Rail fares across Sussex are set to go up by more than the current inflation rate from January 5.

The main train operators will be making a joint announcement on Tuesday in an attempt to limit the negative impact of further bad news for rail travellers.

It is expected most fares will rise by around 2.5 per cent, slightly more than the 2.2 per cent inflation rate.

The increases follow an appalling autumn for train operators. Timekeeping reached an all-time low due to bad weather, leaves on the line and emergency engineering works.

Rail travellers on the Brighton Line and Coastway routes between Hastings and Portsmouth, operated by South Central, were supposed to be travelling in new trains by now but their introduction has been delayed because of door operating difficulties.

Train companies are still working out the exact increases and on some routes the rise may not be as high as the maximum 2.5 per cent.

South Central, Connex and Thameslink, the main operators in Sussex, were given the go-ahead to increase fares by a maximum of 2.5 per cent by the Strategic Rail Authority in October The SRA only allows rail companies to increase fares way above the rate of inflation if their services have improved.

South Central spokesman Marsid Greenidge said: "We are putting together the final details of our new fare structure. There may be a few pleasant surprises".