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New fares 'ripping off' passengers
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A fresh row over rail fares flared as train companies were accused of "ripping off" passengers with rises well above the rate of inflation.
Travellers faced new charges, with some tickets going up by more than 11%, adding hundreds of pounds to some annual season tickets.
The Transport Salaried Staffs Association, which represents thousands of rail workers, said the Government should scrap the formula allowing rail companies to increase fares above the cost of living.
General secretary Gerry Doherty said: "This latest increase makes a mockery of the Government's claims to help hard working families through the recession.
"As every other business in the land frantically cuts prices to win customers, we see rail companies cheerfully ripping off passengers by increasing their fares as inflation falls towards zero in 2009.
"Why should they be allowed to defy the laws of economic gravity which means prices should come down in a recession? This is totally unfair and totally unjustified. It is time for ministers to cancel this gravy train which sees passengers being taken for a ride every year."
Customer watchdog body Passenger Focus said rail travellers would "shudder and shiver" when they saw the new fares. But the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) said some fares were staying the same or going down and commuting by rail was "considerably less expensive than commuting by car".
Regulated fares, which include annual season tickets, will be going up by an average of 6% and unregulated fares, which include off-peak tickets, will be rising even more - by an average of 7%.
Some passengers will face double-digit percentage increases. For example the annual season ticket on Southeastern for the Gillingham-London route will go up 10.2% to £3,020. Also, there will be 10% rises on unregulated day return fares on London-Weymouth, Woking-London and Farnborough-London routes on South West Trains.
The Kings Lynn-London unregulated day return fare on First Capital Connect (FCC) goes up 11.5%, while FCC's unregulated St Neots-London day return fare rises 11.1%.
Reader views (6)
I really don't understand what all the fuss is about. Whenever I come to the UK and take the train to he north the first class carriages are practically full. And the fares are often more than double those in Italy. It seems that the more the fares go up the more crowded the trains get. The money must be coming from somewhere.
- Mark Wright, Milan, Italy, 02/01/2009 16:43
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This is the result of government policy and the fruition of the Tory privatisation plan from the mid 90s which has been continued by Labour.
The government have demanded an 80% increase in fare revenue over the next five years.
The train companies will no longer receive subsidy and will instead pay millions to the government every year.
The rail firms, the rolling stock companies and the government will all seek to make a profit from one source of revenue - the passenger.
It is going to get much worse over the next few years.
Another public service destroyed.
- Jim, London,UK, 02/01/2009 15:25
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if the Times report is correct there is even more to be concerned about - many train companies have reduced the period of 'Off Peak' which means that more people will be stung by the higher 'Peak' rates which may impact on their ability to afford to work part time
- Andy, London, 02/01/2009 12:09
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Wait until the RMT put their wage claim in. Come on Mr Crowe how about 11% ?
- Grim Reaper, Hell, 02/01/2009 11:53
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My off-peak travelcard from Huntingdon to KX has gone up from £16.50 to £18.50 (using my Network card) i make that just over 12% increase. How can FCC justify that?, with fuel prices falling i might just take the car in to London more often - which will take revenue away from the railway, which is what they deserve.
- Markburton, St Ives Cambs, 02/01/2009 10:46
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Happy New Commuting Year! Three and a half grand for another 12 months of joy - 1st train 15 mins late then collapses completely in the middle of nowhere for another 30 minutes. I guess it can only get better ...........
- Paul, London, 02/01/2009 09:27
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