RAIL user groups say they are unimpressed by promises of investment in trains and stations after ticket price increases were announced.

Rush-hour demonstrations have been seen in 50 stations across the country over the second above-inflation rise in two years.

There will be an average price rise of 3.9 per cent for all tickets, and regulated tickets and season tickets would rise by an average of 4.2 per cent from January 2.

Tim Shoveller, managing director of the South West Trains Network Rail Alliance, said: "Railway funding can only come from the taxpayer or from the passenger. The government's policy remains that a bigger share must come from people who use the train."

For full story, see this week's Haslemere Herald.