Member Article

Rail fares on the rise

Train fares will now increase by an average of 3.9%, and season ticket commuters will see their fare increase by 4.2%.

Some passengers will find higher price hikes, as train operators are given room to put fares up by as much as RPI + 6%.

The above inflation rises are set to hit commuters at a time when real wages are falling, say unions. The increased are part of the Government’s plan to ween the railways off public money, with passengers picking up more of the bill.

Michael Roberts, chief executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), commented: “We understand commuters don’t like to pay more to travel to work but it is the government, not train companies, that decides how much season tickets should rise on average each year.

“Successive governments have required train companies to increase the average price of season tickets every January since 2004 by more than inflation. Ministers want passengers to pay a larger share of railway running costs to reduce the contribution from taxpayers while sustaining investment in better stations, new trains and faster services.

“From today, the average increase in season tickets and all other fares is 3.9%. Train companies are working with the rest of the rail industry to cut the costs per passenger and so give ministers the opportunity in future to move away from their policy of above-inflation annual fare rises.”

Unite national officer Julia Long said: “Today’s inflation-busting rail fare rise is a smack in the face for the country’s commuters, already stung by this government’s out-of-control austerity.

“It is not even as if rail travellers will be getting more for their money, as rail operators are slashing staff numbers and closing ticket offices too.

“The government should be doing more to stop this blatant profiteering by rail operators and get serious about curbing sky-high rail fares.”

In 2011, the McNulty Review suggested fares were too high, and the cost of running the rail network should be 30% lower.

The TUC pointed out that the Government has asked the rail industry to make £3.5bn worth of savings following the review, which could lead to a poorer service.

Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary Maria Eagle MP said: “David Cameron misled commuters when he promised to cap fare rises at one per cent above inflation. Many commuters have faced a nasty New Year shock as they discover fares have gone up by as much as 9.2 per cent.

“The Government should come clean with commuters that this is a direct result of their decision to cave in to pressure from the private train companies to let them hike ticket prices beyond the so called cap. The misery for passengers is set to continue in 2013 as the Government’s plans to let train companies close ticket offices and introduce a new super peak ticket become a reality.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .