Train fares have more than tripled since Britain’s railways were flogged off to profiteers on April Fools’ Day 20 years ago.

Transport union TSSA said yesterday that First Great Western and multimillionaire Richard Branson’s Virgin East Coast line jointly topped the list with 245 per cent rises in the cost of returns from London to Bristol and Manchester.

The top 10 fare rises since British Rail was torn apart in April 1994 show increases of between 151 per cent and 245 per cent.