05.12.17
Biggest rail fare rise in five years condemned by passengers
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) has announced the biggest fare increase since 2013, with prices set to rise by 3.4% in January.
Figures are lower than the initial ONS projection of 3.6% but have been condemned by passenger group Transport Focus for using the higher retail price index to calculate rises.
Train companies maintain that the price rise is justified and say that 97% of the money passengers spend on tickets is funnelled back into railway investment.
“A chill wind will blow down England’s platforms in January as rail fare increases bite,” commented Transport Focus chief executive, Anthony Smith.
“Many passengers face stagnant or falling incomes while rail fares continue to climb. It is time that the fairer, clearer Consumer Prices Index formula is used as the basis for rail fare rises rather than the increasingly outmoded Retail Price Index.”
Smith did welcome the investment in new trains and improved track and signalling but said passengers were “seeing the basic promises made by the rail industry broken on too many days” – referring to reliability and value for money across the network.
The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) uses slightly different variables to the Retail Price Index (RPI) meaning it is lower and would indicate a lesser increase in cost.
Making the announcement, Paul Plummer, chief executive of the RDG, shifted some of the blame for the fare increase onto the government, saying it controls increases to almost half of fares, including season tickets, with the rest “heavily influenced by the payments train companies make to government.”
“Alongside investment from the public and private sectors, money from fares is underpinning the partnership railway’s long-term plan to change and improve,” he continued.
“Working together, our plan will secure £85bn of additional economic benefits while enabling further investment and improved journeys for customers, better connections to boost local communities and a bright future for our employees.”
Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT, said the fare increase was “another kick in the teeth for British passengers” who he says will still be left paying the highest fees in Europe.
He said: “For public sector workers and many others in our communities who have had their pay and benefits capped or frozen by this government these fare increases are another twist of the economic knife.”
The new fares will take effect from 2 January 2018 although passengers should be able to find updated prices and buy tickets from today.
Top image: Tim Goode EMPICS Entertainment
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