More Rail Problems in UK

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LONDON (Reuters) - Millions of rail passengers suffered delays, disruption and above-inflation fare rises on Wednesday as they made a bleak return to work after the Christmas break.

Train operators said the cost of most season tickets will climb by an average of 4.8 percent, while other fares such as cheap day returns will rise by 5.4 percent.

One of the busiest north-south rail lines was closed after engineering work took longer than expected and London's busy Liverpool Street was closed for demolition work.

Passenger groups said the fare hikes would send a "chill wind" down platforms, but rail bosses said the money would help pay for new trains, better service and station upgrades.

"Billions of pounds are now being spent to improve the railway and the results are showing through," said George Muir, head of the Association of Train Operating Companies.

Higher ticket prices will shift the burden of paying for the railways from taxpayers to passengers, in line with government policy, he added.

However, rail watchdog Passenger Focus said people using many commuter routes face higher price hikes than the average.

"Steep rises on individual routes are masked by the average figures published by the industry," its Chief Executive Anthony Smith said. "A chill wind will blow down many of Britain's platforms when passengers find out their new fares."

For example, an annual ticket from Gillingham in Kent to London will cost 2,740 pounds in 2008, compared to 2,496 pounds last year -- a rise of 9.78 percent.

"This will lead to passengers having to dig deep," Smith said. "These unjustified and unfair rises will rankle."

Lobby group Campaign for Better Transport, formerly Transport 2000, said higher fares would encourage people to drive rather than take the train.

"These fare spikes are bad for people and bad for the environment," its Executive Director Stephen Joseph said.

Thousands of passengers faced more disruption on the West Coast Mainline after engineering work overran between Northampton and Coventry.

Virgin Trains, which runs trains between London and the northwest, advised people not to travel on its services.

Passengers can use replacement buses, facing delays of at least two hours, it said.

"I'm staggered it has gone into another day," Virgin's Chris Gibb told the BBC. "Our advice is not to try to travel with us."

Network Rail said it was "deeply sorry" and had begun an investigation. It did not say when the work will end.

Liverpool Street station, one of the capital's main commuter stations from Essex, was closed after the demolition of an old bridge was not finished on time.

(Editing by Steve Addison)