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London rail firms offer worst deal in Europe
Dick Murray, Transport Editor19 Feb 2009
Rail passengers in London and the South-East endure the highest fares and the worst overcrowding in Europe, the Government's own watchdog reveals today.
Season tickets for average commuter journeys are nearly twice as expensive as those in France and more than four times the cost of those in Italy.
Less than half (46 per cent) of the more than three million daily rail users believe they get value for money.
The watchdog, Passenger Focus, paints a damning picture of inflation-busting fare rises being imposed at the same time as services are cut, the length of trains reduced, ticket office opening times shortened and stations left without staff for longer periods.
Every rail company in the region increased average regulated fares by the maximum allowed last month (sixper cent), adding hundreds of pounds to the cost of annual season tickets. Off-peak fares rose by up to 15 per cent.
The decision to allow Southeastern to increase peak-time fares by an average of eight per cent to help pay for new high-speed services from Ashford into St Pancras on the Channel Tunnel link was condemned as "unfair". The service will not be used by the majority of Southeastern passengers.
Ministers face a further criticism when the Commons transport committee publishes the findings of its own investigation into fares in a few weeks. The committee has accused rail bosses of "fleecing" passengers who have no alternative to rail travel.
The Government is under pressure to change the system which allows rail firms to increase regulated fares by one per cent above the inflation rate in July which was five per cent last year.
Passenger Focus also condemned the government policy of shifting more of the cost of funding the railways from the taxpayer to the passenger. This is used by the rail operators as a justification for repeatedly increasing fares by the maximum allowed.
Passenger Focus chairman Colin Foxall said passengers were "not happy with the value for money they are getting". He added: "Price of tickets is a key factor behind this but so is performance, overcrowding and managing delays. By comparison with some other European countries Britain's railways are generally more expensive, particularly in London and the South-East."
Anthony Smith, the watchdog's chief executive, said: "We recommend the Government reviews its intention to shift the cost of funding the railway from taxpayers to passengers. This policy was born in very different economic times. Passengers cannot be expected to continue paying above-inflation increases year on year during a recession."
Gerry Doherty, general secretary of the TSSA transport union, said: "This report at last recognises what London's long-suffering commuters have known for years - they are being ripped off by rail companies and the Government.
"They pay higher fares for more overcrowded services compared with any other region. They are treated like cash cows and then made to travel in cattle-truck conditions." Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said: "Under Labour, passengers have been forced to put up with eye-watering fare hikes in return for overcrowding that exceeds 170 per cent on the worst services."
The watchdog found that long-distance turn-up-and-go fully flexible day-return fares to London were 1.87 times more expensive than in the next most-expensive country surveyed, Germany. This type of ticket was also 3.31 times more expensive than in the cheapest country surveyed, Holland.
UK annual season tickets for journeys of no more than 25 miles were 1.88 times more expensive than in the next most-expensive country, France, and 4.19 times more expensive than the cheapest country - Italy.
Michael Roberts, chief executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies, said the Passenger Focus research "paints a sophisticated picture of the UK rail market with many positive features for passengers".
He said the operators had "worked very hard" to deliver the things that matter for passengers "including a range of great fare deals to suit different pockets".
Confusing and expensive
Rhian Tyler, 23, support worker from Bridgend, Wales
I have just got back from a week in Paris and the Metro was so much cheaper than the London underground. It cost 1.6 (£1.40) to go anywhere on the Metro, and if you buy a book of 10 it costs 1.4 a trip. It is so much cheaper and less cluttered and much better value for money than here.
Sam Miller, 25, drama teacher from Bridgend, Wales
It is much harder to work out how to use the Underground in London than it is in Europe. I use an oyster card, which is better than buying an individual ticket, but still more expensive than making a similar trip in Paris.
Rachel Barrett, 52, school chaplain and, Paul Barrett, 59, hospital chaplain, from Derby
We travelled from Derby to London and do not feel like we got value for money at all. There were no seats because they had sold too many tickets and we had to stand, even though we paid the same as those who got a seat. There is such a difference in price in tickets for the same journey depending on when you book it is very confusing. In London we walk everywhere. When we used the Metro in Paris it seemed to be quicker; there were fewer delays and it was much easier than the Underground in London.
