Rail users have reacted angrily to the latest round of fare increases which could see travel costs rise by almost 30 per cent in three years.

The government said this week that prices would rise by inflation plus three per cent for three years from 2012.

By 2015 an £800 season ticket from Newton Abbot to Exeter will cost £1,026.01, while to Plymouth it will have gone up from £1,240.00 to £1,590.32.

At Newton Abbot Station on Wednesday those catching early trains had plenty to say on the subject.

Mark Freeman, of Newton Abbot, said: 'You won't want to print what I want to say. Fares are going up but wages aren't, it's just another bash on the cost of living and train services aren't that great.'

Carol Karpinas, from Abbotskerswell, described the rise as 'an abomination' and said: 'They keep going on about public transport but to be honest it doesn't exist. Thanks to all our governments it's gone. It costs £6.10 to park here a day and it's £30 for a weekly ticket to Exeter. Add that up and that's why so many people park on the side roads.'

Susan Martin, of Ivybridge, who was making her way back towards Plymouth, thought the increases were 'disappointing' as the costs were already high and carriages crowded.

Asked if it was worth paying more to produce better services she said: 'Do you really believe we'll see the investment down here, I don't think so.'

Rob Beringer, of Newton Abbot, usually commutes to Exeter by motorbike unless the weather is poor.

'It's definitely much cheaper for me to ride my motorbike but if fares were lower, yes, I might use the trains more.'

'Rob Brooks, from Kingsteignton, said: 'I have a senior citizen card but even so prices are creeping up gradually. A ticket to London where I'm going today was £27 return not long ago, now it's £46.'

Speaking about the lottery of finding the right ticket at the right price he added: 'Absolutely, it's exactly the same as easyjet and Ryanair.'

The Isted family, from Newton Abbot, were heading to Hastings at a cost of £115 for grandmother Jan, daughter Lisa and teenager Justin.

'I think it's disgusting, they put the prices up and don't make the service any better,' said Mrs Isted senior.

Her daughter said: 'We don't use the railways very often but it's bad enough when we do, when we go away it's very expensive.'

The youngest member of the family added: 'It's going to be stupid, putting it up by almost a third.'

John Hartley, chairman of the Torbay Line Rail Users Group and rail representative for CPRE Devon, said the region was unlikely to benefit directly from the promised investment.

'There were a billion rail trips made last year in Britain. I think I'm right in saying that is the most ever since the 1920s,' he said.

'Yet here we are with above inflation increases, no consultation, cuts to bus subsidies – another form of public transport – and no rail improvements for the south west.

'There are billions being spent elsewhere in the country, we want some millions down here.'

Following a demonstration at London's Waterloo Station, Alexandra Woodsworth, Campaign for Better Transport's public transport campaigner, said: 'These punitive fare rises deal a fresh blow to commuters already facing the financial crunch of rising costs combined with frozen wages.

'We need affordable rail travel, not only to give passengers a fair deal, but to protect the economic health of our major cities and to address the urgent imperative to cut carbon emissions.

'Today's demonstration sent a clear message to government that the country simply can't afford fare rises on such a massive scale.

'It's time to burst the bubble on inflation-busting fare hikes.'