Those who travel by train regularly to get to work will already be counting the cost of their season tickets.

Now it appears that fares might be rising again - and it could be by a much bigger amount than the usual annual increases.

A plan by the Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, to create a more level fare structure across the country, where there are many discrepancies between regions, might seem a fair idea on the face of it.

But this could mean a major hike in our area because, according to Mr McLoughlin's department, commuters in West Yorkshire pay 60 per cent less for short journeys than in other parts of the country.

If the plan goes ahead that could conceivably mean an absolutely huge rise - almost £600 a year for someone who has a season ticket to take them between Bradford and Huddersfield.

What this does not take into account though is that people in around here pay a precept on their Council Tax to the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority, so even those who never set foot on a train are paying to keep costs of public transport down as much as possible.

And it could be argued that the South East, for example, takes the lion's share of spending on maintaining and upgrading infrastructure and services so it is obvious why their fares might be more expensive.

If this seemingly half-baked plan to raise our fares does go ahead, it will be no surprise if people abandon the trains in favour of their cars, which begs the question where the money will come from for the inevitable upgrade of the roads that will be required.