Ticket prices go up an average 3.4 per cent from today sparking anger and frustration among passenger groups and rail campaigners.

Some commuters have faced annual season ticket hikes of more than £100.

They claim the increase is unfair as it comes amid a freeze on fuel duty and outpaces earnings.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of independent watchdog Transport Focus, said: "As many passengers return from their festive break, rail fare rises will bite as wages continue to stagnate.

"Satisfaction with value for money varies widely. Annual season ticket commuters in London and the South East are among the least content."

London mayor Sadiq Khan said: "It is simply not right that millions of rail passengers face eye-watering fare hikes today after suffering 12 months of delays, cancellations and disruption.

"Commuters have been hit with fare increases of around 5.5 per cent in the last two years while their cost of living also continues to rise.

"It's time for the Government and private rail companies to step up and give the passengers the service they deserve at a price they deserve."

Mr Khan has pledged to freeze all bus and tram fares and single pay-as-you-go fares on Tube services until 2020.

Bruce Williamson, spokesman for campaign group Railfuture, said: "Fuel duty for motorists has been frozen for seven years now, but not rail fares, which have risen by more than 30 per cent in that same period.

"The Government is showing undeniable bias against the rail traveller and driving people on to our ever more congested and polluted roads.

"Fares are rising faster than most people's wages so they are taking a larger slice of their income."

Alex Hayman, director of public markets at consumer group Which?, said: "This price rise is yet more bad news for passengers, many of whom have just come to the end of yet another year of cancellations, delays, overcrowding and poor service from train companies.

"For passengers to genuinely feel they are getting value for money, they must be able to find the best ticket for their journey, cheaper fares must not be hidden and compensation must be paid where it is owed."

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union have been handing out chocolates to passengers in a bid to "sweeten the bitter pill" of the price increase.

Train operating companies set the prices of other tickets but are bound by competition rules.

It is normally lower than RPI and is used by the Government to set increases in benefits and pensions.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "We are investing in the biggest modernisation of our railways since the Victorian times to improve services for passengers - providing faster and better, more comfortable trains with extra seats.

"This includes the first trains running though London on the Crossrail project, an entirely new Thameslink rail service and continuing work on the transformative Great North Rail Project.

"We keep fare prices under constant review and the price rises for this year are capped in line with inflation, with 97p out of every £1 paid going back into the railway."