Rail companies across Britain have announced that they are increasing their fares next week, prompting calls for government action to protect passengers.

Passengers' groups want ministers to intervene to reform fare regulations to prevent such large increases going ahead.

Some ticket prices are to go up by as much as 10%. Many others are going up by twice the rate of inflation, this is despite agreements which are intended to peg them to the cost of living.

The agreements - drawn up in the wake of rail privatisation 18 months ago - allowed for a performance element that would allow companies achieving high quality service to put up fares by more than inflation.

However, this cannot be claimed by companies such as Connex South Central which is hiking its London to Croydon fares by 10% - although it has a record of poor reliability and service cuts.

Uncapped fares are also going up steeply. Virgin's walk-on Supersaver is to rise by 10%.

On the London Underground ticket prices are increasing by 10% from Sunday.

However, operators can store up increases over the years

Passengers' groups are calling on ministers to intervene to reform fare regulations to prevent such large increases going ahead.
 

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