THE average fare rise in January will be 2.2 per cent, the Rail Delivery Group has said. The RDG's figure has been released as the details of individual fares become available from train operators today, and follows confirmation in the Government's Autumn Statement earlier this week that regulated fares will increase by 2.5 per cent.

Regulated fares include season tickets, Anytime fares around major cities and long-distance Savers. Train companies have more control over other fares, including off-peak journeys on city networks, Advance fares and First Class travel.

The figure of 2.5 per cent applies in England from 2 January, although the Welsh Government is expected to follow suit. Scottish peak fares will rise by 2.5 per cent, but off-peak fares north of the border will be frozen again for the second year running.

Some English operators have also announced partial freezes. Southeastern said its 'super off peak' fares will not rise in the New Year and will be extended to more routes, including its High Speed services to St Pancras International. As a result, the cost of a return off peak journey between Margate and London will fall by 32 per cent, from £32.90 to £22.40.

Southeastern is also introducing Advance fares for the first time. Southeastern managing director David Staham said: "We know that customers want more value for money and an improvement to their service – and we’re committed to providing just that. More than 250,000 people rely on our trains for their journeys every day and we’re investing fares directly in schemes that will make those journeys easier for our passengers.

"These include extra seats on some services, providing more staff to help passengers at stations and on trains, refreshing the look of our fleet of trains and improving stations.”

Meanwhile East Midlands Trains confirmed that its fares will rise by an average of 1.3 per cent, with the cost of an average journey rising by 17 pence. The company added that it was freezing all Advance fares, Anytime fares to London and station car park charges.

The Government has relented over fare increases over the past few years by regularly reducing predicted rises of RPI + 3 per cent, which were never implemented in practice.

But campaigners remain critical, pointing out that railway fares have risen in real terms over the past decade. When asked if fares could fall in future years, RDG director general Michael Roberts replied: "That's a matter for the Government."

Labour shadow transport secretary Lillian Greenwood said: “David Cameron has failed to stand up for everyday working people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, allowing the cost of some season tickets to rise by over 30 per cent since 2010 - forcing people to pay thousands of pounds more to sit or stand on increasingly overcrowded trains.

“Out-of-touch Ministers might talk about 'comfortable commuting', but passengers on the morning commute know the reality of this Government's incompetence. The collapse of franchising in 2012 cost over £50 million, and millions more has been lost through reduced premium payments. That money could have been used to address the cost of living crisis, but now passengers are paying the price instead."