Rail passengers in Oxfordshire are facing above-inflation fare rises in the New Year.

Regulated fares, including season tickets, are due to increase by an average of six per cent from January 2 across the UK.

Unregulated tickets, including most advance fares, will rise by seven per cent on average nationwide, with some fares rising 11 per cent.

The increases are based on July’s inflation figure of five per cent, which has since dropped to 4.2 per cent.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of watchdog Passenger Focus, said: “No fare rises are welcome in the current economic climate.

“Some train companies deserve credit for limiting some unregulated rises. However, rises way above inflation are unjustified and unfair.”

First Great Western’s unregulated fares, including first class tickets will rise, on average, by 6.6 per cent, while passengers on CrossCountry trains serving Oxford and Banbury face unregulated fare increases of, on average, 11 per cent.

Adrian Booth, a spokesman for First Great Western, said: "Many of our industry costs are rising above the rate of inflation, which leaves us little choice but to increase some of our fares. "

FGW passengers travelling with standard season tickets to London Paddington face an increase of 4.4 per cent.