Campaigners stage protests as commuters are hit by fares increase

The trade-union backed group have organised demonstrations at more than 100 train stations throughout Tuesday, including in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow. Picture: John Devlin

PROTESTS are expected as commuters hit by the annual rise in rail fares return to work from the festive break.

Campaigners Action For Rail have called for a day of action after the average increase across Britain of 2.3 per cent came into force on Monday.

The trade-union backed group have organised demonstrations at more than 100 train stations throughout Tuesday, including in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow.

The rise in fares, which is the highest since January 2014 when they increased by 2.8 per cent, has been criticised by public transport campaigners.

Figures vary between operators, with fares on Virgin Trains East Coast services up by 4.9 per cent.

The increase was branded “another kick in the teeth for long-suffering rail passengers” by Lianna Etkind, of the Campaign for Better Transport.

She said: “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 it’s high time the Government overhauled it.”

The Government uses the previous July’s retail prices index (RPI) measure of inflation to determine increases in regulated fares, which was 1.9 per cent.

These are around 40 per cent of all tickets and include season tickets on most commuter routes and some off-peak return tickets on long distance journeys.