Midland rail passengers will be hit with inflation-busting fare increases coming into effect today.

Consumer watchdogs have warned commuters they will “shudder and shiver” at the hike, which affects both regulated fares, such as annual season tickets, as well as unregulated fares, including off-peak tickets.

The average increase on regulated fares is six per cent, with unregulated fares rising by an average seven per cent – well above the current two per cent rate of inflation.

CrossCountry, which operates services across Birmingham, the Black Country and Warwickshire, has boosted its regulated fares by six per cent and its unregulated tickets by a massive 11 per cent.

Chiltern Railways, which runs services from Birmingham’s Snow Hill and Moor Street to stations across the West Midlands and further afield such as London, will raise its regulated fares by six per cent and unregulated by seven-and-a-half per cent.

East Midlands Trains, which serves parts of Staffordshire, has also risen its regulated prices by six per cent, with its unregulated fares now cost an extra 7.4 per cent.

Virgin Trains, which runs services through Birmingham and the Midlands, including one of the main routes between London and Scotland, has increased regulated fares by six per cent and unregulated tickets by seven per cent.

First Great Western, which has trains running through parts of Worcestershire, has risen regulated fares by six per cent and unregulated tickets by 6.6 per cent.

It’s better news for people travelling on local services run by London Midland, which has not put any increase on unregulated fares, although its regulated fares have risen by the average six per cent.

Anthony Smith, 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.

“Yet again, many long-distance passengers will be pushed into paying higher prices or locking themselves into rigid advance purchases.”

He 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 are allowed to rise.

“Big rises simply cannot be justified in more normal times, let alone the current economic climate,” he added.

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

“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.”