Published 25 Dec 2012 12:00 
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LONG suffering rail users face another price hike to begin the New Year with fares rising from next Wednesday by an average of 4.2%.
The cost of an annual season ticket from Reading to Paddington rises from 3,800 to 3,960 from Wednesday, January 2. It comes in the wake of a 6.2% increase last year and means commuters who include tube travel in their package will be paying 4,704 for their annual season ticket.
The 4.2% increase compares with the national inflation rate of 2.7%. It is the 10th consecutive, above-inflation annual increase and by 2015 it is forecast British rail fares will have risen 24% since 2011 - making them the most expensive in Europe.
Rail bosses defend the increase on the grounds that it helps to fund improvements to the network, including the revamp of Reading Station and its approaches.
Tim Shoveller, managing director of the Network Rail Alliance, said: "Railway funding can only come from the taxpayer or from the passenger. The Government's policy remains that a bigger share must come from people who use the train.
"We know that nobody likes paying more for their travel, especially to get to work. That's why we are working hard with the rest of the rail industry to make the system more cost-efficient and help take the pressure off future fare rises."
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