Rail fares will rise more than £100 a year after Brexit, Remain campaigners say

Rail far rises are currently capped by inflation, but Remain campaigners have warned that this would be loosened after a vote to leave the EU

Rising inflation caused by Brexit could increase commuter costs, according to Remain campaigners (Getty Images)

British railway passengers could see annual fares rise by more than £100 if the UK votes to leave the EU on June 23, the Remain campaign has said.

Annual rail fares from Ashford to London could increase by as much as £165, while travel from London to Oxford could climb by more than £150.

Passengers travelling from Liverpool to Manchester could see their annual travel cost rise by £80, Remain campaigners said.

The cap on annual rail fare rises is currently set by inflation, which could be driven up by the hit to sterling as a result of leaving, Remain said. It based the calculations on the analysis from the Treasury and the Bank of England.

The Treasury has forecasted inflation will be 2.3 to 2.7 points higher in the aftermath of a vote to leave the European Union.

Last week, Brexit fears sent the FTSE 100 index of the 100 biggest UK companies plummeting below 6000, breaching lows not seen since February.

The pound slipped by 0.5 per cent on June 14 – lower than the previous day's close to trade at $1.4142, near Monday lows of $1.4117, its lowest level in two months, suggesting sterling could be heavily impacted by a vote to leave the EU.

HSBC has previously predicted that sterling could fall as much as 20 per cent against the dollar if the UK votes to leave the EU.

Lord Andrew Adonis, the former Transport Secretary, said that if Britain votes to leave the EU it could risk a devaluation of the pound and unnecessary inflation.

“For millions of British commuters that could mean a ‘Brexit penalty’ of more than £100 a year on rail fares,” Lord Adonis said.

“In other words, rail users from across the UK will have to help foot the bill for leaving the EU,” he added.

In January, passengers faced a 1.1 per cent hike in the cost of train tickets in England, Wales and England. The increase was the lowest rise for regulated fares across the network for six years, in line with July’s low inflation rate of 1 per cent.

Railway passengers faced fresh travel misery on Tuesday due to a strike by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union in a long-running dispute over the role of conductors.

Hundreds of services across Scotland and South-East England were due to be cancelled.

Charles Horton, Southern's chief executive officer, said the strike was completely “unnecessary” in a message to passengers.

“I apologise unreservedly for the service we are presently offering, which I consider totally unacceptable,” he said.

The EU referendum debate has so far been characterised by bias, distortion and exaggeration. So until 23 June we we’re running a series of question-and-answer features that explain the most important issues in a detailed, dispassionate way to help inform your decision.

What is Brexit and why are we having an EU referendum?

Will we gain or lose rights by leaving the European Union?

What will happen to immigration if there's Brexit?

Will Brexit make the UK more or less safe?

Will the UK benefit from being released from EU laws?

Will leaving the EU save taxpayers money and mean more money for the NHS?

What will Brexit do to UK trade?

How Brexit will affect British tourism

What will Brexit mean for British tourists booking holidays in the EU?

Will Brexit help or damage the environment?

Will Brexit mean that Europeans have to leave the UK?

What will Brexit mean for British expats?