Price hike for rail commuters - what do you think?

However, Gatwick Express fares are to be frozen at 2013 prices.

Regulated fares for 2014 have been capped by the Government at the July 2013 RPI rate of 3.1 per cent.

Southern has introduced a lower than RPI increase for season ticket holders and has chosen not to use a 2 per cent flex which could have seen some season tickets increase by 5.1 per cent.

Southern announced that its average fare rise across all fares which come into effect on Thursday January 2.

An annual season ticket from Horsham to London Victoria is currently priced at £3,608. But when the fare increase takes effect this will jumped to around £3,711.55.

Southern’s commercial director, Alex Foulds, said: “There is good news for all of our season ticket holders as we have chosen not to use flex, meaning that all our season ticket holders will pay a lower increase. It’s also great news for our Gatwick Express passengers as we are freezing fares on the route, and for those looking for cheap off-peak travel, we continue to freeze our cheapest Advance fare at just £5.”