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Off-peak rail travellers will suffer 15% rise in new year ticket prices
Dick Murray, Transport Correspondent16 Nov 2009
Rail passengers today faced massive hikes in ticket prices, some as high as 15 per cent, it was revealed today.
The increases, which come into force in January, will hit tens of thousands of commuters who travel outside of the peak hours.
The fares, announced today by Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc), went up an average of 1.1 per cent, the lowest rise since rail privatisation in the mid-1990s. The average off-peak fare will go up by five per cent.
The low average is because many peak fares are being frozen or falling slightly as a result of the recession.
Complex laws mean companies can increase peak fares only by one per cent above July's inflation figure. As that was negative, companies have had to freeze or cut those fares, which will affect about 400,000 commuters.
However, companies can, and will, seek to cover losses with higher increases for off-peak travellers.
One of the worst affected tickets is believed to be a £20 super-saver fare (First Great Western) from Swindon to London, which goes up to £23. Off-peak fares on South Eastern will go up by 7.2 per cent and on Southern, which includes the Brighton line into Victoria, by four per cent.
Experts attacked rail bosses for trying to hide the massive increases. Instead of listing fares levied by each operator — as in the past — Atoc simply said fares would rise by 1.1 per cent on average.
Atoc chief executive Michael Roberts said passengers should keep a “sense of proportion” about what they pay.
But Gerry Doherty, of the TSSA union, said some advance purchase tickets were rising by up to 15 per cent.
Reader views (23)
I sincerely commiserate with peeps entrapped within London and the Home Counties who have no alternative but to commute to work, with greedy train operators ripping off Joe Public at every turn.
Get away from the rat race.....
Plenty of space in sunny Morecambe!!
- Reuben Camara, Plot 1, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR, 17/11/2009 10:54
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FCC's predecessor was ignoring passengers' valid claims for post-Hatfield compensation, so I decided to take them on in the County Court. They also ignored the CCC, and Judgment was entered against them. Despite this, they managed to get the ruling overturned and I never got a penny of the compensation that was due to me. These rail companies are untouchable by us mere mortals, and I am yet to even hear of any passenger wrongly fined winning an appeal against the fine.
- Richard, Madrid, Spain, 17/11/2009 10:46
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It will not be long before we see a case of someone who takes a train company to court for
1) not providing a sufficient level of service equal to that in the companies timetable
2) or their agreed level of service as outlined as an obligatory part of their promised franchise contract.
- William Grierson, Kimpton-UK, 16/11/2009 18:28
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"this has nothing to do with Boris"
No, they're a lot less that he's bunging them up by, on the whole. There's a nasty catch in the forthcoming Oyster on National Rail rollout that means the existing lines where PAYG is valid under previous agreements change the fare structure to match the lines coming in new on the 2nd January.
This, as far as I can make out, means a nasty shock if you use PAYG to travel from suburban National Rail stations into London by changing onto the Underground at the terminal. The example I'm looking at is a rise of 37%, £2.70 to £3.70 for Zone 3.
Ironically if you're just going to the terminal the fare reduces slightly, as there's a common charge of £1.10 extra if you mix NR and Underground/Overground journeys which doesn't exist if you stick to NR alone. Then there are rumours of something called 'Oyster Extension Permits' which have to be seen to be believed.
It's extremely complicated and I can foresee a lot of puzzled and annoyed travellers, considering how desirable Oyster PAYG on NR has been for years, there seems to be an urgent desire among the train operators to make it as complicated and inconsistent as possible.
- Tom, London, UK, 16/11/2009 17:51
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It now costs £10 a day to park at Grantham station. People are not stupid and fewer passengers now use the station car park. It is a good example of the law of diminishing returns. I now pay less to park my car at Heathrow than at Grantham - total madness.
- Simon, Grantham, 16/11/2009 17:50
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This should really give Labour's re-election campaign a shot in the foot!
It could also be a huge own goal for the train companies as much of the travel to which these increases apply is discretionary. I for one will certainly be using other methods of transport.
- John C, Leatherhead, UK, 16/11/2009 17:17
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Great, no longer a Nationalized industry but paid more top up money from the tax payer than British Rail EVER was.
What a superb network we have!; and costs keep on rising.
What a surprise. Well done Gordoon another mess you have not sorted out.
