An announcement that rail fares will rise by 3.8% in March was postponed by ministers last week after the furious backlash over downgraded government plans for rail investment in the north.
The fare rise for England and Wales, not yet publicly confirmed but contained in leaked papers seen by the Guardian, will be the biggest in nine years.
The rise is pinned to the retail prices index (RPI) inflation figure from July, and ministers have in the past attempted to portray the annual increase as a real-terms freeze.
Ministers were due to announce the rise last Friday. However, government spinners advised against releasing the news after the overwhelmingly negative public reaction to the Integrated Rail Plan,unveiled by the transport secretary,
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