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'Dick Turpin' rail operators increase cost of railcard by 25%
Dick Murray08.05.09
The cost of a network railcard, which offers families cheap tickets in the South East, is to rise by 25 per cent.
It heads a list of other price rises affecting old people, students and the armed forces. The increase will add £5 to the annual £20 ticket, which gives up to four adults a third off tickets, and 60 per cent off the fare for up to four children.
Critics condemned rail bosses for presiding over the "rip-off capital of Europe".
Gerry Doherty, general secretary of the TSSA transport union, said: "This increase is outrageous even by the low, money-grabbing standards usually employed by the private rail companies. It is the third ticket price hike in just five months.
"This is daylight robbery but even Dick Turpin would have thought twice about holding up the same stagecoach three times in five months."
The increases, which will come in on 17May, have been authorised by the Association of Train Operating Companies.
The minimum fare for network railcards will also rise by 30 per cent from £10 to £13. Student and old peoples' railcards will increase from £24 to £26, while student and armed forces minimum fares will jump by 50 per cent from £8 to £12.
Last week Mr Doherty demanded that fare rises be limited to one annual increase, but this was turned down by Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon.
Mr Doherty said: "I would urge buff-Hoon to act now against these greedy rail firms who have turned our industry into the rip-off capital of Europe.
"But he will continue to sit on his hands and do nothing while Britain has the most expensive trains in Europe and the most overcrowded trains in Europe."
The rail firms, which make tens of millions of pounds, are fighting to increase fares despite plunging inflation rates.
In January peak fares rose by an average of up to eight per cent, adding hundreds of pounds to the cost of annual season tickets. Off-peak fares increased by an average of 11 per cent. Firms can set off-peak fares but peak price rises are capped. The January rise is based on the inflation rate for the previous July. Firms are allowed to charge inflation plus one per cent, except for Southeastern, which serves Kent and south-east London, which is allowed to add three per cent.
With the July inflation rate near zero rail companies wanted the rules changed, but Mr Hoon turned this down.
Instead, firms are looking at measures to increase revenue such as the railcard rise, axing staff and cutting services.
A spokesman for the Association of Train Operating Companies said: "This is the first increase for 12 years. We clearly offer value for money."
Reader views (16)
I don't mind the £25 for network rail card, I object to the price per mile. I do own a card, but when you have to pay £24 for a 50 mile trip and compare it to other countries it is expensive. I go to see my parents who live in italy 3/4 times a year, I get the eurostar for 110 miles and pay only 21 euros first class, this includes a cup of coffee, a newspaper of choice, a sweet or savory bag and a drink of water. Second class is only 16 euros and its eurostar not second rate trains. If you do want second rate trains the journey is only 6 euros for 110 miles. Now why can't we do that here in brittain??
- C Cusano, Bedford
More thin excuses coming. An argument that could be snapped like a little twig, but it won't be. Some sort of balanced debate on Radio4 and they'll get away with it again. Are you angry enough yet? Dialogue is over.
- Shaun, leeds
As aged person I can travel on road,rail, or ferry transport free between 9.00am till 4.00pm any day of the week. To travel by rail the 75klms from home to Perth outside those hours costs me $2.48AUD or £1.25 return and this permits me to travel on any public transport in Perth for free as well. That's why we call it a transport service. If they were in it to make a profit it would not be a service would it?
- Len, Perth, Australia
every day we hear how this country is being allowed to rot from the inside....the divide between the greedy corrupt rich including politicians and the poor continues to widen.....where is the social responsibility of our so called leaders with it appears a finger in every pie......we should now renationalise all essential services...railways included and industries to ensure that all the people get to benefit from living in this country....before a bloody revolution overtakes us all....a phoenix usually rises from the fire...so perhaps this is what is needed to cure the ills of this state.
- L H Simpson, farnborough england
BRING BACK ROBIN HOOD?.
ENOUGH SAID.
- John L., Scarborough North Yorkshire, U.K.
If they are going to increase the Network Railcard cost then they should also widen the area that it covers - to Peterborough and beyond!.
- Mark Burton, St Ives. Canbs
And we in the Medway towns cant wait for the new "High Speed" train to/from London that will save us 2 to 4 mins on a journey time that's 47mins. For only an additional 30% to 50% in cost. We will have no choice as the train operator is cutting the present fast train service to push as many passengers as it can on to the new 'Dick Turpin' service.
By the way!. When I started going by train in the bad old days of British Railways. The journey time was 40 mins. Which is still faster than the new "High Speed" train.
- Gerry, Chatham KENT UK
Railways are stuck in a very expensive siding with no way out. Almost everyone else in Europe has publicly owned and run railways and from the comments posted here, it works. So let's stop this privatised nonsense. Public ownership now, please!
- Robert C, London, UK
I was living in Switzerland for the last four years, commuting every day into Geneva by train. I bought an Abonnement General for the equivalent of about £1300 and this allowed me to travel for one year on almost all public transport throughout the length and breadth of Switzerland free of any additional charges. Now that I am back in the UK I am shocked at how little I can get for the same amount of money. The private rail companies in Briatin were supposed to improve public transport and the competition was supposed to provide benefits for the customer but it has simply produced even more unaffordable ticket prices. The walk up fare for off-peak travel from here in Elgin to London is now almost £200 return. Is it any wonder people are deserting the trains to fly?
- Douglas Clark, Elgin, Scotland
A £5 increase is insignificant for the discounts received. Taking children for a £1 where a lone adult would have to pay £40 seems like a bargain to me!
- Man U Fan, London
First increase in 12 years? Really? I remember buying a Young Person's Railcard for £19 8 years back...
- Mark Lee, Vauxhall
Who privatised the railways?
- Anthony, Esher, Surrey (just outside the Travelcard zones)
I was in Germany a few months back and it cost me just over 2 Euros for an hours journey from Berlin airport. I questioned a guard as I thought I must have pressed a few wrong buttons; I hadn't, the ticket cost was correct. Imagine how sick I felt when I renewed my annual season ticket in the UK for a 50 minute journey (often standing) at £3,324 last week... Yep, ripped off.
- Gcb, London, UK
I can travel over 500 miles from Bordeaux to Nice in a First Class seat for €30, which is around £25. To get to Londn from Gatwick costs me almost the same!!!
- David Chown, Bordeaux France and London
Just another example of the arrogance, complacency and obvious contempt that Labour display towards the travelling public.
All change please!
- Richard, London
Buff just proving there isn't a single department he can't do significant damage.
- Marianne, SW France/London
