 Revenue is needed to pay for 'big improvements', the industry says |
Rail fares will rise by well above the inflation rate - almost 9% in some areas - in the New Year. Regulated fares, which are fixed at inflation rate plus 1% and including season tickets and saver tickets, will rise by 3.9% from 2 January.
Unregulated fares, including cheap day returns and some advanced fares, will rise by an average of 4.5%.
Passenger groups said many fares were now at "eye-watering levels" and that companies must show "value for money".
Click here for a list of each train company's fare rises Unregulated fares on GNER's East Coast mainline will see the largest rise with an average of 8.8%.
 |  Our railways are the fastest growing in Europe and operators will continue to introduce new trains, better passenger facilities and improved travel information |
Merseyrail has the smallest rises with both regulated and unregulated fares going up by an average of 2.9%.
The fares were announced on Thursday by the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc).
Director general George Muir said the revenue from fares was needed to pay for "big improvements" being made on the railways.
"Our railways are the fastest growing in Europe and operators will continue to introduce new trains, better passenger facilities and improved travel information," he said.
'Disappointing present'
The rise in regulated fares may be offset for some passengers by discounts for season ticket holders because of the poor performance of companies.
On some routes the discounts will be as much as 10% although most companies will be making 5% discounts.
| The rail industry is going to have to work hard to demonstrate that these rises represent value for money |
The Rail Passengers Council said the "inflation-busting price hikes" were "a disappointing early Christmas present for passengers".
"The rail industry is going to have to work hard to demonstrate that these rises represent value for money," chief executive Anthony Smith said.
Good value rail travel could be found by buying tickets in advance, he added.
"But many walk-on fares are now at eye-watering levels.
"A �202 ticket for return travel between Manchester and London bought on the day means passengers are paying nearly �50 an hour for the privilege of taking the train.
"Just what sort of railway are we creating?"
| RAIL FARE RISES FOR 2006 |
|
| Train company | Average rise %
(regulated fares) | Average rise %
(unregulated fares) |
| Arriva Trains Wales | 3.7 | 5.4 |
| C2c | 3.9 | 4.4 |
| Central Trains | 3.9 | 6.4 |
| Chiltern Railways | 3.9 | 5 |
| First Great Western | 3.9 | 4.5 |
| First Great Western Link | 3.9 | 4.5 |
| First Scotrail | 3.9 | 3.7 |
| Gatwick Express | 3 | 5.6 |
| GNER | 3.9 | 8.8 |
| Great Northern (WAGN) | 3.9 | 5.2 |
| Heathrow Express | N/A | 3.6 |
| Hull Trains | N/A | 5 |
| Island Line | Nil | Nil |
| Merseyrail | 2.9 | 2.9 |
| Midland Mainline | 3.9 | 6 |
| Northern | 3.9 | 3.9 |
| One | 3.8 | 3.5 |
| Silverlink | 3.9 | 6.1 |
| South Eastern Trains | 3.9 | 3 |
| Southern | 3.9 | 3.9 |
| South West Trains | 3.9 | 4.9 |
| Thameslink | 3.9 | 2.9 |
| Trans-Pennine Express | 3.9 | 3.2 |
| Virgin Cross Country | 3.9 | 4.6 |
| Virgin West Coast | 3.9 | 5.9 |
| Wessex Trains | 3.9 | 3.9 |
| Source: Atoc |
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