Britain's trains are the oldest since current records began despite record fare increase, figures show.

Passengers are travelling in carriages which were typically built in the mid-1990s, according to Office of Rail and Road (ORR) statistics.

Press Association analysis found the average age of 21.1 years is older than at any point in publicly available records and 60 per cent older than in 2006.

Yet fares across Britain are set to go up 3.4 per cent from tomorrow (Jan 2) - the largest rise in five years.

The ORR has previously said older trains can result in worse reliability, less comfortable journeys and poorer performance than modern versions, although it notes that older rolling stock can be refurbished.

Travellers using the Caledonian Sleeper service between London and Scotland have to put up with mainland Britain's oldest trains at 42 years old.

Merseyrail, which runs trains in Merseyside, has the second oldest fleet at 38 years old.

Both operators plan to introduce new rolling stock in the coming years.

TransPennine Express, which operates in northern England and Scotland, has the newest trains at an average of just nine years old.

Campaign for Better Transport chief executive Stephen Joseph claimed the age of Britain's trains shows "just how far the railways have to go to modernise".