Rail fares hiked yet again

Ticket prices increased above inflation thanks to “discredited and obsolete” system

COMMUTERS saw train fares jump yet again at the start of this year.

Not only that, many who are now unable to use their expensive season tickets due to the coronavirus lockdown are still waiting for a refund.

New government figures have revealed that rail fares in Great Britain increased by 2.4% in January 2020, on average.

While standard class unregulated fares increased by 2.1%, that rose to 2.7% for the price of all regulated fares, and 2.8% for both first class unregulated and super off-peak fares.

Regulated fares account for around 45 per cent of ticket sales the rest, including things like advance and peak long-distance tickets, can be increased at train companies' discretion.

Increases for regulated fares were capped at 2.8%, based on the Retail Prices Index - but campaigners say this measure is “discredited and obsolete” and should no longer be used.

Instead, they say fare hikes should be tied to the Consumer Price Index, which would have capped fare increases at 2.1%.

The government indicated in August 2018 that it would replace RPI for fare rises, but progress has yet to be made, leaving passengers facing increases above inflation yet again.

Darren Shirley, chief executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said: “Rail passengers are tired of rising fares and broken promises.

“It's time for a complete overhaul of the fares system and a fairer way to calculate future level.

“Only total reform will start to restore passengers' faith in the rail network, and ensure the railways are more affordable and better value for passengers.”

Passengers were also promised refunds for their season rail tickets at the start of the coronavirus lockdown, to encourage them to stay at home.

However, a survey by Transport

Focus has revealed that many are still waiting for a refund - some for several hundreds of pounds.

A third of those asked had not yet received a refund, and six in 10 had not been kept informed over how long it would take.

They included one passenger who said he had no idea of the progress of his claim for a £3,000 refund, and another who said he had been waiting for eight weeks for £720 to be returned.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of Transport Focus, said: “While the majority of passengers have received a refund, six weeks on from applying others are still out of pocket and in the dark.

“Operators must reassure passengers on how long they can expect their refund to take and when they can realistically expect to see the money back in their bank account.”

Rail companies generally promise to pay within 28 days - but the number of refund claims being put forward has been unprecedented.

Jacqueline Starr, chief operating officer for the Rail Delivery Group, said: “In the last two months over 109,000 season tickets have been refunded, which is more than the entirety of last year.

“We thank people for their patience as refunds are processed during these exceptional times and we have doubled the number of staff processing refund claims.”

In total, train companies had given 2.8 million refunds on all types of rail tickets, worth more than £247m, in two months.

Customers can apply for 56 days, double the normal period, and season ticket refunds are being backdated.

Average increase of rail fares in January 2020

Rate of inflation (based on the Consumer Price Index)