British train fares to rise next year

Train fares across Britain will rise by an average of 1.1 percent next year, the the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) announced on Friday.

The group said it was the smallest annual rise since January 2010, The Guardian reported.

Although the 2016 rise for regulated fares is limited to no more than 1 percent, unregulated fares, such as off-peak leisure tickets, can go up by as much as the train companies wish.

The average rise for all fares will take effect January 2, 2016.

"We know that nobody likes to pay more to travel by train, especially to get to work, and at 1.1 percent this is the smallest average rise in fares for six years," Paul Plummer, RDG chief executive said.

Plummer said passenger numbers had doubled in the past two decades and money from fares now almost covered the railway's day-to-day operating costs.

"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," he added.