Rail passengers will face big fare rises in the new year with some tickets going up by more than double the rate of inflation.
Regulated fares, which include season tickets, are rising by an average of 6% from January 2 2009.
Unregulated fares, which include most leisure and advanced-fare tickets, will be rising by an average of 7%, with some fares going up by an average of more than 11%.
Regulated fares are based on a set formula which limits increases to 1% above retail price index (RPI) inflation.
The bad news for train travellers is that the fares for a new calendar year are always set at whatever the RPI figure was the previous July.
This year's July RPI was 5% - a figure which has now dropped, too late for commuters, to 4.2%.
Announcing the rises, the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) said the increased revenue would help pay for major investment to improve the railways and deliver better value for taxpayers in line with Government policy to reduce subsidy to the railway by 40% between 2006/07 and 2013/14.
Atoc said train operators were currently carrying out work worth more than £800 million to introduce new trains, refurbish existing fleets and improve stations.
It added that these measures would benefit passengers through more reliable and comfortable journeys, improved station facilities (including more car and cycle parking) and better personal security.
Fare revenues and Government grants would also help fund the multi-billion pound investment programme to increase network capacity which starts in 2009.
