How our rail fares have soared by up to 50% in 10 years
THE cost of travelling by train on some of the busiest routes has rocketed by up to 50 per cent in the past decade.
Ministers were yesterday accused of forcing a ‘great rail rip-off’ on passengers as the biggest increase in fares in five years was confirmed.
Regulated peak fares and season tickets on ScotRail services will rise by 3.6 per cent from January, while off-peak tickets will increase by 2.6 per cent.
The hikes – linked to the retail price index (RPI) rate of inflation for July – means commuters buying peak-time tickets between Edinburgh and Glasgow will see fares rise from £23.80 to £24.70. The increase means peak fares between the cities have soared by 52 per cent in the past decade – more than double the rate of wage growth.
Mick Cash, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers trade union, said: ‘These are shocking figures that expose lock, stock and barrel the full extent of the great rail rip off on Scotland’s trains.
‘The huge hike in fares is another kick in the teeth for passengers who already fork out colossal sums to travel on rammed, unreliable trains while private operators are laughing all the way to the bank.’
The RPI figure for July is used by the Scottish Government as the benchmark for annual increases in rail fares. Yesterday, RPI stood at 3.6 per cent. This means regulated peak-time fares in Scotland will go up by this amount, while regulated off-peak fares, set at 1 per cent below RPI, will rise 2.6 per cent.
ScotRail will announce how unregulated fares – which includes advance and first-class tickets – will change in the coming weeks.
Scottish Labour transport spokesman Neil Bibby said: ‘Labour has repeatedly pushed the SNP to make rail travel more affordable yet the SNP failed to back Labour’s plan for a fare freeze in 2017.’
Analysis by the Scottish Daily Mail shows that while passengers travelling between Edinburgh and Inverness paid £47.40 for a peak return service in 2006, the January increase means it will have soared by 36 per cent to £64.30.
A peak return from Aberdeen to Edinburgh has increased from £57.50 in 2006 to £64.60 now – and will rise to £66.90 in January, a 16 per cent rise over the decade.
Over the same ten-year period from 2006 to now, average weekly wages for full-time workers went up 25 per cent, from £428 to £537.
ScotRail has come under fire for service standards since Dutch firm Abellio took over in April 2015, although performance has improved recently. Scottish Tory transport spokesman Jamie Greene said: ‘For too long users of Scotland’s railways have had to endure miserable journeys, delays and cancellations. They haven’t been getting value for money and it’s time that changed.’
Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said: ‘The Scottish Government has restricted annual increases in fare costs to ensure Scotland has the lowest price increases in the UK. While there has to be an increase in fares to support rail services, our actions ensure the annual increase for key fares is never more than inflation and that any increase for off-peak fares is always less than inflation.’
TRAIN drivers’ union Aslef has warned staff may refuse to work on services between Balloch and Helensburgh in Dunbartonshire, unless urgent action is taken to crack down on violent and antisocial youths – some aged just ten.
Union bosses met with police and the local authority yesterday. British Transport Police said patrols had been stepped up.
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