Accusations have been levelled at one of Britain’s leading rail operators, Go-Ahead, by the Transport Salaried Staff’s Association (TSSA) over what they claim are secret plans to raise fares on London service.

The transport union has accused the London-Midland operator of practically doubling its fares in and out of the capital for off-peak services. TSSA head Gerry Doherty has claimed that the rail operator has effectively doubled its off-peak fares which are a slap in the face for passengers already paying some of the highest rates in the continent. However, Go-Ahead has reiterated its claims that the fare increases were announced publicly last November.

Go-Ahead has declared that the ticket-price changes where part of an industry–wide update on fares that was rolled out nationwide on January 2nd. A spokesperson advised that some 60 percent of fares were either frozen or remained the same.

Doherty has asserted that the operator is currently receiving somewhere in the vicinity of £60 million in government subsidies funded by British taxpayers so the thought of asking passengers to front up with more cash is a sore point.

What the new changes now mean is that off-peak travellers, for journeys outside of the 1645 to 1845 time period, will now pay £46 for a Northampton to London journey – up from just £22 for other passengers. The two-hour peak time window is reportedly to provide best value across the board.