Rail passengers expressed their anger over fare increases yesterday with protests at London's King's Cross station as annual season tickets rose by 3.1 per cent.

Many were shocked to learn that the average British commuter spends 12 per cent of their wages on transport while in France and Germany it's just 4 per cent.

"It's a lot of money for a poor service," said teacher Simon Jones, 30, as he waited to board a train to Newcastle upon Tyne with his friend Ben James, 33.