The rail regulator has raised concerns about the government's policy on fares after a public outcry over ticket price increases 9link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2007/08/regulator_takes_on_government.html#more

The Office of Rail Regulation said it had questioned the Department for Transport about fares amid a series of high-profile fare increases. Bill Emery , ORR chief executive  told the rail user watchdog , Passenger Focus , that protection of consumers from excessive fares was an issue.

"There remains the question as to whether the department's policy on fares provides the appropriate level of protection for the consumer," he said.

He added: "We have raised these issues with the department. We believe that it is important for the department to set out clearly the objectives underpinning its current and proposed fares policy and to explain why it is in the wider public interest, taking into account the desired balance between the funding provided by tax payers and fare payers."

In an earlier letter to the civil servant in charge of rail , Mr Emery raised concerns that a policy of raising fares while reducing government investment might lead to a competition law breach by encouraging excessive increases. In the letter to Dr Mike Mitchell , head of rail at the DfT , he said: "We would like to discuss with you future tensions which may exist between a franchising policy that seeks to minimise subsidy/maximise premia [payments] at a TOC [Train Operating Company] level and competition law."