Starting today, some rail traveler can face a sharp rise of up-to 15% in ticket prices, despite the fact that operators and chiefs have been insisting that there have been average rises of just 1.1%.

There are some regulated fares, like season tickets, which will be 0.4% cheaper than before as these are directly related to the rate of inflation.

Rail firms, however, were last night accused of "highway robbery" as various unregulated tickets, which are inclusive of most off-peak trips, will record substantial rise in prices. A London-Swindon supersaver ticket, for example, is going to hike by 15% in price to 23 Pounds.

"UK train fares are already 20% higher than the European average, so the Government needs to make serious cuts to make taking the train affordable", said Cat Hobbs of the Campaign for Better Transport.

The price rise has been blamed by the rail union on privatization. "Privatization has resulted in sky-high fares for passengers. The private companies will do their best to make sure customers can never find easily the cheapest way to travel, because if they do their profits go down", said TSSA rail union Chief Gerry Doherty.