Hard-pressed commuters will fork out more on their rail fares next year after industry-wide price increases.

All types of tickets will increase in cost by an average of 2.2% and season tickets will increase by 2.5% from January 2. The increase is well above inflation and in excess of most annual pay rises.

Announcing the rise, rail industry body the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) said the money from fares helped maintain the railways and would benefit passengers and the economy.

Chris Barnard, who commutes daily from Brighton to Battersea Park, said: “When I started commuting to London two years ago a monthly ticket was about £300. In two years it’s gone up by almost £50 a month. Pay rises at work don’t equal that and it’s an extortionate rate to be paying, especially in the winter months when there are so many problems with the lines and delays.”

As well as a 2.5% season ticket increase, Southern Rail said all its prices would increase by 2.1%. It means a season ticket from Brighton to London Victoria will increase from £3,972 to £4,068.

The RDG said the average rise for all fares was the lowest for five years. RDG director general Michael Roberts said: “Money from fares goes towards running and maintaining the railway.

“This benefits not just passengers and businesses but communities across the country by improving journeys, creating employment and helping to boost the economy.”

Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association rail union leader Manuel Cortes said: “It is time to stop this annual persecution of passengers with year-on-year hikes in fares.

“We have seen fares jump by as much as 245% on key routes since privatisation 20 years ago.”

Mick Cash, general secretary of The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers union, said: “The scandal of Britain’s great rail fares rip off is that today’s hike is far outstripping average pay increases and it will once again hit those at the sharp end of the austerity clampdown the hardest.”

Southern Rail said it had “great news” for customers, however, by announcing its cheapest £5 advance fare would remain frozen for the eighth consecutive year.

Southern’s commercial director Alex Foulds said: “Gatwick Express passengers will also benefit as we are freezing many non-season ticket fares on the route.”

Last month The Argus reported how Southern and Network rail highlighted 30 points of improvements needed across the network.

It came after a report showed 79.8% of Southern’s trains made it to their final destination on time in October – down from 84.8% the year before.