Passengers will feel ‘angry and frustrated’ by hikes in rail fares, a senior Surrey County Councillor has said.

It was announced this week that rail fares will rise by up to 3.6 per cent in January – and the news coincided with more disruption on the lines to Waterloo because of a derailment and major improvement work which led South West Trains to advise passengers not to travel on its network.

The county council’s cabinet member for environment and planning, councillor Mike Goodman, said: ““With the current disruption of Waterloo services, I can see why many passengers will be feeling angry and frustrated, especially as they board a carriage already almost full to bursting or wait on a platform for a delayed train.

“That’s why we are continuing to push for investment in infrastructure like Crossrail 2. The work to improve Waterloo will only go so far to boost rail capacity and the planned new line will not only relieve the morning crush, improve connections and speed up journeys, it will drive economic growth in London, Surrey, the wider South East and way beyond.”

Crossrail 2 – which would have stations including Epsom and Chessington South – would have additional capacity for up to 270,000 more people travelling into London at peak periods.