Rail passengers face fare rises of up to 15 per cent from January, with train companies accused of masking the full extent of the price increases.

Train operators said that fares would go up by an average of 1.1 per cent in the new year.

Regulated fares, which include season tickets, will go down by 0.4 per cent because of the low inflation rate. But many unregulated fares, such as cheap-day returns, will rise considerably. First Great Western is increasing its Swindon-London “super saver single” by 15 per cent, from £20 to £23.

Passenger groups and rail unions accused train companies of masking the high rises by not giving separate figures for unregulated fares. The Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) was also criticised for not publishing — as it usually does — a company-by-company breakdown.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of the rail customer watchdog Passenger Focus, said: “Many unregulated fares will continue to soar above inflation as the average figures published will mask steep rises on individual routes. Let’s have the whole truth, shall we?”

Gerry Doherty, general secretary of TSSA, the transport union, accused Atoc of an “outrageous piece of spin”. He claimed that unregulated fares would rise by an average of 5 per cent.

Virgin Trains said its unregulated fares would rise on average by 2.8 per cent. Standard returns on its West Coast Main Line service will rise by 6 per cent, taking a London-Manchester ticket from £247 to £262. CrossCountry said that its fares would rise on average by 2.7 per cent. Some advance purchase tickets on Arriva Trains Wales will rise by 9.4 per cent.

“Releasing these fare increase figures so that individual travellers cannot work out how much extra they will be paying in January next year is a shabby way to treat passengers,” said Bob Crow, secretary general of the RMT union.

Michael Roberts, Atoc chief executive, said: “We should keep a sense of proportion about what passengers pay.

“How many people would guess that the average price paid for a single train journey comes in at around £5 and that the vast majority of people travel on some form of discounted travel?

“Record performance, better services and value-for-money fares have contributed to the highest number of passengers travelling by rail for 60 years.

“The January fare change means that rail travel continues to be good value for money when compared with cars and planes.”

Times Recommends

• Lies and cover-up at MG Rover exposed by report
• High oil prices push manufacturing costs up
• Primark founder steps down as chief executive