Off-peak rail travellers will suffer 15% rise in new year ticket prices

Rail passengers today faced massive hikes in ticket prices, some as high as 15 per cent, it was revealed today.

The increases, which come into force in January, will hit tens of thousands of commuters who travel outside of the peak hours.

The fares, announced today by Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc), went up an average of 1.1 per cent, the lowest rise since rail privatisation in the mid-1990s. The average off-peak fare will go up by five per cent.

The low average is because many peak fares are being frozen or falling slightly as a result of the recession.

Complex laws mean companies can increase peak fares only by one per cent above July's inflation figure. As that was negative, companies have had to freeze or cut those fares, which will affect about 400,000 commuters.

However, companies can, and will, seek to cover losses with higher increases for off-peak travellers.

One of the worst affected tickets is believed to be a £20 super-saver fare (First Great Western) from Swindon to London, which goes up to £23. Off-peak fares on South Eastern will go up by 7.2 per cent and on Southern, which includes the Brighton line into Victoria, by four per cent.

Experts attacked rail bosses for trying to hide the massive increases. Instead of listing fares levied by each operator — as in the past — Atoc simply said fares would rise by 1.1 per cent on average.

Atoc chief executive Michael Roberts said passengers should keep a "sense of proportion" about what they pay.

But Gerry Doherty, of the TSSA union, said some advance purchase tickets were rising by up to 15 per cent.