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Train fares will rise by an average of 6.2% from next year as cuts to government spending require passengers to pay more.According to the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), the average price for a single journey will rise to £5.19 in January 2011, from £4.89 currently.Chief executive of the ATOC, Michael Roberts, said that "times are tough for many people but next year's fare increases will ensure that Britain can continue investing in its railways."The price increases come as the government seeks to sustain investment in UK railways, following the spending review which set out to reduce the taxpayers' contribution to the transport budget.Broken down by sector, the average price for a single will be £3.79 in London and the south east, £20.92 on long distance travel and £3.37 on regional routes."Money invested through fares has helped to bring about the record levels of customer satisfaction and punctuality on the railways today", says Roberts.Following 2011, average fare prices are set to rise further as reports have estimated 2012 fare increases to be measured at the rate of inflation plus 3%."In the longer term we need reform which drives down the cost of the railways by relying more heavily on the innovation and resources of the private sector to give passengers a better service and taxpayers better value for money," Roberts added.