HARD-PRESSED commuters have once again faced a hike in rail fares to welcome in the new year.

This morning, on the first working day of 2012, protests were staged across the country by furious passengers - including St Albans City Station - objecting to the soaring ticket prices.

St Albans commuters heading back into work today following the Christmas break have been urged to speak up about the above-inflation rises by joining a day of action.

Campaigners have asked commuters to tweet using the #farefail hash tag to tell the Government how the price of train travel affects them.

Commuters who live in St Albans have long been complaining of the poor service they receive, including crowded trains, delays and cancellations and a petition has been set up for First Capital Connect to be stripped of its franchise.

The Association of Train Operating Companies confirmed on average rail fares will rise by 5.9 per cent and First Capital Connect, which runs the Thameslink service, has said no fare within its control will rise by more than six per cent.

Journeys between St Albans and London will see the following fare rises: a weekly season ticket goes up from £70.50 to £74.70, a monthly season ticket costing £270.72 is up £16.18 to £286.90 and an annual season ticket has increased by £168 from £2,820 to £2,988.

St Albans Labour Party joined forces with the Campaign for Better Transport this morning to protest at the city station.

Labour Party leader at St Albans District Council Councillor Martin Leach said: "If you speak to any commuter they'll tell you the appalling service they receive despite spending more than £3,000 for the privilege."

One commuter, Jane Sawyer, who travels from St Albans into London for work, said: "It's overcrowded all the time and the increase does seem a bit much.

"The service just seems to have got more and more worse over the years."

Another described her journey as "sardines in a tin" and added the increase takes away a large chunk of her income. Alison MacFarlane, who also purchases an annual season ticket, said: "If I lived in London I would get a freedom pass, but living in St Albans I just get hit with higher and higher season ticket prices.

"When it works it works well, but more often we are facing problems with the service."

Across the country the price of train travel has been branded the second largest bill to paying a mortgage and campaigners in St Albans are up in arms because the level of service does not justify the inflation-busting hike.

Councillor Jacob Quagliozzi, (Labour), also joined the protest this morning. He added: "For us in St Albans that's what people are most concerned about, above inflation rises but the quality of service is so low."

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