The Scottish government was undercriticism last night after it was revealed that train passengers in Scotland will face an inflation-busting rise of 6 per cent in most fares from next year.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats attacked the SNP Administration for failing to curb the increases coming into force in the midst of an economic crisis. The fare increases of 2 per cent above inflation will take effect from January and will mean the cost of a cheap day return from Glasgow to Edinburgh increasing to £10.40 and a peak return to £18.80.

Des McNulty, Labour's Transport spokesman, said: “The SNP should have ensured rail fare increases were kept below the rate of inflation during the secret discussions in March about extending the franchise.

“Instead rail passengers will be out of pocket when fares rise next year. The cost of tickets has already gone up more in one year under the SNP than at any time in the last ten years.”

The SNP government caused anger this year when it emerged that ministers had agreed a three-year extension to Scotrail's seven-year franchise without consultation.

Under the franchise agreement, First ScotRail executives are allowed to increase fares by a maximum of the retail price index (RPI), based on July's figure plus 1per cent. The RPI was 5per cent but has since fallen, although too late for commuters. Last year, First ScotRail announced an average rise of 4.3per cent and the company made a profit of £12 million. Over the past decade, rail fares have risen by more than 28 per cent and this is the biggest rise since 1991.

The Liberal Democrats said that the Scottish government should have intervened to freeze fares. Alison McInnes, the party's Transport spokeswoman, said: “The Scottish government are supposed to be helping people out of cars and into public transport. Given the current economic climate, ministers should intervene and renegotiate ScotRail's contract. Ministers must look seriously at freezing train fares in Scotland. This would help Scotland's already hard-pressed families and commuters.”

First ScotRail blamed “significant cost pressures” over the past year for the increases. They apply to unregulated fares, which are set at the train operator's discretion, and regulated fares, which are fixed in agreement with Transport Scotland.

Peter Williams, First ScotRail's commercial director, said: “Like other businesses, we have seen costs increase. We believe we have struck the right balance between encouraging customers to travel, when there is capacity on less busy services, and the price for travel on busier services, where space is at a premium.”

The operator said that it had frozen its cheapest advance fares on more than 80 journeys across Scotland.

The 6per cent rise will not apply on the local network in the west of Scotland, where fares will go up by 4per cent. Fares in the region were previously set by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and increased in May.

The Scottish government said yesterday that the increases north of the border were below the 11 per cent increases in other parts of the country. “Unfortunately the rail industry is facing the same cost pressures as other sectors of the economy, including higher fuel costs,” a spokesman said. The Scottish government was investing £2billion in rail improvements, including journeys cut by up to 35 minutes between Edinburgh and Inverness.

Times Recommends

• Sarah Brown says 'no thanks' to veal at G8 - twice
• Stockton-on-Tees is obesity capital of Britain
• Stores blame poor sales on Murray factor