23.12.13
Fares will rise by 2.8% in 2014
Ticket prices for 2014 are now publicly available at ticket offices and online. The average increase to fares will be 2.8%, after the Chancellor announced that they would be kept in line with RPI.
Fares had been planned to increase by RPI+1%.
Michael Roberts, director general of the Rail Delivery Group, said: “We strongly support the Government’s decision to introduce a real term freeze in the average price of Season tickets next year. The lowest increase across all fares for four years shows the industry's determination to maintain the phenomenal growth in rail travel since the mid-1990s.
“Nobody likes paying more to travel by train, particularly to go to work, but billions are being spent to serve passengers better. While major projects like the new King’s Cross or Birmingham New Street stations are plain for all to see, work has also been proceeding with thousands of smaller, less visible schemes to improve tracks, signals and tunnels. Investment in new trains has improved passenger comfort and helped make possible 4,000 more services a day than in the mid-1990s.
“According to European Commission research published last week, rail passengers rate the UK’s railway the best major network in Europe, but we will not rest on our laurels. Over the next five years, at least £24bn more will be spent improving the rail network. And the rail industry is working hard to get more for every pound we spend, allowing government the scope to hold down fares in future years should it choose to do so.”
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