RAIL users in Farnham and local passenger groups have reacted angrily to an announcement that train fares are likely to increase by around 6.2 per cent in January.

Although an increase in the regulated fares allowed by the Government was anticipated, the size of the hike has come as a shock to many, with an unexpected rise in the inflation rate apparently to blame.

South West Trains (SWT), which runs the Alton to Waterloo line through Farnham, says it will not make a decision on next year's fares until the autumn, but a dramatic increase is likely following the announcement.

The average hike of 6.2 per cent is three percentage points above the RPI inflation rate of 3.2 per cent, which SWT says is evidence that the Government is passing the burden of transport subsidies onto rail users.

For full story, see this week's Farnham Herald.