Train passengers will see a 2.75 per cent rise in prices from today and the cost of Luas journeys will increase by a similar amount from Monday next.
The Irish rail increase applies to single, return and season tickets for all Intercity, Dart and Commuter services.
For Luas passengers single fares bought between 7.45am and 9.30am during weekdays will also be subject to an additional 10 cent congestion charge. A spokesman for the Rail Procurement Agency (RPA) said the measure was "gentle prompt to irregular users to switch to SmartCards and off-peak trips".
SmartCard fares will not be increased. However, all Luas return fares will also rise by 10 cent, adult one day tickets will go up by 20 cent and the cost of seven day tickets will increase by 30 to 70 cent.
The RPA said the additional revenue would be used "to cover the costs associated with continuing to provide a high quality service". The RPA said a similar pricing structure was unlikely to be introduced during the evening rush hour as the peak in travel at that time was less acute.
Fine Gael transport spokesperson Olivia Mitchell TD described the rise in morning rush hour fares on Luas as "outrageous".
"It is completely unacceptable to have congestion charging introduced into this country without any prior notice or public debate. This is a completely new departure in public transport pricing policy, and is also the thin edge of the wedge for all commuters," she said.
"In many cases commuters simply cannot vary their departure times to avoid the LUAS morning peak period.
To suggest they should leave earlier and 'have a cup of coffee' before going to work is simply an insult and an extra cost for hard-pressed commuters."
Iarnród Éireann passengers made a total of 43 million train journeys in 2006, making it the fastest-growing EU railway.
The State company claims its intercity fleet will also change from the oldest in Western Europe to the newest by 2008 when 217 new carriages enter service.
Work will begin in 2007 on the first phase of the long-awaited Western Rail Corridor linking Limerick to Galway in 2008.
New stations at Adamstown and the Phoenix Park in Dublin will open in 2007.
