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Train companies have ramped up car parking charges at many railway stations, adding to the misery for commuters who already face big increases in train fares.

At hundreds of station car parks across the country commuters have seen prices shoot up by at least twice the rate of inflation this month. Train operators have been accused of profiteering.

However, they have responded by arguing that the price rises simply bring charges into line with other nearby car parks, and that many stations have been immune from the increases.

East Midlands, First Capital Connect, First Great Western and South-West Trains have all lifted charges by at least 8%, though not at all stations. More than 50 stations operated by the South Eastern rail franchise have put up charges from £3 to £3.50, up 16%.

Rising petrol prices and train fares
This comes on top of rising petrol prices, and an average rise of 6.2% in train fares this month, which have made both driving and travelling by train much dearer.

Motoring groups accuse train operators of using car parking charges to bump up profits.

Ticket fares are controlled by the regulator, but rail companies are free to set their own charges for car parking.

"We suspect that they're topping up their profits," Jo Abbotts of the RAC Foundation told the BBC. She points out that the price of parking can amount to a quarter of the cost of the ticket itself. If the cost of car parking is preventing [commuters] from taking the train, and forcing them to take their cars for the entire journey, then we need to address those issues," she says.