Train fares in the UK will increase by an average of 2.8 per cent next year.

This is according to the Rail Delivery Group after operators announced their prices for 2014.

While customers may argue against additional costs, the organisation notes companies typically only keep 3p for every £1 spent. The majority of the income goes to investing into the rail network (26 per cent), paying staff (25 per cent) and maintenance for both trains and track (22 per cent).

Many of these new fares come after the chancellor George Osborne's announcement on December 5th, where he limited prices to staying in line with July's retail prices index (RPI). It previously entitled businesses to one per cent above RPI.

Director general of the Rail Delivery Group Michael Roberts said: "The lowest increase across all fares for four years shows the industry's determination to maintain the phenomenal growth in rail travel since the mid-1990s."

According to the BBC, Virgin Trains has one of the biggest increases declared so far, with a rise of 3.3 per cent. In London, fares were due to go up 2.7 per cent but will now be 3.1 per cent larger, to keep in line with National Rail.