Commuters are set for more rail misery as it is confirmed that train fares will increase in March.
The Department for Transport has set a cap of 5.9 per cent for increases to fares regulated by the Government, such as season tickets on most commuter journeys, some off-peak return tickets on long distance journeys and flexible tickets for travel around major cities.
It comes following in which passengers have been plagued by regular disruption and cancellations of services due to rail strikes led by the RMT union.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said he was capping the rise below inflation, describing the increase 'a fair balance' between passengers and taxpayers.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper pictured arriving in Downing Street for a Cabinet meeting earlier this month
Commuters wait for trains at Kings Cross Station, London, last week amid rail chaos caused by strikes
He added: 'This is the biggest-ever Government intervention in rail fares. I'm capping the rise well below inflation to help reduce the impact on passengers.
'It has been a difficult year and the impact of inflation is being felt across the UK economy. We do not want to add to the problem.
'This is a fair balance between the passengers who use our trains and the taxpayers who help pay for them.'
Train operators set unregulated fares, although their decisions are heavily influenced by the Government due to contracts introduced because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Prior to the pandemic, the Department for Transport increased fares at the beginning of each year based on on the Retail Price Index measure of inflation from the previous July.
July's RPI figure was 12.3 per cent, but rail fares will rise by 5.9 per cent in March.
The highest price cap has been six per cent in 2009 and 2012.
The Government is also freezing prices for January and February to allow commuters to purchase tickets at existing rates.
Labour's shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said: 'This savage fare hike will be a sick joke for millions reliant on crumbling services. People up and down this country are paying the price for 12 years of Tory failure.'
David Sidebottom, director at watchdog Transport Focus, added: "No one likes prices going up. In our latest research, less than half of passengers think the railway currently performs well on delivering value for money tickets.
'After months of unreliable services and strike disruption, it's clear that too many passengers are not getting a value for money service.
'Capping fares below inflation and the delay until March is welcome and will go some way to easing the pain, but the need for reform of fares and ticketing in the longer-term must not be forgotten.'
It comes as industrial action by rail union workers is also set to cripple the UK's train network, with some services set to stop running from Friday despite national strikes not starting until Christmas Eve.
Rail workers will walk out of their jobs from December 24 to 29 over demands for inflation-busting pay rises and promises over working conditions.
The AA is predicting widespread disruption on the roads, with 20million car trips set to take place in the run-up to Christmas Day amid walkouts on the railways.
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