Rail fares: Rise labelled 'another kick in teeth' by Shropshire passenger group

The average increase across Britain of 2.3 per cent came into force yesterday morning, although the figure varies between operators, with fares on Virgin Trains East Coast services up by 4.9 per cent.

One of the biggest price rises for passengers was on the line between Ludlow and Hereford.

A season ticket has risen by 1.7 per cent, from £2,100 to £2,136.

The overall rise is the highest since January 2014, when fares increased by 2.8 per cent.

Robert Robinson, secretary of the Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth Rail Passenger Liaison Committee, said: "There is not much that can be said really.

"2.3 per cent is 2.3 per cent, and if it provides a better rail service then so be it.

"It's important to note that it is not a uniform 2.3 per cent rise across the board, and we have not been too badly hit at all here, whereas others have been whacked," he added.

But Lianna Etkind, of the Campaign for Better Transport, said: "The fare rises are another kick in the teeth for long-suffering rail passengers.

"Many experienced a less frequent and more overcrowded service last year, and now they are required to pay more for the same this year.

"The whole fares system is completely unfair and its high time the Government overhauled it."

According to the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents train operators, about 97p in every pound paid by passengers goes back into running and improving services.

RDG chief executive Paul Plummer said money from the increases was helping to sustain investment in train services.

He said: "Nobody wants to pay more to travel to work and at the moment in some places people aren't getting the service they are paying for.

"However, increases to season tickets are set by government.

"Money from fares is helping to sustain investment in the longer, newer trains and more punctual journeys that passengers want."

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: "We are delivering the biggest rail modernisation programme for more than a century, providing more seats and services.

"We have always fairly balanced the cost of this investment between the taxpayer and the passenger."

Labour analysis of ticket costs found that the average commuter is handing over £594 more for a season ticket than when the Conservatives came to power.

The party looked at prices on nearly 200 routes and found that some commuters are paying more than £2,000 more to travel to work than in 2010.

It found the highest increase was a season ticket on Virgin Trains between Birmingham and London Euston, which will cost passengers £2,172 more in 2017 than 2010.

An annual ticket between Tame Bridge Parkway, near Walsall, and Nuneaton will be 43 per cent higher, according to Labour.

Commuters travelling from Brighton to London, who have endured chaotic services on the Southern Rail operated route, will be paying nearly £980 more than in 2010, its research found.

Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald said: "Passengers have faced truly staggering fare rises of more than £2,000 since 2010.

"In some cases, commuters are paying 43 per cent as a direct consequence of decisions made by ministers.

"Fares have risen more than three times faster than wages and passengers on some routes have also been hit by 'stealth fare rises' of up to 162 per cent.

"Passengers were always told that higher fares were necessary to fund investment, but vital projects have been delayed by years and essential maintenance works have been put on hold. The truth is that our heavily fragmented railways mean that it takes years longer and costs much more than it should to deliver basic improvements.

"The railways need reforms that could be implemented if public ownership was extended to passenger services, but ministers are persisting with a failed model for purely ideological reasons."

Anthony Smith, chief executive of independent watchdog Transport Focus, said: "Passengers will be disappointed that fares will rise by 2.3 per cent – higher than the past two years.

"In return passengers will now want to see the industry's investment deliver a more reliable day-to-day railway.

"Many commuters, in London and the South East in particular, have suffered poor performance and will feel anger at paying more and getting less.

"A fares freeze for Southern passengers would help to start rebuild trust following the months of misery they have experienced."