'SAVE US FROM 12% FARES RISE AGONY'

HEAT ON MINISTERS TO ACT OVER FEARS OF BIGGEST RAIL INCREASE SINCE PRIVATISATION

- David Bond

MINISTERS faced growing pressure today to spare London commuters from the threat of the biggest rise in rail fares in a generation.

With inflation soaring to a new 40-year high last month, campaigners fear next year's hike in regulated fares for regular rail users could be the biggest since the railways were privatised in 1996.

The latest potential blow to passengers came as services across the network recovered following yesterday's strike by around 40,000 rail workers, which reduced timetables to 20 per cent of normal services.

Although talks between the RMT and Network Rail over the dispute were set to resume today there was little sign of a breakthrough, with ministers hardening their rhetoric on introducing new laws to crack down on industrial action. More strikes are planned for this weekend and next month and London Underground workers are also set walk out on August 19.

The Government must now decide next year's regulated fare increase, which is typically pegged to July's retail prices index measure of inflation. ONS figures released last week showed RPI hit an eye-watering 11.8 per cent in June with economists and campaigners expecting it to rise higher next month and later this year. Economists have warned that the new figure could hit 12 per cent.