike is another kick in the teeth for British passengers and condemns them to continue to pay some of the highest fares in Europe to travel on rammed out and unreliable trains.
"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 an 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."
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