Rail Fares To Rise By 4.1% In January 2014 Rail fares will rise by an average of 4.1% after the latest RPI inflation figure was revealed. Campaigners have been protesting at 50 train stations against the rise of fares compared with average earnings. Train companies raise average regulated fares, such as season tickets, by one percentage point on top of July's RPI inflation figure, today revealed as 3.1%. However, unregulated fares set by individual train companies could rise by more than 4.1%. Campaigners claim fares have risen three times faster than wages in the last six years. The next price hike will be the sixth time in seven years that rail fares have outstripped wages, they say. Between 2008 and next January rail fares will have jumped by 40%, compared with a 15% increase in average earnings, it is claimed. The Trade Union Congress (TUC) warned some tickets could rise by 9%, against forecasts of a 2.4% increase in average earnings next year. It said rail privatisation was costing taxpayers £1.2bn a year despite "minimal" investment in trains and stations. Shadow Transport Secretary Maria Eagle told Sky News that some train companies were "fiddling" the fare cap. Campaigners protested at King's Cross and other stations A 4.1% average increase, yes, but up to 9.1% because the current government gave back to train companies the power to increase some fares by an extra 5% on top (of RPI). "The first thing they could and should do is put a stop to that," said Ms Eagle. She added: "The important thing is to make sure affordability of fares is at the top of our list of things to get right." The TUC and the Action For Rail campaign group have organised a series of demonstrations at stations including Birmingham New Street, Bristol Temple Meads, Glasgow Central, Manchester Piccadilly, Newcastle Central and London's Paddington and Victoria. Stephen Joseph, chief executive of Campaign For Better Transport, said: "Getting to work is now the biggest single monthly outgoing for many commuters - more than food, more than housing. For the sake of the economy, we should end above-inflation fare increases now and start planning for fare reductions. Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said nobody liked paying more for fares but the Government was investing heavily in the railways. Nobody likes to see rail fares go up. I don't like to see it and passengers don't like to see it," he said. We are massively investing in the railways, with £130m being spent here at Nottingham, £800m at Reading and £600m at Birmingham. Running the railways is a very expensive business. Regulated fares went up by 4.2% in January 2013, lower than initial plans for a hike of 6.2%. The Government backed down from allowing a rise of 3% on top of RPI in the face of fierce opposition from passengers.