Train fares will rise by an average of 1.1% next year, rail industry body the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) has announced.

The RDG said it is the smallest annual increase since January 2010.

Although the 2016 rise for regulated fares is limited to no more than 1% - as it is linked to July's rate of Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation - unregulated fares, such as off-peak leisure tickets, can go up by as much as the train companies like.

The average rise for all fares of 1.1% will take effect for journeys from January 2.

Paul Plummer, chief executive of the RDG which represents train operators and Network Rail, said: 'We know that nobody likes to pay more to travel by train, especially to get to work, and at 1.1% this is the smallest average increase in fares for six years.

'On average 97p in every pound from fares is spent on trains, staff and other running costs.

'With passenger numbers doubling in the last 20 years, money from fares now almost covers the railway's day-to-day operating costs.

'This allows government to focus its funding on building a bigger, better network when the railway is becoming increasingly important at driving economic growth, underpinning jobs, and connecting friends and families.

'As an industry, we are working closer together to deliver better stations, more trains and improved services, and to get more out of every pound we spend.'