Fares to keep on rising
Adam Hewitt • Published 2 Dec 2010 09:30
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TRAIN fares are set to rocket to pay for investment in railway infrastructure and help reduce the nation's debts.
The Government wants more of the cost of rail travel to come from passengers, and less from the taxpayer, meaning a season ticket from Reading to Paddington which costs £3,388 now - excluding tube fares - could cost £4,444 by 2015.
From January 1, regulated fares are going up at the same rate they have since 2004 - inflation plus 1%, or 5.8%.
But from 2012 the Government is allowing train firms to put prices up by an average of inflation plus 3%. Some routes could see even higher increases, as long as the figures balance out and the companies keep the average rise at inflation plus 3%.
Unregulated fares, including short-distance off-peak trips, are likely to go up even more.
This is partly to pay for things like the electrification of the Great Western mainline, confirmed last week, as well as Crossrail and Thameslink.
But Reading Lib Dem councillor Ricky Duveen, a commuter who has campaigned for years against fare rises, said: "If this upgrade programme is to be paid for from higher fares then passengers, and especially commuters, will be really miffed.
"We are being forced to fork out for large fare increases already, before any improvement in services, and meanwhile it appears Network Rail and the operating companies are racking up huge profits. It does not seem like a fair deal on fares to me.
"How much longer do we have to stand on overcrowded trains every day whilst paying the highest rail fares in Europe?"
Chief executive of the Campaign for Better Transport, Stephen Joseph, said: "We are appalled at the Government's plan to allow rail fares to rise so far above the inflation rate. These eye-watering rises are unacceptable at a time when we should be growing the railways to tackle congestion on our roads and reduce carbon emissions in line with Government targets."
But Michael Roberts, chief executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), said: "We know times are tough for many people but next year's fare increases will ensure Britain can continue investing in its railways."
ATOC says it is not in train companies' interests to price people off the railways.
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