Chaos, strikes, delays... now fares go up

NEW Year rail fare hikes of 3.1 per cent were greeted with anger yesterday by travellers who have suffered a year of timetable meltdowns, train cancellations, strikes and the worst punctuality in four years.

The rise – the highest since 2013 – means many long-distance commuters will see the annual cost of getting to work increase by more than £100.

The Government bases the increases in regulated fares, such as season tickets, on July’s Retail Price Index inflation figure of 3.2 per cent.

But there is no cap on unregulated fares such as advanced purchase and some off-peak tickets.

Campaigners want fare rises capped at the lower Consumer Price Index which last month was 2.2 per cent. Anthony Smith, chief executive of Transport Focus, said: “Until day-to-day reliability returns passenger trust won’t begin to recover.”

A poll for the watchdog earlier this

year found that only 45 per cent think the fares are value for money.

At London Bridge 72-year-old Verna Dilley said: “I think railway travel is incredibly expensive. I don’t think it’s value for money.”

Commuter Rene Mehta, 44, said: “As someone who ends up standing up for most of the journey, five days a week, I’m not happy... I can’t see how we get value for money.”

Andy Gale, 59, said: “I come down

[to London] from York. If you’re trying to come down on a Monday morning then it’s £140.”

Alex Hayman, of consumer group Which?, said: “Value for money needs to be a key part of the upcoming Government review and passengers must receive automatic compensation for delays and cancellations.”

Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs

Association union, said: “As commuters pack into their overcrowded trains again today, they will be at a loss to understand why this government thinks it’s OK to carry on having chunky fare hikes dumped on them.”

However, the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents Network Rail and train operators, said that of every £1 paid in fares, 98p goes towards running the railway network.