Anger as train fares increase is unveiled

Stephen Joseph, chief executive of the Campaign for Better Transport, called on the Government to do more to protect commuters from rising fares, while Prime Minister David Cameron has also come under fire for the rises being announced two days before Christmas.

In Shropshire passengers will again face rises in the cost of season tickets on all major routes.

But the hikes are considerably lower than last year's fare increases.

A season ticket between Shrewsbury and Chester went up by more than £100 last year – more than a 5.3 per cent increase – but this year will see an increase of £52, a 2.4 per cent increase.

Season tickets from Shrewsbury to Birmingham New Street or London will rise by £64 – 3.1 per cent – after a 4.2 per cent hike last year.

Meanwhile, a season ticket from Ludlow to Hereford rose 5.3 per cent in January 2013 but is going up only two per cent in January.

Train companies are allowed to raise regulated fares by no more than an average of 3.1 per cent, based on the RPI rate of inflation.

But they are also allowed two per cent "flex" meaning some fares could be hiked by up to 5.1 per cent – as long as overall the average is still 3.1 per cent.

Mr Joseph said: "Passengers will see season tickets going up three times faster than their wages. The Government needs to do more to stop the squeeze on commuters and avoid pricing people off the railways.

"We need a permanent end to inflation-busting fare rises calculated using an out-of-date formula.

"The Government should stop using RPI to calculate ticket prices. It over-estimates real inflation so consistently that the Office for National Statistics has dropped it as an official measure."

Shadow transport secretary Mary Creagh said: "It's completely unacceptable that passengers have had to wait until two days before Christmas to find out how much their season tickets will cost in the new year. People deserve timely information to budget effectively."

A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: "The Government understands concerns rail passengers have about the costs of fares and the impact they have on household budgets. That is why next year, for the first time in a decade, regulated fares will not rise on average by more than the rate of inflation, offering relief for families and hardworking people."