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Rail fares from Euston set to treble
Dick Murray, Transport Editor08.12.08
THOUSANDS of long-distance rail travellers from Euston will see their fares treble under the cover of timetable changes being introduced next week.
Fares will soar due to restrictions being imposed on off-peak travellers heading from London to Wales, Cumbria and Scotland.
At present passengers can travel at any time on off-peak saver fares using Virgin Trains on the West Coast Main Line. But if they wish to travel before 9am after 14 December they will have to pay the full walk-on fare costing up to three times as much.
For example a saver return to Lancaster costs £69.30 but if the user wishes to travel before 9am they will have to purchase a standard return costing £238.
Gerry Doherty, general secretary of the TSSA union which revealed the figures, said: "This is a back door fares rise being disguised by the new timetable." A spokesman for Virgin Trains said that from Sunday improvements would result in a "business level of service". "Therefore we have brought in restrictions."
Reader views (8)
Roll on the Second Coming thus putting an end to this crass stupidity where Virgin Rail is concerned.
- Mr4 P Glass, Luton, England, UK
I was under the impression that they wanted people out of there cars and on to public transport but they're making public transport so expensive, in time, it going to be cheaper just to use the car (and safer).
- David, London
There should be much earlier trains on major routes, and night trains too, so people can get to, say London from Manchester, do a day's work, or amusement, and get back the same day, or after midnight, without having to fork out for an hotel, or travelling in the rush-hour.
The Great Central railway might have to be re-laid with track soon, as well. It's still there, waiting for rails to be laid.
- Alex Mckenna, Manchester
The government allows the public to be ripped off, all public transport fares should be capped these rail companies receive taxpayers money.
- Maggie, London
Have I missed something here . . . ?? I was under the impression that saver tickets are only valid on off peak trains, i.e. AFTER 9am - you are not able to purchase saver tickets for travel before 9am and I don't believe that has changed. That is the reason why commuters pay the top premium rates to travel before 9am. If there is anyone on a commuter service with a saver ticket, they are clearly on the wrong train and the ticket inspector on the train will charge them the full fare or throw them off at the next station. I know this because I did a regular commute between Euston and the Midlands for 3 years.
Can saomeone tell me if the rules changed?? This is clearly another propaganda approach to upsetting and unsettling train travellers - hence increasing the traffic on the roads.
- Jessie, London
So it wasn't a 'business level of service' already?
- Mike, London
Another example of legitimate thieving, must have got the idea from Government examples
- Cap, london
That is really going to make the choice of Plane v Train a no-brainer then.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
