BELEAGUERED rail passengers face a fares skyrocket of 117 per cent, as privateer train operator Northern Rail redrew its timetables yesterday to extend peak hours.

The news came as rail union RMT accused the government of “pure fraud” for dressing a nationwide fares increase up as good news when wages are stagnant.

The rises will see a return from Wigan to Manchester Piccadilly rise by a whopping 117 per cent from £4.20 to £9.10. A Hexham to Newcastle return doubles from £3.55 to £7.10, while a Bradford to Leeds return soars from £4.70 to £6.50, an increase of 38.3 per cent.

Campaign for Better Transport spokesman Martin Abrams said: “This fare increase threatens to make rail travel unaffordable to tens of thousands of part-time workers.

“Despite government promises, there are no flexible tickets for the increasing numbers who work part time or anything other than traditional nine-to-five hours.

“Their only option is to pay for individual tickets, which will now be double the price on Northern Rail’s most popular routes.”

RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash said: “The axing of off-peak fares is a savage kick in the teeth for people already struggling with the burden of low pay and austerity.”

Shadow transport secretary Mary Creagh said the rise was an embarrassment for top government ministers. “Rail fares normally go up in January but commuters in George Osborne and Nick Clegg’s constituencies face stealth fare hikes of up to 52 per cent this September,” she said.

Northern Rail said it had heavily publicised the fare changes.

Meanwhile Chancellor George Osborne knocked 1 per cent off nationwide regulated fare rises and announced an end to rules which allow certain fares to rise 3 percentage points above the so-called maximum.

The news was welcomed by stakeholders’ group Passenger Focus, but dismissed by unions as a pre-election gimmick.

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said: “The Chancellor has some brass neck in presenting this 2.5 per cent increase as a good news story when it means he will have increased rail fares by a huge 24 per cent since moving into Downing Street.

“To try and dress this up as benefiting working people is pure fraud on the part of the government,” Mr Cash added.