PASSENGERS were warned last night to expect a "summer of discontent" on the railways, as the new spring timetable heralded fare rises and service reductions.

The changes were making the railway less attractive and worse could follow, said environmental group Transport 2000.

But train companies said the rises were a normal feature of the summer timetable, and that cuts were made to make the timetable run more smoothly.

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) announced in January that about 100 services would be cut to improve punctuality, including Virgin Cross Country, which serves North Yorkshire and the North-East.

Other companies named were Great Western, Central Trains and South Central.

Transport 2000 said that GNER's business-savers fare is going up by about five per cent.

A spokesman for GNER, which operates on the East Coast main line between London and Scotland, via York and Darlington, said: "While the business-saver fare is going up, many of our fares remain at their very competitive level.

"It is in our interest to offer bargain fares and we will continue to do so."

A spokesman for Virgin Cross Country said: "There are no further cuts other than those announced by the SRA in January. Certain fares are going up, but there is no across-the-board rise."

Mick Duncan, of Transport 2000, said: "This combination of fare hikes and service cuts will only make rail less attractive and less user-friendly.

''But worse could be ahead. Our advice is to catch a train while you can; the 2003 summer timetable may be the last to offer a relatively affordable and comprehensive service."