RAILWAY stations will be hit by nationwide protests this week as inflation-busting annual fare rises are once again imposed on British passengers.

Profiteering private rail operators have been given the government’s go-ahead to hike fares by 2.8 per cent; inflation in 2019 stood at 1.7 per cent.

The increase comes on top of £417 million in taxpayer-funded subsidies handed to the operators to maintain their profits.