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Low-paid rail commuters in some parts of the country will spend nearly a quarter of their salary on fares in the New Year.
In Birmingham some workers will fork out as much as 23 per cent of their wages on commutes of over 50 minutes while in London the figure is 17 per cent, figures compiled by
consultancy firm Hay Group showed yesterday.
London retains its place as the most expensive place to travel to work, with people paying more to get to their jobs than anywhere else in Britain.
The average fare rise of 5.9 per cent announced earlier this month will come into affect in January - putting the average annual season ticket at £2,028 or 8 per cent of the median British salary of £25,176.
In Edinburgh the lowest-paid workers will spend 16 per cent of their wages on long commutes while in Leeds it will be 19 per cent.
The figures are calculated at pre-tax salary levels meaning that the true cash percentage will be even higher.
Hay Group consultant Stuart McMillan suggested that bosses needed to help employees with rising transport costs.
He said: "Employers need to be aware of this when considering reward packages and consider benefits such as interest-free season ticket loans and greater flexibility to work from home."
But transport union RMT was adamant that politicians should take responsibility.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "This shocking research proves that a combination of rip-off fares and the cost of living crisis is hammering those on low to average pay and should serve as a wake up call to the politicians.
"RMT will work with passenger groups to end the great transport robbery which is turning rail services into a rich man's toy."
Train drivers' union Aslef said it had warned the government "a year ago that more and more people are falling into transport poverty."
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said: "It cannot be right that prices are going up when most people's wages are falling. The privatised railway isn't working properly and the privatised train companies are ripping off the taxpayer and ripping off their passengers."
