Rail passengers will be hit by fare rises of up to 15%

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Even fares regulated by the Government will go up by an inflation-busting average of nearly five per cent.

The price rises were greeted with dismay by consumer groups, MPs and rail unions.

They say passengers are not getting value for money on overcrowded trains and that the increases will damage efforts to encourage commuters to use public transport.

The industry body the Association of Train Operating Companies is expected to make an announcement on the price rises soon before they are implemented in early January.

Under a formula agreed with the Government, regulated fares will rise by the retail price index measure of inflation for July - 3.8 per cent - plus another one per cent.

However, some unregulated fares will go up by much more.

For instance, passengers on Southeastern trains to London from Hayes in Kent face a 14.9 per cent rise on their weekly rail-only season tickets, from £24.80 to £28.50.

The cost of standard day returns, monthly, yearly and off-peak tickets will also rise, in many cases by twice inflation.

Anthony Smith, of the consumer group Passenger Focus, said: "Passengers will be shocked. They will be wondering where this extra money is going and what it's for."

Tory transport spokesman Theresa Villiers said: "The Government are pushing up train fares in a bid to price people off the railways and disguise their own glaring failure to provide extra rail capacity."

The Association of Train Operating Companies said the rises would help improve services.