Commuters in Sussex have dodged the worst of increased rail fares next year.

Rail operator Southern has announced commuters will only see a 1.2 per cent price rise in season ticket fares on journeys from Brighton or Arundel to London.

The rise is below the operator's average of 4.8 per cent on regulated fares including season tickets and unregulated fares such as travelcards.

But the average increase is higher than last year's rise of 4.7 per cent on unregulated and 4.3 per cent on regulated fares.

Travel costs will not change for standard travelcards to London from Brighton, Hove, Eastbourne or Worthing.

When the new fares come into force on January 2 the cost of a travelcard for people travelling from Hastings to London will also decrease to £39.40.

Commuters travelling from Horsham to London, however, must brace themselves for an above-inflation increase of 3.1 per cent on season tickets.

The standard single between Gatwick and London Victoria will increase by £2 but will remain £6 cheaper than taking the Gatwick Express.

Commuters living in Brighton accepted the price rise but appealed for better services.

Mia Soar, 27, of Alfred Road, Brighton, who commutes to London Bridge every day, said: "Perhaps the operators could spend this money on comfortable seats, clean trains and proper tables."

Shelley Atlas, the chairwoman of Brighton Line Commuters Association, which covers Eastbourne and Worthing, said: "Obviously, no-one every likes prices going up regardless of what percentage it is.

"I think passengers would like to have more of an insight into where this extra money is spent. Then they might see how it will improve the situation.

"If you've got crowded trains then one would hope the idea of rises would make the services better in that respect.

"The services are fairly good but I do think there are issues for certain trains which are shorter than we think they could be. Perhaps more money should be invested in that."

Brighton and Hove City Council's cabinet member for highways and transport, Geoffrey Theobald, echoed this view.

He said: "I don't think commuters from Brighton and Hove have much alternative but to keep going on the train and the train companies need to be mindful of this. They have a monopoly.

"We need to make sure this increase results in a better service, more seats and more trains because the number of people commuting from Brighton and Hove will only get higher."

Fares in some areas of the country will rocket by up to 14 per cent.

Southern said its fares reflected the national average.