Train ticket price rise set for January

Fares are set to go up by an average 3.4 per cent.

Train fares are set to rise an average 3.4 per cent from January 2.

Paul Plummer, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group which brings together train companies and Network Rail, said: “Government controls increases to almost half of fares, including season tickets, with the rest heavily influenced by the payments train companies make to government.

“Working together, our plan will secure £85billion of additional economic benefits while enabling further investment and improved journeys for customers, better connections to boost local communities and a bright future for our employees.”

The average overall increase covers all national rail fares with effect from January 2 and is below the regulated fares increase of 3.6per cent.

Announced in the Autumn budget, the 26-30 railcard launches today.

The rail delivery group says more than 97 per cent of money from fares goes back into improving and running the railway, and that over the next 18 months services across the country will be transformed with more trains and better services.