LONDON rail commuters face a £300 rail pass jump next month.

The cost of a 12 month season ticket from Swindon to London Paddington will rise by 3.6 per cent from January next year – above the national average.

The increase - of £304 - takes the cost of 12-month season ticket to £8,740.

Commuters travelling between Swindon and Bristol Temple Meads will see the cost of an annual season ticket jump by £116.

Fares between Swindon and Bath will increase by an average of 3.6 per cent. Annual season ticket holders will pay £96 more next year - with 12 month passes going up to £2,772. 

The price increases will come into force from January 2018. Tickets for next month can be bought online and from station ticket offices from today - December 5.

Rail companies said that the average rise in ticket prices across the country was 3.4 per cent – the biggest price hike since January 2013.

The rise was below the national inflation rate of four per cent and the government regulator’s fare rise cap of 3.6 per cent, the Rail Delivery Group said.

Paul Plummer, chief executive of the umbrella body, which represents Network Rail and the train companies, said: “Alongside investment from the public and private sectors, money from fares is underpinning the partnership railway’s long-term plan to change and improve.

“Working together, our plan will secure £85 billion of additional economic benefits while enabling further investment and improved journeys for customers, better connections to boost local communities and a bright future for our employees."

A spokesman for Great Western Railway said: “The money raised by Government through fares ensures investment in more trains, better stations and faster services. Since 2004 the Government has sought to sustain investment in the railways by reducing the amount that taxpayers contribute and requiring passengers to pay a greater share.

“This investment is already providing new trains on the Great Western; with electric trains operating in London and the Thames Valley and new Intercity Express Trains starting to deliver real benefits for passengers. 

“The New Year will see important timetable changes take place, with GWR’s Electrostar trains extended to operate between London Paddington and Didcot Parkway; and even more IET trains coming into service on key routes, delivering more seats and in time more frequent and quicker journeys.”

However, unions and passengers have reacted angrily to the increases.

Richard Clark, who commutes between Swindon and Bath Spa, told the Adver that the increase was "completely unjustified". 

He said: "Over the past year we've had broken-down trains, signal failure and even the new trains have been cancelled several times over the past few weeks due to breakdowns.

"In addition to that we've had sections of track closed for entire weeks due to electrification, which has resulted in bus journeys or long detours. On many evenings the trains are so full that the only place to stand is in one of the train toilets."

Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT union, said: “These fare increases are another kick in the teeth for British passengers who will still be left paying the highest fares in Europe to travel on rammed-out, unreliable trains where private profit comes before public safety.

“For public sector workers and many others in our communities who have had their pay and benefits capped or frozen by this government these fare increases are another twist of the economic knife while the private train companies are laughing all the way to the bank.”

How will the fare price increase affect you? Let us know: call 01793 501806 or email newsdesk@swindonadvertiser.co.uk.