Welcome to the latest Shopper Rant opinion column. This week we ask why passengers are forced to pay so much money for travelling by train. Join the debate by adding your comments.

FORGET the economic crisis, the general election and who will replace Adrian Chiles on The One Show.

There is something much more important to talk about. What on earth has been happening to train fares recently?

This isn't necessarily about City bankers whining about having to take an extra few quid out of their champagne budget to pay for the commute to work.

This is about the cost of longer distance train trips.

A couple of years ago, you could buy a return ticket from London to Bournemouth or Cardiff for a little over £20.

But now the same journey will cost you double - or more.

Looking on the National Rail website, a return from London Waterloo to Bournemouth will cost you more than £40.

And this isn't the price you pay for leaving it late before buying tickets, this is the price a month in advance.

Travelling from London Paddington to Cardiff Central via train means you won't get much change out of £55.

And it gets worse. Travelling from Kings Cross to Glasgow, again buying a month in advance, will cost you about £100.

News Shopper:

It's no wonder budget airlines are proving popular with fares this high.

Yes, travelling by train is a generally more relaxing trip than flying and more comfortable than going by coach.

But if you had the choice of paying £40 for a train fare or £15 for a coach trip which takes an hour longer, it is not much of a contest.

One of the many worrying things about this hike in train fares is no-one seems to be kicking up much of a fuss about it.

Maybe they are happy to travel on a cheap flight whatever the carbon footprint consequences, or are prepared to risk sitting next to a nutter or a teenager with terrible taste in music on a long coach trip.

Yet the most annoying thing about this is despite the higher train fares, the service seems to be ... well, the same.

Maybe people wouldn't mind paying more for their train tickets if it meant trains ran more frequently, there were more high-speed routes or you were entitled to a freebie from the "buffet car".

A lot of passengers might feel happier if tickets were inspected more often - at least then it makes you feel better for having paid for one.

But none of this is happening.

It makes you wonder how the train companies make any money running trains which are mainly empty due to people put off by high ticket prices.

Do the train firms believe the government will bail them out if - or should that be when? - they run into financial trouble?

This column is produced by an independent writer and in no way reflects the official position of News Shopper or its parent company.

What do you think? Are train fares too high? Should more be done to encourage people to use public transport? Add your comments below.

Check News Shopper's website every lunchtime for a new daily opinion column. Tuesday is entertainment, Wednesday is a reader's rant, Thursday will cover a moral issue and Friday is sport. Be sure to have your say if you agree or disagree with what you read.