Rail fares: CBT calls for January fares freeze…

Increasing rail fares next January would be counter-productive in attempts to attract passengers back to the railway, according to the Campaign for Better Transport.

Instead, the organisation believes Government should prioritise the introduction of flexible season tickets.

July’s Retail Price Index (RPI), which is used to set the fares rise next January, was published on August 19. It was revealed to be 1.6%, which was higher than expected and boosted by an increase to petrol and diesel prices.

“Millions of people around the country are starting to plan their return to work and a rail fare rise in January is the last thing they need,” said CBT Chief Executive Darren Shirley.

“Raising rail fares when people are already staying away from the railway will further damage the economy and the environment at a time when we need to be investing in a green, sustainable transportled recovery.

“The Government should hold fares at the current level and prioritise the introduction of flexible season tickets for the millions of people who will be working and commuting part-time in January.”

Regulated fares, including season tickets and Standard returns, make up 45% of all fares, with Government setting the increases. Since 2014, these have been capped at the RPI figure.

Unregulated fares, such as advance and peak long-distance tickets, can be increased at an operator’s discretion.

CBT argues that Government should use the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rather than RPI, as the former is a more accurate measure of inflation.

This would follow its practice in other sectors. Had this method been applied for January 2020’s fares, the increase would have been 2.15% rather than 2.8%.

Department for Transport figures for transport usage up to August 10 showed that, provisionally, the railway carried 25% of the number of passengers that it carried in the equivalent period in 2019.

A DfT spokesman for the confirmed to RAIL on August 19 that it is considering the rail fares package for January and will provide an update in due course.