FURIOUS passenger groups last night condemned rail companies for slapping on big fare increases after months of chaos.

Many travellers face above-inflation rises when new ticket prices come in on January 7 - a decision described as "a smack in the teeth" for passengers.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has called for a report on the increases.

During a tour of Leeds station - where a £165m regeneration programme is seriously affecting services - Mr Prescott said: "I have asked the Strategic Rail Authority to give me a full report. I know it has caused a great deal of concern."

But he added: "I have to take a long term view. These railways are going to be modernised. There is £60bn investment, but I know I'm going to get problems along the way."

Fares have been frozen by East Coast main line operator GNER and by Virgin on its West Coast main line and CrossCountry services.

But passengers in other parts of the country are not so lucky.

First Great Eastern, which operates out of London's Liverpool Street station to Essex and East Anglia, is raising some fares by 3.3 per cent.

"This is a particularly insensitive time to impose a large price rise," said Brian Cooke, chairman of the Rail Passengers Council's Great Eastern sub committee.

"For passengers to pay an above-inflation rise at this time seems like a complete smack in the teeth. It is appalling."

Rises at other companies include a 4.9 per cent increase on some off-peak fares on South West Trains, a 3.3 per cent rise on Connex peak fares, and 3.3 per cent increases on Central Trains' off-peak tickets.

A Rail Passengers' Council spokesman said: "At a time when compensation is still being paid to passengers, it is particularly insensitive to increase fares.

"Services on many routes are still disrupted and that may continue for several months yet."

Mr Prescott, who arrived at Leeds station by car, passed queues of passengers waiting in the cold for buses because many trains were not stopping at Leeds from today until January 1.

The Deputy Prime Minister, who donned a hard hat and fluorescent jacket to inspect engineering work, said: "I want to see people back on the railways. If they are reliable and modern, people will come back.

"What has been short is the resources. We inherited a mess, there's no doubt about it. What we're doing is getting the long-term investment sorted out."

Mr Prescott has also asked for a report on why more than 600 passengers were stranded at Stansted airport on Tuesday because rail services into London ended at 7pm and there were no seats on coaches.

"It's not a good example if we want people to use an integrated transport system," he said.

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