Rail passengers will "shudder and shiver" at the fare rises that take effect from Friday, a customer watchdog body said.

As reported in the Western Daily Press, regulated fares, which include annual season tickets, will be going up by an average of six per cent – well above the inflation.

Unregulated fares, which include off-peak tickets, will be rising even more – by an average of seven per cent.

Passengers using CrossCountry Trains, which operate services through Somerset, Bristol and Gloucestershire, face the highest fare rise, with some unregulated tickets going up an average of 11 per cent.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of rail customer watchdog Passenger Focus, said: "Many passengers will shudder and shiver when they find out the scale of some new-year fare rises.

"Fare rises that hark back to a time of high inflation and spiralling energy costs look very out of kilter today.

"In addition, the perpetual tinkering with ticket restrictions ensure back-door fare rises continue.

"Yet again, many long-distance passengers will be pushed into paying higher prices for tickets or locking themselves into rigid advance- purchase one-train-only fares."

Passenger Focus called on the Government and train companies to agree to help beleaguered passengers by halting any further excessive fare rises, and immediately limiting the range within which regulated fares were allowed to rise.

Stephen Joseph, executive director of Campaign for Better Transport, said: "Rail is the low-carbon way to travel but passengers are being priced off with above-inflation fare increases.

"At a time of recession, these increases are making life difficult for hard-working families. The Government's policy is to reduce its investment in the railways and make passengers pay more.

"Instead, it should invest more, regulate fares so they don't rise above inflation and make it easy for people to reduce their carbon footprint."