Commuters face rail fare rises by an average of 2.2%, with the latest annual increase meaning some fares have increased over 20% in the last five years.
Although the average increase is the lowest average rise for five years, the rise for regulated fares, including season tickets, will be up to 2.5%.
The rise - announced by rail industry body the Rail Delivery Group - will see more rail passengers than ever before paying £5,000 for season tickets.
While the hike is limited to a maximum of 2.5%, unregulated fares, such as off-peak leisure tickets, can go up by as much as the train companies decide.
It follows weeks of disruption to rush-hour services with problems for travellers compounded by over-running festive engineering work.
Last Saturday's chaos caused King's Cross and Paddington stations in London to close and resulted in Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne announcing he would forego his bonus.
Rail Delivery Group director general Michael Roberts said: "At 2.2%, the average increase in fares in 2015 is the lowest for five years. We understand no one likes to pay more, especially to go to work.
"For every £1 spent on fares, 97p goes on track, train, staff and other costs while 3p goes in profits earned by train companies for running services on Europe's fastest growing railway."
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "We are investing in the biggest rail modernisation since the Victorian era and fares have a crucial role to play in funding these improvements. This is because building better infrastructure helps create jobs, building a stronger economy for us all."
But campaign groups and trade unions say the latest annual rise in fares far outstrip the rises in wages and that Britons pay some of the highest rail fares in Europe.
Those commuting to London from Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, for example, are from today having to pay 2.43% more, with their 2015 ticket going up to £4,888.
According to the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT), the cost of a Milton Keynes season ticket has risen 23.5%, or £930, since January 2010 and is one of a number of fares that have increased around four times more than average wages over this five-year period.
The CBT also highlighted the cost of a Newcastle to Middlesbrough season ticket, which will be £2,324 from today and which has risen 26.3% since January 2010.
According to TUC figures, UK commuters spend more than twice as much of their salary on rail fares than some European passengers.
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "This year's fare hike will hit passengers particularly hard because wages are rising so slowly.
"Rail fares are now consuming a huge proportion of people's wages, leaving precious little for other bread and butter expenses. On average passengers are now paying £600 more for a season ticket and yet seeing no change in their pay packets."
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