Southampton MP John Denham is rallying fellow Hampshire MPs in the fight against huge rail fare hikes.

As reported by the Daily Echo last month, commuters will face a higher than expected 6.2 per cent hike in the average fare.

A Winchester season ticket is likely to rise by £1,275 to £5,153 between 2011 and 2015.

An annual pass between Southampton and London is expected to be as much as £5,733 by 2015.

Today Labour will be calling an opposition day debate in Parliament on the price rises.

The debate will press the Government to restore the one per cent above inflation cap on annual fare rises for 2013 and 2014, and to ban train operators from increasing fares beyond that strict limit.

Mr Denham said: “Hampshire commuters greatly benefit the economy of this country, and their MPs ought to be standing up for them.”