- Macdangler, Wimbledon SW19, 16/11/2009 17:02
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Finally a cost that wont affect my painful commute. I must say that it is the banks that own the lines and in effect hike the rental agreements on the tracks the providers use so once again it is the banks that are clawing more cash
- Harrington Monkpiece, London, 16/11/2009 15:44
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Dhan Raj: this has nothing to do with Boris - these are fare rises for National Rail operators, who are supposed to be kept in line by the Department for Transport, not the Mayor.
I'm not defending or attacking Boris in general. But if you want to slag him off, probably best to stick to stuff that he's involved with.
- Jeremy, Ealing, 16/11/2009 14:53
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Lovely!! more money for shorter trains, no seat over crowding, dirty trains,late running, cancellations, less space take your bike, and of course, a inetrcom sustem on the platform or on the train where you can't hear or understand a word anyone just said! and don't get me started on the train stations, toilets that are out of order, waiting rooms, too small or always closed, sheds on the platform too short... I know what we should do..all rail travellers should strike for better conditions!!
- Andrew, london, 16/11/2009 14:05
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Only a masochist would use the trains on a regular basis,they are ridiculously expensive,full of radiation from laptops and mobiles and usually full of irritants.
- Duke Of Birmingham, Bullring circus., 16/11/2009 13:57
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You have all missed the point. Why do train companies need more money and why do we have to pay it, when the standard of service has not improved? The railways will be defunct in 10-20 years if these increases happen year-on-year. Yes, re-nationalise them, but why? It was useless before, why go back? Just vote for a political party that helps commuters get to work cheaply to provide the economy with more cash (oh sorry there isn't one).
- Rod, Epping, UK, 16/11/2009 13:36
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I use South Eastern trains, last year my fares went up 7% because they said the line was going to now use the Kings Cross station. However my line doesn't go on Kings Cross so I was being charged the extra for something that I and most of people in Kent are not going to use. They are going up again 1.1% and we are supposed to be grateful are we, if anything they should be coming down. They still don't run on time especially now its winter this is the biggest rip off since the MP's expenses fiasco.
- Claire, London, 16/11/2009 12:54
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Only 5% rise, a bargain can't wait to use it.
- Mr S.Port, London, 16/11/2009 12:02
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unbelievable. the gap between politicians and those they are meant to serve continues to get grow wider and wider.
- Josh, london, 16/11/2009 11:43
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Goodness me, a whole 0.4 %! What will I spend it on? My monthly ticket will cost me a grand total of £1.50 a month less - the princely sum of £235.50 a month for a journey that takes 45 minutes and starts no further out geographically speaking than Heathrow. That is of course when the trains are actually running and not flooded out, delayed, understaffed, or cancelled due to lack of train crew/rolling stock/faulty equipment (delete as appropriate)
I am sick to death of being held to ransom by greedy, profit driven companies like South West Trains. I think I'd vote for any political party who would renationalise the railway (except the BNP. You have to draw the line somewhere!)
- Sarah, Shepperton, Middx, 16/11/2009 11:28
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Don't worry, the rail companies will just put up the cost of station car parking by ridiculous rates instead. After all, they have to make money for their shareholders somehow.
- Helen, Fleet UK, 16/11/2009 11:16
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It is nearly cheaper to get a cab now to the airport (Luton, Standsted) than a train. They should be trying to get bums on seats rather than encouraging people to drive or take the bus.
- Mike, London, 16/11/2009 10:55
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Dhan, you do understand that the Rail companies are private and that the mayor of London has no control over their pricing policies don't you? No? Perhaps you'd like a job working for Ken then, you're obviously qualified.
- Bob, Cheam, 16/11/2009 10:53
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Bring back British Rail, properly fund it..unlike before, and let the railways run for the benefit of the passengers and not the shareholders.
- Mark H, London England, 16/11/2009 10:48
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Well FCC Thameslink should give an immediate 50% cut as they are only running half the trains!
- Michael De Ferrari, London, 16/11/2009 09:57
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Exploitation of the rail monopolies continues unchecked as ever!
- Dave, London, 16/11/2009 09:51
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boris soaking the poor commuter again. on your bike in 2012.
- Dhan Raj, Basildon, 16/11/2009 09:42
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