RDG seeks greater flexibility as fares increase
THE Labour Party claims that season ticket prices have increased by 43% since 2010, as regulated fares rose by 2.6% (one percentage point above the Retail Price Index inflation measure) on March 1.
Analysis undertaken by Labour shows an annual season from Birmingham to London with
Avanti West Coast has risen by £3,467 since 2010 and is now £11,204. It goes on to say that the “average cost of a season ticket is now £3,144”, although RAIL
Fares & Service Consultant Barry Doe suggests this calculation is meaningless (see comment, right).
The Rail Delivery Group says it believes increasing the number of people travelling by train is essential to increasing fares revenue.
RDG Director of Nations and Regions Robert Nisbet said: “Ultimately, government decides how much it wants passengers to pay towards the cost of running the railway, but to give passengers better value, we want to work with government to recast how people buy their fares.
“Rather than needing a crystal ball to predict your plans to the last minute before buying a ticket, we want the whole country to benefit from a new, more flexible system where people pay-asthey-go and automatically get the best deal at the end of the week or month, similar to London.
“This would deliver a system which incentivises more people back to the network and helps drive a truly national economic recovery.”
Transport Focus Chief Executive Anthony Smith said: “Today’s fare increase makes it even more important that when travel restrictions start to be lifted, the industry is able to attract people back by offering fares that match how we know people hope to live, work and travel in future.
“This could mean new flexible season tickets which offer better value for part-time commuters, and other tickets based on how people want to use the railway.”
The TSSA union described the fares increase as “lamentable”, arguing that it will not encourage the return of passenger numbers. The union said the Government should have developed a new fares regime with flexible ticketing arrangements that encourage rail travel.