COMMUTERS face more misery as rail fares increase by an average of more than three per cent across Britain.

The latest annual rise in train fares has seen prices rise 3.4 per cent from last year.

This has been met with frustration by passenger groups and rail campaigners who say they are being asked to pay more for a ‘poorer’ service.

They claim the 3.4 per cent average increase is unfair because it has been introduced amid a freeze on fuel duty and is outpacing earnings.

A 12-month season ticket from Blackburn to Manchester has increased by £44, from £1,820 to £1,864.

The fare increases come just days before further train union RMT strikes against Northern over proposed changes to the future role of conductors, which will take place next week on January 8, 10 and 12.

Rail commuters said the increases in fare prices were ‘shocking’ and should come in line with wage increases.

UCLan student Danny Bradley, 25, lives in Blackburn and spends up to £50 a week on travel from Blackburn to Preston for his studies.

He said: “The fare increases are stupid. It should not go up and it’s actually becoming cheaper to get the bus.

“Blackburn is a predominantly working class area and it’s unfair the prices keep going up.

“They should pay to go on them with the state of the trains and the delays we have to endure.”

“My grandad used to ride these cattle trains, why are we still? It’s not fair.”

Chris Gibbons, who lives in Manchester and made his first-ever trip on the Blackburn to Manchester line yesterday, said: “I paid a £10 return from Manchester Victoria today which I was quite shocked about.

“The fare increases should really come when there is a growth in wages.”

“The trains you travel on are awful and like being on a normal bus.”

Blackburn MP Kate Hollern said: “This increase is outrageous.

“Passengers in East Lancashire have been asked to pay more for a poorer service which leaves them unable to get to their places of work in time.

“Every day there are delays and cancellations and it’s simply not good enough.”

Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry, who is also the Northern Powerhouse minister, said: “We have seen record investment in the line between Blackburn and Manchester and a massive investment to services provided by Northern Rail.“Fare increases are related to inflation and not controlled by the Government and while I agree it seems a lot that 12-month season ticket fares are going up by £44 I’m hopeful inflation will start slowing down next year.”

Mark Carne, chief executive of Network Rail, which manages Britain’s rail infrastructure, said: “We all share the objective of wanting to keep fares as low as possible.“I’m not responsible for setting fares. My job is to make sure that the money we are given is spent as efficiently as possible and on the best possible projects.”