Commuters from Brighton and Hove face a 1.9 per cent rise in train fares from January.
The news prompted outrage among passengers and MPs after months of disruptions during the dispute between the company and the RMT union over the role of guards.
The company has blamed some of the disruption on staff shortages exacerbated by high levels of staff sickness.
Protests took place outside a number of railway stations this morning (Tuesday 16 August) including Brighton.
The protesters locally included Caroline Lucas, the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion. She called for Southern’s fares to be frozen although she later said that they should be cut.
The rise is linked to the July figure for the Retail Prices Index (RPI) measure of inflation which was announced by the Office for National Statistics earlier today.
Some have suggested that the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), which rose 0.6 per cent in July, would be a better measure.
The TUC said that fare rises have outstripped average wages in recent years although Rail Minister Paul Maynard said that pay was rising faster at the moment.
Plans to increase rail fares add insult to injury – campaigning in #brighton against #railripoff #southernfail pic.twitter.com/CJradH33Sz
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) August 16, 2016
