UK’s rip-off railways’

working for passengers, not just train companies, then value for money needs to be a key part of the upcoming Government review and passengers must receive automatic compensation for delays and cancellations.”

Transport Salaried Staffs Association general secretary, Manuel Cortes, said it was “annual kick-in-theteeth time”.

Reacting to the rail fares announcement, he said: “New year rail fare rises are more reliable in Tory Britain than the weather or our beleaguered rail services.

“Passengers deserve a break from this annual, legalised, privatised rail rip-off.

“As commuters pack into their overcrowded trains again today they will be at a loss to understand why this Government thinks it’s OK to carry on having chunky fare hikes dumped on them.

“After a year of serious systemic disruption as the privatisation model falls apart, a fare freeze would have been appropriate, but once again hard-pressed commuters are being milked like cash cows into paying more money for less service – less seats, less staff and too often these days no trains at all.”

Shadow transport secretary, Andy McDonald, said 2018 had been “a painful year for rail passengers”.

“These increases show a Government and rail industry out of touch with passenger concerns,” he said.