Rail passengers are not having the best start to the new year.

Yet another inflation-busting increase risks putting rail travel beyond the reach of many working people.

The fare increase has not gone down well with commuters, many of whom feel they are not getting the service they deserve.

To make matters worse, the increases follow a catalogue of complaints over poor services, with anger over cancellations, delays and overcrowding.

It comes as no surprise, therefore, that some passengers are considering taking matters into their own hands, with a ticket boycott.

Let's hope a solution can be reached. And if that means First Great Western backing down over its fare rises, then they will certainly earn the respect of their customers.

In reality, that looks unlikely, however, and all that commuters can really look forward to is shelling out even more hard-earned cash to get to work.