Rail fares in England and Wales have increased by 4.9 per cent on average, adding hundreds of pounds onto the cost of travel for regular rail passengers.

The latest increase, which came into effect on Sunday, takes the cost of an Anytime Travelcard from Petersfield to London Waterloo over the £80 mark – and to almost £60 for Alton passengers.

Those buying annual season tickets will also now have to stump up an eye-watering £5,592 if travelling from Petersfield, and £5,272 from Alton. Find out how much your ticket now costs here.

The rise is above the current inflation rate of four per cent and the timing “couldn’t be worse” according to campaign group SWR Watch.

Jeremy Varns, of the South Western Railway watchdog, said: “Many people are struggling in a cost of living crisis, and real wages remain depressed after a period of low growth and high inflation. 

“Those using South Western Railway may also question where their money is going. Hundreds of weekly services are cancelled or formed of fewer carriages than planned, leading to overcrowding and delays.

“Most of the new trains promised for 2019 are still not in service due to numerous technical issues.”

Defending the rises, ministers said the decision was “striking a balance”, with rail revenues still about 20 per cent below pre-pandemic levels and the railway requiring larger-than-usual public subsidy.

However, the increase contrasts with policy in London, where Tube and bus fares will be frozen for another year.