RAIL passengers in Hampshire could be hit by fare increases of up to 5.6 per cent next year.

Figures released today will determine how much rail fares across the country can increase by in 2015.

The Government’s inflation figures will be used to calculate fare increases by rail companies later in the year.

And if the inflation is similar to the Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation figure of 2.6 per cent for July, that could mean average fares increasing by 3.6 per cent.

But companies are allowed to raise some fares by as much as 5.6 per cent, as long as the average fares remain at the RPI plus one per cent.

A 3.6 per cent fare hike could mean the price of a year’s travel from Southampton to London Waterloo would increase by £188, from £5,224 to £5,412.

And a one-day peak-time return would go up from £77.60 to £80.40.

South West Trains will announce its fares for 2015 later this year.