2020 starts with a hike in rail fares

AFTER suffering the misery of train strikes and staff shortages over the festive season, millions of commuters will pay 2.7 per cent more for their tickets this year.

It means many will pay as much as £252 more for annual train tickets from tomorrow. The 2.7 per cent rise is linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation measure, which was set in July at 2.8 per cent. Most fares are set by train companies but about 45 per cent are pegged to the RPI rate.

North of the Border, prices charged by ScotRail are also linked to RPI, meaning that Scottish commuters will also face rises. Rail firms say this is the third year in a row that average fares have been held below the benchmark inflation measure.

But critics have urged the Government to freeze fares or link them to the Consumer Price Index instead, which is significantly lower and is the Bank of England’s preferred measure.

Independent watchdog Transport Focus said the majority of passengers did not feel they were getting value for money.

A spokesman said: ‘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.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said it was ‘committed to making fares 20 per cent cheaper on average than in the rest of Great Britain.’

Fare hikes will see the cost of an annual ticket for a one-hour, 69mile journey between Swindon and London Paddington rise from £9,016 to £9,268. Many other annual season tickets will surge by more than £100.

In another insult to passengers, millions who use South Western Railway (SWR) face more strikes in February. The Rail, Maritime and Transport workers’ union has started balloting members about new strikes on SWR in a dispute over guards on trains.

On new trains due to start running this year, the firm wants drivers to operate the doors at stations to save time.