Rail fares to rise by 2.7% in new year

BRITAIN’S rail fares will increase by an average of 2.7% on January 2, the rail industry has announced.

Some long-distance commuters will see the annual cost of getting to work increase by more than £100.

The move was condemned by rail passenger groups, who decried poor levels of service.

Fewer than half (47%) of passengers are satisfied with the value for money of train tickets, according to the latest survey by watchdog Transport Focus.

Network Rail data shows that only 65% of trains arrived at their scheduled station stops within one minute of the timetable in the past 12 months.

Paul Plummer, chief executive of industry body the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) which revealed the average increase in fares, said: “We understand that no-one wants to pay more to travel, which is why train companies have for the third year in a row held the average fare increases below inflation while still investing to improve journeys.

“Passengers will benefit from 1,000 extra, improved train carriages and more than 1,000 extra weekly services in 2020.

“The industry will continue to push for changes to fares regulations to enable a better range of affordable, mix and match fares and reduced overcrowding on some of the busiest routes.”

Transport Focus chief executive Anthony Smith said: “We speak to hundreds of thousands of passengers each year and we know that less than half feel they get value for money.

“After a year of patchy performance, passengers just want a consistent day-to-day service they can rely on and a better chance of getting a seat.

“Transport Focus has long called for a fares system that is simple to use, easy to understand and is flexible enough to cater to how people work and travel today.

“As fares rise, passengers must make their voice heard and call on operators to deliver a better service.

“Passengers should claim compensation every time they are delayed to help offset the cost of the fares rise and make delay pay.”

Passengers will be able to check fare rises for individual journeys on train ticket websites from today.

The increase in around 45% of fares, including season tickets, is regulated by the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments.

This is predominantly capped at July’s RPI inflation figure, which was 2.8%.

Other fare rises are decided by train companies.

Public transport advocates and trade unions have reacted with anger after the latest increase in rail fares was announced.

Darren Shirley, chief executive of the Campaign for Better Transport, said the fare rise will “leave passengers dismayed after years of appalling service”.

He warned there is “little relief in sight” in terms of the performance of the network, adding that it will be “an inauspicious start to the new year for the railway” when the new fares kick in.

Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, the train drivers’ union, said privatised train companies are “telling passengers to pay more for a poorer service”.

He added: “Train companies, with the help of their chum at the Department for Transport, Grant Shapps, are pushing up prices yet again.

“What a way to run the railway.”

Mick Cash, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, said passengers are being “fleeced thousands of pounds every year for the privilege of travelling in crowded, unreliable services”.

He added: “Last year the train and rolling stock companies paid out dividends of £500m, enough to fund a 5% annual fare cut for every passenger.

That’s why polls consistently show overwhelming support for public ownership.”

Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association, commented: “Highwaymen may be a thing of legends but there is nothing even remotely romantic about our train robber barons.”

News of the rise comes after a spate of recent complaints about overcrowding on services including those on the Valley Lines run by Transport for Wales.