AN Airedale rail group wants to see services in the district improve to offset another increase in fares.

Passengers will see season ticket prices rise by an average of one per cent next January. Fares overall have jumped 25 per cent since 2010, while average pay has increased nine per cent, according to a study by the Action For Rail campaign.

The information comes after the announcement of the July inflation figures. The new-year rises are based on the previous July's rate of Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation, announced by the Office for National Statistics.

The one per cent increase will be the lowest rise since 2010, when fares actually decreased by 0.4 per cent.

Tim Calow, chairman of the Aire Valley Rail Users' Group, said the price increases needed to transfer into improved services in the north of England.

He added: "We would be relatively comfortable with price increases if we saw some improvements. We are looking to see something for the money and the price increases that have happened over the last few years.

"A one per cent increase is probably not unreasonable. But we have not really seen a great deal of investment in our local lines."

David Sidebottom, director of transport user watchdog Transport Focus, said: "Fares are set to increase again, but passengers will be relieved to see that fare rises in England are being capped at inflation.

"They will be pleased to see that there is no flexibility for individual fares to go up by more than this. Both of these are things we have pushed for."

Since 2011 annual fare rises have been between 2.5 per cent and six per cent.