Come 2016 you'll be paying just that little bit extra for your train tickets but how much will you be paying and are there cheaper alternatives?

If you plan on travelling by train from next year, you'll be paying an extra 1p for every £1 you spend.

The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) which represents train operators and Network Rail , announced on Friday (December 4) that train fires will increase by 1.1% from January 2 2016.

Paul Plummer, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group said: “We know that nobody likes to pay more to travel by train, especially to get to work, and at 1.1 per cent this is the smallest average increase in fares for six years.

“On average 97p in every pound from fares is spent on trains, staff and other running costs. With passenger numbers doubling in the last 20 years, money from fares now almost covers the railway’s day-to-day operating costs.

"This allows government to focus its funding on building a bigger, better network when the railway is becoming increasingly important at driving economic growth, underpinning jobs, and connecting friends and families.

“As an industry, we are working closer together to deliver better stations, more trains and improved services, and to get more out of every pound we spend.”

The decision affects regulated fares, which account for half of all tickets, including season tickets on most commuter journeys, some off-peak return tickets on long distance journeys and anytime tickets around major cities.

This means that from January 2, an annual rail season ticket from Reading to Paddington excluding a zones 1-6 travelcard will cost £4228, compared to £4188 currently.

Rail unions aren't happy with the fare increase, which is the smallest since January 2010, claiming private rail companies will be “laughing all the way to the bank.”

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: "Today's rail fare hike is yet another kick in the teeth for the British passenger who is already paying some of the highest fares in Europe to travel on clapped out and over crowded trains.

"With inflation hovering around zero, today's fare increase is all about ring-fencing and increasing the profit margins of the rip-off private rail companies who, once again, will be laughing all the way to the bank."

How can I beat the rail fire hike?

Don't fret! You could still save some money on your rail fare

A great way to save money on any train fare is with the use of a railcard.

If you're between the ages of 16 to 25, have a large family, aged over 60, or plan on going on your travels as a couple, you are eligible for a railcard to save about a 1/3 off your rail travel.

While the railcards aren't free – costing £30 a year for the 16-25 version, if you plan on doing plenty of travelling you'll more than make up the cost in savings.

It's also a good idea to shop around and find the best deal for you.

You may find that other modes of transport such as bus services and taxis for shorter journeys could be much cheaper than popping on a train.

Also, with the new Uber car pool service launching in London, you'll be able to share the cost of your journey with someone else.

Lastly, buying early is always the best and cheapest way to buy train tickets.

If you've booked a weekend away in advance or have to travel for work, don't put off buying your train tickets, get them as early as possible to save the most amount of money.

The sweet spot seems to be up to 12 weeks in advance as you could see savings of as much as 80% on the cost of travel – meaning more than £100 off the price of a London to Edinburgh ticket for example.