Robert Boutwood, 51, director of fundraising projects for the Aspinall Foundation, Lympne, near Hythe, Kent
I use Southeastern trains but make sure I travel outside peak hours, otherwise it would kill me. I have friends who travel to London in the rush hour and tell me how busy it is. What amazes me is they change the price so frequently. Sometimes it costs £24 and sometimes it is £18. It is very confusing and doesn't really represent value for money.
Bryony Parry, 18, student, Dartford
I travel to London to shop a few times a month, and even with my young person's railcard it costs more than £10. The trains are not always on time and I don't often get a seat. It's ridiculous how expensive it is.
Reader views (13)
Initially John Major's Government is to blame for the splitting of the system into ' competing ' franchises. One suspects that many of the managers are also unqualified, having flown in from other business[ just like the Banks]! This government has followed on - and seem unable to get a grip . The economy must be adversely affected . Sadly this is all unlikely to change for many years to come.
- Pete, London UK, 23/02/2009 17:34
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Sorry - don't agree with the comments about the Paris Metro being easier to use than the Underground.
I've always found the Metro and RER quite squalid and dirty in comparison. I seem to remember that a day travelcard was about £6, much the same as the UK.
Main line railways are now beginning to collapse due to lack of investment and the money being taken from the system by the government, rolling stock companies and franchisees.
There were many who supported privatisation and they are responsible for this mess.
By the way, I understand RBS and HSBC have made a fortune from the railways in recent years, yet ironically, many of their employees have to commute on the crumbling network.
Justice, perhaps?
- Jim, London, UK, 19/02/2009 15:02
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The question, however, is what, if anything, will be done as a result of this report??
I'm not holding my breath...
- Paul, London, UK, 19/02/2009 14:19
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Reg,
I trust you never walk or cycle on our roads?
good lad.
- Scott, London, 19/02/2009 14:10
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The UK and transport just dosn't work. The roads the rail the tube, buses and even the bikes, everywhere you look things could be much better safer and cheaper. But this government is more concerned about serving itself rather than the electorate who voted them in.
Whenever they are questioned about it they will come back with a statistic to push their cause, but we dont need statistics to see transport in the UK is rubbish.
- Mr S.Port, London, 19/02/2009 12:30
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The cost of living in the UK is too high - and high public transport costs are a major cause of this.
Tony Blair & Gordon Brown has been so keen to be the friend of off-shore millionairs and bankers that they have shifted the tax base away from the rich and large companies to the middle classes.
The hedge fund manager and the private equity executive have seen there taxes cut by the Labour government and the short fall made up rising the cost of public transport.
Its a classic transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich
- John, Twickenham,, 19/02/2009 12:05
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Hey I know! Why not switch the subsidy that layabout welfare-sponging motorists receive from general taxation, to cover the FULL cost of road repairs and subsidise their local resident parking schemes, to the trains instead so rail fares come down, and motorists pay full whack for once.
The motorists are out with the begging bowl again as General Motors seeks £20 billion in return for surviving as a private business, but it doesn't have to be this way.
- Reg, London, 19/02/2009 11:49
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all we need is the unions to say their uncompetitive fat cat conditions for their workers need improving, and threaten to strike...
oh wait, that's exactly what they're doing.
- Scott, London, 19/02/2009 11:45
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The first thing a Conservative government should do is privatise the railways........Oh!
- David, London UK, 19/02/2009 11:17
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Well we certainly didn't need a report to tell us how much we are being ripped off by the train companies. I have to use southwest trains on a daily basis for work and I cannot think of any company I would like to give my money to less. Also the fact that they are one of the only train companies who are dragging their feet in respect of the necessary changes for Oyster pay as you go to be used on national rail just goes to show how greedy they really are.
- Tania, London, UK, 19/02/2009 11:15
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My sympathies are with rail users myself living in Norfolk stopped taking the train some years ago return back to my car I just got fed up to the back teeth with pathetic excuses.
- Robert, Norwich, 19/02/2009 11:03
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The question is, does this suprise anyone?
- Bob, Cheam, 19/02/2009 10:16
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The Government has recently issued a Government Policy document "Delivering a Sustainable Transport System", which advocates moving to more sustainable transport solutions. Yet through their rail franchises they have forced through rail fare increases and station car parking charge increases that makes the most sustainable transport of all, rail, unaffordable. People are being forced to use their cars instead of rail because it is becoming much cheaper to do so. This is crazy and environmental madness!
- Derek Monnery, Chairman, Essex Rail Users Federation, Bradfield, Manningtree, Essex, 19/02/2009 10:07
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