Railfares in the UK, already the country with the highest railfares in Europe, are expected to rise by 4.9% next year adding more to hard-pressed commuters' bills.

But the rail companies have promised significant service improvements including:

• standing room only, strap-hanger carriages - like underground trains but with the seats removed
• slower trains so that more of them can run safely on the same line
• more apps so that you need at least 5 to book a ticket and pay for parking
• removal of car parking spaces at stations and replacement with bike sheds
• vending machines (managed by Greggs ) in every carriage with 'no bacon rolls' alert via Greggs app
• more night trains so commuters never need to go home untilthe weekend
• the removal of the incessant tannoy message "see it, say it, sort it"

A mental health professional told FNN:

Just the removal of "see it, say it, sort it" should reduce the number of commuter rail-rage incidents. So that's worth 4.9% on its own.