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Travellers are facing an average rail fare rise of 6.2% in the new year, according to industry figures.

Regulated fares, which include season tickets, will go up by an average 5.8% from January. Some of these fares could rise by as much as 10.8%.

Unregulated fares, typically short distance off-peak ones, will rise by more than the 6.2% overall average, but the industry is not giving a figure.

There is no price cap on these so rail firms could raise them by much more.

The Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc), which supplied the figures, said the above-inflation rises were a response to recent government policy changes, which mean passengers having to pay more towards railway investment.

Michael Roberts, chief executive of Atoc, said: "We know times are tough for many people but next year's fare increases will ensure that Britain can continue investing in its railways. Even with these fare increases, the money passengers spend on fares covers only half the cost of running the railways - taxpayers make up the difference. The government is sticking with the previous administration's policy to cut the taxpayers' contribution to the overall cost of running the railways."

Virgin said a London-Manchester standard open return would be rising by 6.5%, while an advance-purchased one-way ticket from London to Manchester would rise by 4.5%.

First Great Western (FGW) said its average fare rise was 6%, with unregulated fares going up by an average of 6.15%.

An FGW anytime return from Plymouth in Devon to Looe in Cornwall goes down 20%, but a Cardiff-Bristol off-peak day return will be rising by 8% and an Oxford-London off-peak return goes up by 7.5%.

On Southeastern, where regulated fares are rising by an average of 7.8%, a Margate-London annual season ticket will be going up by 12.8%. However, those buying off-peak saver return tickets for Margate-London trips will see no increase in January.

The Southern train company said some of its regulated fares would be going up by 7.8%. A Brighton-London season ticket on Southern rises 7.76% in January, going up from ^3,556 to ^3,832, while an Eastbourne-London season ticket increases 7.77%, to ^3,940. Some off-peak Brighton-London day returns will rise 10.18%, to ^24.90, in January.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/nov/23/rail-fares-rise-next-year