SOUTH West Trains rail fares could rise by the second lowest level in 20 years from the new year.

But passengers, who can expect a 1.1 per cent rise in average fares from January 2, will also be aware that rail fares have risen more than three times faster than wages.

In making the announcement, the Rail Delivery Group points out that this is the smallest annual rise for six years.

Regulated fares, which include season tickets, are capped at no more than July’s Retail Price Index inflation rate of one per cent. Unregulated fares, such as off-peak leisure tickets, can go up by at the train company’s discretion. While the average increase is expected to be 1.1 per cent, South West Trains has yet to confirm its prices.

For commuters using the Alton to London Waterloo line it will mean an increase of £48 on an annual season ticket (including London zones 1-6) to £4,804 and £14 on a three-monthly ticket to £1,383.60.

An anytime day travel card – an unregulated fare – will increase marginally to £44.60 (£36.40 off-peak).

According to the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators and Network Rail, the money made from train fares is now close to the actual daily operating cost of the rail service.

Rail Delivery Group chief executive Paul Plummer said: “This allows government to focus its funding on building a bigger, better network when the railway is becoming increasingly important at driving economic growth, underpinning jobs, and connecting friends and families.”

Commenting on the expected increases on South West Trains’ Alton to London Waterloo service, Alton Line Users’ Association representative Jonathan Riddell said: “While Alton Line Users’ Association accepts that the 1.1 per cent average train fares rise is the smallest since January 2010, we still question the need for this rise when so many costs are going down.

“Rail passengers should be aware that although the 2016 rise for regulated fares is limited to no more than one per cent – July’s rate of Retail Price Index inflation – unregulated fares, such as off-peak leisure tickets, can go up by as much as the train companies wish. Regulated fares only cover about half of all tickets sold but include season tickets and day returns.

“A study by the TUC suggested regulated fare prices jumped 25 per cent between 2010 and 2015, while average pay rose nine per cent over the same period.

“Rather than increasing prices yet again, South West Trains should be looking at how they can improve the very slow services on the Alton line.”

The fares announcement came as the rail franchise announced its intention to improve its timetable from this Sunday.

According to South West Trains managing director Tim Shoveller, the rail franchise operates “one of the busiest networks in Europe, with over half a million passenger journeys every day, and a service arriving and leaving London Waterloo every minute during the busiest morning and evening periods”.

Since 1996, the number of passengers using South West Trains has more than doubled from just over 108 million to roughly 230 million, which means that many passengers are travelling on trains that can be overcrowded, particularly at peak times.

However, a change to the timetable is expected to provide 57,000 extra seats across the suburban network, which will be achieved by doubling the current night service to Hampton Court six days per week, with extra Saturday evening services between Hampton Court and Surbiton, and doubling the number of services on the Hounslow loop on Sunday afternoon and evening.

In addition, passengers will benefit from the introduction of longer trains. Locally, the 7.39am Farnham to London Waterloo service will be increased from eight to 10 carriages, while the 8.44am Alton to Waterloo service will increase from five to eight carriages.

But to help ensure that the timetable continues to provide the maximum capacity for passengers across the network, Alton is to lose out with the reduction from a 12 to 10-carriage train on the 9.53pm out of London Waterloo and the removal of the first-class carriage.

According to Mr Shoveller, South West Trains will be communicating this news to affected passengers extensively between now and Sunday to inform them of the changes.

Stagecoach Group, which operates the South West Trains network, is currently out to consultation on the future of the South Western franchise.

Key to the requirement for Alton Line Users’ Association remains the redoubling to the track between Alton and Farnham to facilitate faster off-peak services; the removal of the mid-day gap in the Alton to Farnham service, caused by the oil trains; improved Sunday services to include faster and longer trains from Alton on the half hour; and the introduction of a late 12.20am service from Waterloo to Alton, as was achieved during the 2012 London Olympics, as well as all off-peak Alton trains stopping at Clapham Junction, and direct Alton to Guildford services, with a new station serving Guildford hospital.

Rail users would also like to see longer ticket office and waiting room opening hours, more waiting shelters provided at all stations, improved parking provision, and a simplified fare structure with more flexible ticketing including period returns and functioning smartcards.

They would also like to see improved integrated transport provision, working with bus companies towards an integrated local transport network, including ticketing, and the introduction of a delay pay system with compensation for delays of more than 30 minutes, including for season ticket holders.