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Commuters face 10 per cent rise in fares
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent20 Oct 2008
COMMUTERS' hopes that they might be spared a rise in train fares of up to 10 per cent on London services next year were dashed today.
Ministers refused to bow to pressure to change the formula for setting the cost of many rail tickets.
The all-party Commons transport committee had demanded that the Government slow down the shift in funding the rail network from the taxpayer to train users.
MPs have also tabled a motion in Parliament to ensure that rail fares rise no faster than inflation.
But the Department for Transport today stressed that the Government would stick to allowing regulated fares peak time, season and saver tickets to rise by the retail price index inflation plus one per cent until 2014.
"We note the concern about the proposal, but we do not consider it unreasonable," it said in reply to an inquiry by the transport committee into Labour's 30-year rail strategy.
"Regulated fares are no higher now in real terms than they were 10 years ago, and the average cost to passengers of all fares regulated and unregulated has only increased by four per cent in real terms during that period."
But Louise Ellman Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside and chairman of the transport committee said the Government's stance was "very disappointing".
She added: "Unless changes are made, fares will continue to rise and people will find they are priced off the railways. For many commuters, big fare rises will make their financial difficulties even worse."
Train companies can raise regulated fares by inflation plus one per cent, based on the RPI in July, which was 5.3per cent this year.
They also have a two per cent leeway to increase some fares by more so some tickets could go up by more than eight per cent.
Fares on Southeastern, which serves Charing Cross, Cannon Street and Victoria, could even see rises of up to 10 per cent.
The company is permitted a three per cent rise on top of RPI to pay for the new high-speed services on the Channel Tunnel link from Ashford into St Pancras, as well as the two per cent flexibility. Rises in non-regulated fares had been hovering around the six to sevenper cent mark on average in previous years, according to the National Audit Office.
But last week the NAO warned that overcrowding on London's services is going to get worse despite increases in ticket prices.
Passengers would face cattle-truck conditions until 2014, when 1,300 extra carriages and longer platforms are due to be introduced under a £10billion capacity-boosting programme.
Reader views (10)
Nu Labor go away!! And take Mr. Bean Brown with you. Call an election!
- Peteo, London, 21/10/2008 13:22
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It's a shame that the government doesn't look after people who pay taxes a little better. It often feels as though we're purely a source of revenue for money that is going to be spent on those who don't work or contribute. As someone who is struggling financially, I could really do without this price hike.
- Jane, Brighton, UK., 21/10/2008 12:32
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Wages are going down, there is a financial crisis throughout the World and the damn Transport committee wants to put prices up yet again!? Soon everyone will be priced out of the Market and the trains will be empty, jobs will not be filled because people cannot get to them and there will be a total Domino effect. Mark my words - I give it just 5 years.
- Wq (Ex Pat), Frankfurt, Germany., 21/10/2008 12:07
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It does make me laugh when they say "from the taxpayer to the train users" - we train users are taxpayers!
- Bryony, London, UK., 21/10/2008 11:52
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And this is a surprise?!
- Em, London, UK., 21/10/2008 09:06
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Sounds about right!
Most of the rail companies, like our utility companies are owned by foreigners. So we just get shafted yet again, whilst there feeble government does nothing as per usual!
- Scott, London, UK., 21/10/2008 09:01
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And yet, the sheeple will quietly put up with it, and would never dare to dissent.
- Neil, London UK, 20/10/2008 17:02
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Oh-oh, look out, more cyclists on the roads likely! The cyclist haters will be going mad...
- Mcw, London, 20/10/2008 16:35
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VILE!! VILE!! Daylight robbery but then what do you expect from this government!!
- Karenf, London, 20/10/2008 16:16
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maybe if they throw all the dirty infidel pigs from the train it would not be so crowded.
love and crispy bacon toppings johnny pig.
- Johnny, london uk, 20/10/2008 15:58
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