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High train fares hit green travel
24 Apr 2009Travellers are being priced off the trains, one of Britain's most senior rail managers warned today.
Ian Coucher, chief executive of Network Rail, said prices needed to be reviewed and there were routes where it was cheaper to fly. “If people are not travelling because of high fares, that's an issue,” he said.
“If we want people to use the most environmentally sustainable form of transport, we should look at the impact of pricing.” Mr Coucher said the East Coast mainline between London and Edinburgh was a route where cheaper air fares were available.
Reader views (7)
Been this way since the great train robbery (when the tories privatised it !!)
- Brian, Wiltshire, 25/04/2009 13:05
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First Capital Connect is doing great, considering the fact that they have made drastic changes
to their service in such a short span of time taking over from an old company with all the old infrastructure and working on it is not easy at all.
Great Job, all of You at First Capital Connect.
- Don, Hendon, 25/04/2009 07:35
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My off peak day return train fare from Huntingdon to Kings Cross in London went up by a whopping 12% in January. I got a 3% salary rise which was wiped out in one foul swoop by FIRST CAPITAL CONNECT - SHAME ON YOU. If you do it again, i will take the car - i will be priced off the railway. Is anyone listening????.
- Mark Burton, St. Ives. Cambs, 24/04/2009 17:59
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Trains are not 'green'. Each carriage weighs 40 tons and spends most of the time running around empty.
I came down on the train from Leeds to London last week, and sat in first class all on my own (even second class was less than half full). So personally, my transport weighed 40 tons compared to my car which weighs 1.5 tons). When are we going to lose this fantasy that trains are green?
At least airlines make an effort to make sure that flights are full before they take off.
For what its worth, travelling by train on inter-city routes is very comfortable, and its useful to have wi-fi access, and a man to bring you coffee, but green it ain't!
- George, London, 24/04/2009 16:57
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Just look at the price to go to Mancester for example...it's an absolute disgrace....high fares are an issue...but like airlines they can hike prices when ever it suits them because there are few alternatives. Value for money...I dont think so.
- Rosie, watford, 24/04/2009 14:28
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Dont forget the other line to Scotland as well.
I was willing to pay three months in advance for a party of four adults to Glasgow and back. I then looked up the plane and instantly saved myself over £200.....!
I want to be green, but I must be practical because I cannot afford to waste what little money I have.
The offer of a standby ticket on the day does NOT guarantee my holiday or even us all getting there. Lets get real!
- Dene Wood, Grays, Essex, That little country by the sea that used to have, 24/04/2009 14:08
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The train companies won't care as they know the Government will bail them out just like the banks.
- Paul B, London, 24/04/2009 11:10
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