CHARGES for rail passengers in Oxfordshire are going up at a number of station car parks.

The company announced yesterday it is to increase charges at some station car parks by an average of 19p per day, the first rise for five years.

But those parking at the 488-space long-stay car park in Becket Street, Oxford, from December 11 will pay less - £9 to £6.50 - only when you pay at the ticket office.

The price will remain the same when people pay on their phones from the car park.

Mr Davis added: "We have reviewed our pricing across the network and want to attract people to the rail network - this will ensure the car park in Oxford remains competitive."

At Didcot's Foxhall Road car park the daily charge will increase from £6.20 to £6.50.

And at Kingham and Charlbury there will be an increase from £3.80 a day to £4 a day.

Oxford-based public transport expert Hugh Jaeger said: "It looks like the reduction at Oxford has been introduced as a result of other car park operators undercutting GWR in the city centre.

"There is a need for extra spaces at station like Charlbury and Hanborough and the increase in charges will help to fund some new spaces and keep security up to scratch.

"More should be done to find a way to encourage car sharing among passengers - maybe via an app."

At Radley charges will increase from £3 to £3.20 and at Hanborough from £3 to £3.20, where a car park extension is about to be opened.

The company said the average 5.5 per cent increase would support investment, including an extra 2,000 parking spaces throughout the network by 2019.

There will also be additional automatic number plate recognition and updated credit card and pay-and-display machines.

GWR managing director Mark Hopwood said: "While I understand that no one wishes to pay more, this price increase will help our rail users take advantage of railway-provided parking, and will enable further car parking facilities where they are most needed across the GWR network."

In 2015/16 GWR invested £405,000 to install ANPR in 15 locations.

The latest announcement came after it emerged last week that planned electrification of the railway between Oxford and Didcot is to be delayed.

Transport minister Paul Maynard said electrification between Oxford and Didcot Parkway was one of four electrification schemes that were being 'deferred' although no timeframe has been given for when the work will take place.

Great Western Railway spokesman James Davis said earlier the company was determined that its passengers should see improvements by 2019, including the replacement of Intercity 125 high speed trains with Hitachi Intercity express trains, and 9,000 extra seats on trains across the network, including on trains running between Oxford and London Paddington.

The firm's plans for electrification – including the tracks between Oxford and Didcot – were reported to have risen in cost from £1.6bn to as much as £2.8bn in just one year.