Rail passengers are facing ticket rises of nearly 10 per cent as the county bears the brunt of price hikes.

Train companies unveiled their latest increases yesterday to come into force in January - with travellers who get regulated tickets facing price rises of 4.8 per cent and others facing hikes of up to 9.8 per cent.

Commuters buying a standard day return to London Paddington from the city will have to fork out £43.10, a 9.67 per cent increase.

Passengers in Oxford were furious to hear 0First Great Western had given passengers in Swindon and the West Country - where some London-bound prices have been held - a better deal.

Zahra Akkerhuys, a spokesman for Ox Rail Action, said it was a "slap in the face" for Oxford commuters.

She added: "Commuters in Oxford have had a horrendous year and First Great Western are making huge profits.

"If some fares are being frozen on other routes into London then why not from Oxford?"

Regulated fares, which are set by the Government, including season tickets and Savers, will go up by 4.8 per cent from January 2. Other fares, which are set by train operators, such as off-peak cheap day returns, will rise by an average of 6.1 per cent locally.

The Association of Train Operating Companies said increased revenue was needed to improve rail services, with more than £800m now being spent on new and refurbished trains.

An FGW spokesman said some fares would be frozen, including on the Oxford to Bicester branch, and routes in Devon and the West of England. Saver Return fares to London would not rise from Swindon, Cheltenham Spa, Bristol and Exeter.

Simon Eaton, 45, from north Oxford, who commutes from Oxford to London to work in investment banking in the City, said: "First Great Western have made a £48m operating profit over the past six months, but they have delivered an appalling level of service.

"The trains are overcrowded, they often run late, so how can they justify these price increases?"

The FGW spokesman added: "This is not a First Great Western slap in the face for commuters. We are not at the top of the national rises.

"We are investing the money in improving services. The Saver fare is only going up by £1, which is five per cent. The reason that fares from Swindon, Cheltenham Spa, Bristol and Exeter have not risen is because they are long-haul destinations, so it's far more expensive for people living there to get into London.

"Oxford is nearer London and has a far more frequent service. On a mile-per-mile basis, it's much cheaper than fares for people from Swindon, Cheltenham Spa, Bristol and Exeter."

Passengers using Chiltern Railways face a 5.1 per cent average increase for unregulated fares. Arriva CrossCountry's unregulated fares will rise by an average of seven per cent, but advance purchase fares will not be increased.