Rail disruption hit the major train station where Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin sought to defend a hike in fares and hail record government investment in the network.
As commuter season tickets rose by 2.5%, the Secretary of State visited Birmingham New Street to highlight the amount of public money going in to improve the railways.
He was also arguing the case for passengers to contribute as well.
But his comments are set to set to fuel train traveller anger, with the very same station subsequently plagued by a nearby signalling problem that caused delays of up to an hour to services passing through.
It was one of a series of hold-ups for passengers on the first day of the new fares.
There was early-morning trouble in East Anglia, then difficulties on Merseyrail services and on routes in the West Midlands.
While season tickets are rising by up to 2.5%, the overall average rise for all fares is 2.2%.
The latest annual increase means some fares have increased over 20% in the last five years.
The hikes follow major disruption during the Christmas period caused by over-running engineering work.
The delays led to chaotic scenes, with King's Cross and Paddington stations in London having to be closed and also resulted, eventually, in Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne announcing he would not be taking his annual performance-related bonus.
Speaking at Birmingham New Street, Mr McLoughlin said that between 2014 and 2019, the Government was investing £38.5bn through Network Rail to improve infrastructure.
He told Sky News: "That's a huge amount of public support that goes into the railway industry, and therefore it is right to say to the passenger they have got to contribute as well.
"No one likes to see fare increases. I don't like to see fare increases, but we are seeing a very vibrant rail industry in this country."
The fare rise - announced by rail industry body the Rail Delivery Group - will see more rail passengers than ever paying £5,000 for season tickets.
Rail Delivery Group director general Michael Roberts said: "At 2.2%, the average increase in fares in 2015 is the lowest for five years.
"For every £1 spent on fares, 97p goes on track, train, staff and other costs while 3p goes in profits earned by train companies for running services on Europe's fastest growing railway."
But campaign groups and trade unions say the latest annual rise in fares far outstrip the rises in wages and that Britons pay some of the highest rail fares in Europe.
Those commuting to London from Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, for example, are now having to pay 2.43% more, with their 2015 ticket going up to £4,888.
According to the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT), the cost of a Milton Keynes season ticket has risen 23.5%, or £930, since January 2010 and is one of a number of fares that have increased around four times more than average wages over this five-year period.
The CBT also highlighted the cost of a Newcastle to Middlesbrough season ticket, which will now be £2,324, and which has risen 26.3% since January 2010.
According to TUC figures, UK commuters spend more than twice as much of their salary on rail fares than some European passengers.
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