COMMUTERS are bearing the brunt this morning as Translink have hiked up their prices.

Bus and train fare increases start today, with prices rocketing by more than three times the rate of inflation.

Train fares have shot by 4.5 per cent.

Ten pence has been added to most Metro fares.

And Ulsterbus journeys have gone up by an average of 4 per cent

The fare increase was announced last December. At the time, Translink said that fares had been frozen for the last two years.

The Consumer Council has called on Translink to be clear about the actual level of fare increases that passengers face.

Aodhan O’Donnell, the council’s interim chief executive, said: “Put simply, if Translink are asking passengers to pay more they must be clear with their customers by how, and for what services.”

“The fact is that there are so many different ticketing options available on Translink’s services that many people will not understand exactly what their new fare will be from 16 February.”

The Stormont Executive is considering opening up public transport to outside competitors.

No company has ever been allowed to run rival bus or trains services, meaning the public has no choice but to use Translink services.