West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris has criticised the government's announcement of a 5.9% rise in rail fares as a 'nightmare before Christmas.'

It means an annual Bristol Temple Meads to Bath Spa season ticket will rise to £1,957 - up by over £100.

Dan Norris said: "There is a cost of living crisis made in Downing Street and passengers are already feeling the pinch. There is also a climate emergency. We're a railway region and as Metro Mayor I'm investing in new stations and more regular services. But we need a government that is on the side of passengers encouraging them to travel by train not hammering them with price hikes."

The Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh added: "This savage fare hike will be a sick joke for millions reliant on crumbling services. People up and down this country are paying the price for twelve years of Tory failure."

Rail fares have risen twice as fast as wages since 2010.