DISGRUNTLED commuters launched a protest against rail fares outside one of the capital’s busiest stations.

Prices rose an average of 3.1 per cent yesterday, despite punctuality running at a 13-year low.

The protest was led by Brighton resident Summer Dean, 26, who is a member of the Association of British Commuters.

She said: “Fares have gone up by 3.1 per cent, that’s following major disruption we have seen across the country.

“It seems to be more and more disruptive every day but fares go up and up. It’s the passengers that are paying the price for disruption. It doesn’t work for us, it’s all about profit.”

About 50 people gathered outside Kings Cross station in London from 7.30am yesterday to protest against the rises, holding flags and banners calling for an end to privatisation and a freeze on rail fares.

The cost of many rail season tickets rose by more than £100 due to the annual price hike. This year’s rise is higher than last year’s, which was 2.6 per cent.

Anger has steadily grown after a year of disruptions and cancellations to timetables including on the Thameslink and Northern Networks. The setbacks led to rail punctuality hitting a 13-year low.

Clutching signs that said “happy new fare rise”, two union representatives from the RMT wore face masks of Theresa May and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, and clutched wads of cash as they posed for pictures.

They also chanted a song which called the MP “failing Grayling” and asking him to “cut the fares not the jobs”.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn commented on the price rises, calling them a “disgrace” in a video message.

Mr Grayling told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: “The reality is the fare increases are higher than they should be because the unions demand – with threats of national strikes, but they don’t get them – higher pay rises than anybody else.

“Typical pay rises are more than three per cent and that’s what drives the increases.”

Govia Thameslink Railway is the operating company responsible for the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern rail services.

A spokesman said: “Fares on Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Gatwick Express will rise by an average of 2.97 per cent which is less than the rate of inflation and less than the national average.

“We appreciate that many of our passengers have had a difficult year.

“Thameslink and Great Northern services are back on track and on December 10 we introduced 200 extra services to complete the rollout of the May timetable.

“We thank passengers for their patience.”