Sussex commuters were described as "captive cash boxes" in the House of Commons after yesterday's announcement of above-inflation fare rises.

The Brighton Pavilion Labour MP David Lepper was questioning Transport Secretary Alistair Darling.

The Strategic Rail Authority said under a new fares regime passengers would, on average, pay an extra £45 a year in real terms for their season tickets by January 2006.

Changing the inflation formula would increase revenue by £32 million to £42 million each year by 2006.

Commuters travelling between London and Brighton pay £68 for a weekly season ticket. This might increase to about £70.10 in 2006.

Mr Darling has abolished a cap on season ticket price rises which kept them one per cent below the inflation rate. For the next three years they can be one per cent higher.

Mr Lepper, a rail commuter himself, said: "My constituents will find it difficult to understand the rises unless they see something in return for investment."

There were signs money was being spent on new rolling stock on South Central services. But season ticket holders wanted to see more in return for paying another £2 a week on rail fares.

Mr Lepper welcomed Mr Darling's announcement that he would look at plans for a national railcard. It would encourage more people to travel by rail.

Lewes Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker said the "topsy-turvy transport policy" was that rail fares should go up and the cost of motoring go down, congestion on roads was dealt with by more roads, congestion on trains by having fewer trains.

Money spent on railways was subsidy and money spent on roads was investment.