RAIL users have hit out against the train fare increase that has come into force today, branding the move as “disgusting”.

Fares have gone up by an average of 3.1 per cent — the second biggest rise in six years.

Commuters from across Bolton who returned to work this morning after the New Year break described the price hike as “appalling".

One man described how he had quit his job as a result of the poor train service.

Peter Davies, aged 61 of Galindo Street, Bradshaw, said: “I used to work at Manchester Central but I packed my job in back in August because the trains were so terrible.

“Drivers were going on strike, there were times when the trains wouldn’t turn up, and they were always crowded.”

Mr Davies, who now works as both a dog walker and cleaner in the Bolton area used to catch a train from Hall i’ th’ Wood railway station. He made a one-off journey into Manchester City Centre today.

He said: “Who knows why they have put up the prices. I think it is appalling.

“It usually costs £1.50 for a single ticket from Bolton to Manchester but today it has gone up to £1.65. I usually come to the station with the right change.

“I don't catch the trains often so the rise in prices won’t really affect me but it is awful for others.”

Joshua Orme travels from his home in Wigan to Bolton every day to work as a facilities manager at the Victoria Hall.

His monthly train ticket has risen from £94.10 to £96.80.

He said: “It is a bit extortionate for what it is. Each month I have to pay for a new one because the annual ones are so expensive. Who can pay that in one lump sum?

“I could catch a bus for £18 a week but that takes an hour compared to the train, which takes 20 minutes, when it runs.

“But you are paying for a service that does not always run.

“You are also contending with all the strikes.

“I aim to catch a train before 8am but am more than likely to end up on one after 8am because they are unreliable all the time.

“When we have a concert on at the Victoria Hall on a Saturday night, I’m very often unable to catch a train afterwards because they aren’t running.

“It’s terrible.”

Campaigner Sir David Crausby, MP for Bolton North East, previously described the dramatic increases above inflation as unjustified when the local service is so poor and many passengers are often left behind on the platform due to overcrowding.

The Department for Transport says it is investing in the biggest modernisation of the network since Victorian times, with major projects to provide faster and better trains with more seats.

The Rail Delivery Group said: “For every £1 paid in fares, 98p goes towards running and maintaining the railway. This means public and private capital can be invested in improvements, such as the 7,000 new carriages and hundreds more trains refurbished like new, coming in by 2021.”

In August 2018, the government confirmed that regulated rail fares on commuter routes could increase by up to 3.2 per cent in January 2019.

A commuter from Tonge Fold, who did not want to be named, said: "We heard about the rail fare rise a couple of months ago.

"It will affect me in March when I have to renew my annual season ticket."

The commuter, who travels into Manchester from Bolton, will experience a £22 increase per annum — £1,012 up from £990.

They added: "Any other year, you could maybe understand it.

"But this year, we have experienced delays, cancellations, overcrowding. It is no good.

"There are often not enough carriages, so you are left standing.

"You check the arrival time and make your journey. You get to the station and then all of a sudden the time gets pushed back."

Another passenger said: "The problems are persistent.

"If you get a seat, it is wonderful. But we would like to actually physically get onto the train.

"You get up in a good mood but you find you are frustrated before you even arrive at work because people have been shouting 'move down'. Others are panicking because they can't get on or haven't got a seat.

"It is every day. It is a joke."

Another passenger described the fare rise as "disgusting". The 80-year-old man said: "Normally people travelling into Bolton are standing up when they are in Chorley.

"It is wrong to increase the fares. People are not getting the service they deserve. They are having to pay money to stand up."

Natalie Hargreaves, aged 30 from Darcy Lever added: "It is unfair to put up the prices. I think they should look at the service they are providing for service users if they are going to introduce fare rises."