THOUSANDS of commuters across Oxfordshire will have to pay more to travel by train next year.

Great Western Railway (GWR) is increasing its average fare by 2.9 per cent from January 2, while Chiltern Railways refused to disclose its average increase.

This comes as industry body the Rail Delivery Group announced fares in Britain would increase by an average of 3.1 per cent at the start of 2019.

The price increase is lower than the 3.4 per cent rise in January 2018, but it follows a year where some lines have experienced severe disruption.

Most train operators are increasing fares to some degree, with 2.6 per cent the lowest rise and 3.2 per cent the highest.