Commenting on reports that rail fares are to increase at above-inflation levels again in January, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said:

"Passengers are repeatedly being asked to cough up for above-inflation fare increases at a time when they need to be encouraged to use the railways and not the roads.

"With more train operators having to pay a premium to the Government to get a franchise, it seems that the Government is introducing a railway stealth tax.

"Gordon Brown likes to talk green, but this is another example of the environment being put to one side when it is inconvenient. Once again the environmentally-friendly option is becoming the expensive option.

"The Government used to have a fuel duty escalator for motorists and now it has a fare escalator for rail passengers. It needs to come off this escalator immediately."