TRAIN companies were last night accused of delivering a "smack in the face" to beleaguered passengers by announcing a series of increases in ticket prices.

Several operators said they would raise fares from the New Year - in some cases by as much as ten per cent.

The region's biggest train company, GNER, revealed that first class and standard open return tickets were to increase by an average of 2.8 per cent, but as much as five per cent in some cases.

It was slammed for "milking" its passengers and taking advantage of its monopoly to run services on the East Coast Mainline.

The price rises came as Transport Secretary Stephen Byers admitted that Britain's railways were worse now than they were when Labour came to power.

He insisted that the Government's decision to place Railtrack in administration would result in noticeable improvements in punctuality and safety in time for the next General Election.

The GNER changes from January 2 will mean, for instance, a standard open return from Darlington to King's Cross rises from £142 to £150.

Super advance fares will also rise by about 2.8 per cent, although some discount tickets are being reduced.

The fare increases will largely hit "pay and go" customers and business travellers using trains at peak periods for which discounts are often not available.

Britain already has some of the highest ticket prices anywhere in the world.

Bill Midgley, of Whitley Bay, who is deputy president of the National Chamber of Commerce, travels regularly to London.

He said: "What is the rationale for this? Is it because GNER can get away with it because they are in a monopoly situation?

"I would be happier if the trains were actually on time. But as it is, this seems as though they are milking North-East customers."

Passenger watchdog the Rail Passengers Committee said it was concerned that the price rises were not "justified in the present circumstances".

Chairman Stewart Francis said: "After a year of appalling rail performance this is a real smack in the face for some passengers."

Strategic Rail Authority figures out last week showed that several train operators, including GNER and Virgin, have seen punctuality drop in recent months, shattering hopes that network performance was improving.

David Mallender, a spokesman for GNER, said: "It is only a few of our tickets that are being increased in line with inflation.

"The majority of people anyway travel on discount fares which generally are being held or reduced."

The company had offered over the last year more than half-a-million seats at fares as low as £5, he added.

There was some good news for passengers. Arriva Trains Northern, which has cancelled hundreds of services because of a shortage of drivers, is holding fares at present levels.

Virgin, which runs services between Newcastle and the South-West, announced last May that ticket prices would remain fixed for 12 months