Fares are expected to rise in 2005

Train companies are promising an increase of 320 passenger trains a day bringing the total to 19,411.

While passenger groups broadly welcome the changes, they have also expressed concern that many commuters will find their regular trains no longer exist.

The changes are part of an EU-wide standardisation of train timetables.

The new arrangements are intended to bring more frequent services to most lines at times of highest demand.

Once again passengers are being asked to pay more before their services have got dramatically better Anthony Smith Rail Passengers' Council

The Association of Train Operating Companies said extra services would give more choice to passengers.

And Anthony Smith, director of the Rail Passengers Council, said Christmas had come early for some passengers.

He said: "There will be quicker services or more frequent trains on some routes.

"But there's a stone in the snowball for those passengers who are going to find that their regular train is no longer running or that their fast train now stops at more stations."

He said these scenarios could lead to more overcrowding on already busy trains.

And he added that rail fares are likely to rise in January, saying: "Once again passengers are being asked to pay more before their services have got dramatically better."

The timetable would usually come out in September but new EU regulations mean the UK has to introduce new timetables at the same time as the rest of Europe.

There will now be one annual timetable change instead of the usual two.

They are effectively holding our customers to ransom Jamie Burles, Midland Mainline sales and marketing director Rail pay dispute talks break down

Some of the biggest alterations will be on South West Trains, which operates from London's Waterloo station.

The company says its current timetable is nearly 40 years old, and since it was introduced populations and travel patterns have changed.

It has re-scheduled all of its 1,635 trains.

"The result is a timetable as closely in tune with the travel needs of passengers as possible," said Peter Brooks, Timetable Development Manager.

Changes from Sunday will include:

• Chiltern Railways - Services doubled between Marylebone and Birmingham, journey time 10 minutes shorter.

• First Great Western - More seats and a new semi-fast service between London and Reading.

• First ScotRail - New service between Hamilton and Glasgow.

• One - More trains between Norwich and London, direct off-peak services between Lowestoft and London, direct services between Peterborough and London, more trains between Ipswich and Cambridge and more direct trains between Harwich and London.

• Northern - New Northern franchise begins, merging First Great Northern and Arriva Trains Northern. Extra, faster services between Sheffield and Leeds calling at principal stations only.

• South West Trains - Additional 12 trains into London Waterloo every morning during peak period, new hourly service between Waterloo and Yeovil Junction, more frequent services from Fleet and Farnborough.

• TransPennine - Half-hourly service between York and Manchester Airport, more trains between York and Manchester Piccadilly, hourly service between Newcastle and Manchester.

• Wessex Trains - More carriages on the Portsmouth-Cardiff route, new services between Bristol and Great Malvern.