'Frustrated' rail customers pay more for worse service

TRAIN fares in England and Wales yesterday rose by around 4.6%, while railcards become more expensive despite record low reliability of services.

- Callum Hoare

Public transport campaigners warned the price increase will "pile further misery on hard-pressed households" as many commuters will have to pay hundreds of pounds more per year for travel.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander acknowledged that "passengers are frustrated".

The Government set the cap of 4.6% for England's rises in regulated fares, such as season tickets on most commuter journeys, some off-peak return tickets on long-distance routes and flexible tickets for travel around major cities.