Rail passengers face fare rises in the new year - with some tickets in England, Scotland and Wales going up by double the rate of inflation.
Rail passengers face fare rises in the new year - with some tickets in England, Scotland and Wales going up by double the rate of inflation.
Regulated fares - including season tickets - are due to increase by an average of 6% from 2 January 2009.
Regulated fares - including season tickets - are due to increase by an average of 6% from 2 January 2009.
Unregulated tickets - including most leisure and advance fares - will rise by 7% on average, with some rising 11%.
Unregulated tickets - including most leisure and advance fares - will rise by 7% on average, with some rising 11%.
Train companies say the revenue will be reinvested, but watchdog Passenger Focus says some rises are unjustified.
Train companies say the revenue will be reinvested, but watchdog Passenger Focus says some rises are unjustified.
Regulated fares are based on a set formula which limits increases to 1% above retail price index (RPI) inflation.
Regulated fares are based on a set formula which limits increases to 1% above retail price index (RPI) inflation.
The government's policy is to increase fares above inflation and reduce the contribution from the taxpayer.
The government's policy is to increase fares above inflation and reduce the contribution from the taxpayer.
The increases are based on July's RPI of 5%, a figure which has since dropped to 4.2%.
The increases are based on July's RPI of 5%, a figure which has since dropped to 4.2%.
Some lower fares
Some lower fares
Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) chief executive Michael Roberts said passengers would benefit from the reinvestment, while taxpayers would receive better value.
Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) chief executive Michael Roberts said passengers would benefit from the reinvestment, while taxpayers would receive better value.
The changes fall in line with government policy to reduce railway subsidies by 40% between 2006-07 and 2013-14, he said. SOME UNREGULATED FARE RISES CrossCountry - 11%East Midlands trains - 7.4%First Capital Connect - 9%First Great Western - 6.6%First Scotrail - 6% London Midland - 0%South West Trains - 7.2%Virgin Trains - 7%National Express East Coast - 7.4%
The changes fall in line with government policy to reduce railway subsidies by 40% between 2006-07 and 2013-14, he said. SOME UNREGULATED FARE RISES CrossCountry - 11%East Midlands trains - 7.4%First Capital Connect - 9%First Great Western - 6.6%First Scotrail - 6% London Midland - 0%South West Trains - 7.2%Virgin Trains - 7%National Express East Coast - 7.4%
Mr Roberts said: "Passengers in recent years have helped pay for 20% more services, and performance in the first half of this year is at the highest level since records began, with more than 90% of trains arriving on time.
Mr Roberts said: "Passengers in recent years have helped pay for 20% more services, and performance in the first half of this year is at the highest level since records began, with more than 90% of trains arriving on time.
"Yet, since 1996, in real terms, overall rail fares have risen by just 5% and standard-class regulated fares are actually lower than they were in the year before privatisation."
"Yet, since 1996, in real terms, overall rail fares have risen by just 5% and standard-class regulated fares are actually lower than they were in the year before privatisation."
Some people would see their ticket prices drop, he told BBC News.
Some people would see their ticket prices drop, he told BBC News.
"These fares changes actually mean that 15% of all fares will either be frozen or actually will fall.
"These fares changes actually mean that 15% of all fares will either be frozen or actually will fall.
"At the same time train companies will be investing in a £800m programme of improvements to trains and to stations, and I think that's actually good news for passengers."
"At the same time train companies will be investing in a £800m programme of improvements to trains and to stations, and I think that's actually good news for passengers."
CrossCountry has the highest increase for its unregulated fares at 11%, while London Midland has frozen its unregulated fares so prices will go down 5%.
CrossCountry has the highest increase for its unregulated fares at 11%, while London Midland has frozen its unregulated fares so prices will go down 5%.
'Not welcome'
'Not welcome'
Anthony Smith, chief executive of watchdog Passenger Focus, said he was concerned about the above-inflation rises.
Anthony Smith, chief executive of watchdog Passenger Focus, said he was concerned about the above-inflation rises.
He said: "No fare rises are welcome in the current economic climate.
He said: "No fare rises are welcome in the current economic climate.
"Some train companies deserve credit for limiting some unregulated rises. However, rises way above inflation are unjustified and unfair. If every other business is cutting prices, why should the rail companies be allowed to get away with daylight robbery? Gerry DohertyTSSA
"Some train companies deserve credit for limiting some unregulated rises. However, rises way above inflation are unjustified and unfair. If every other business is cutting prices, why should the rail companies be allowed to get away with daylight robbery? Gerry DohertyTSSA
"These average fares will no doubt mask some very steep rises on particular routes."
"These average fares will no doubt mask some very steep rises on particular routes."
He called for the government to become more involved and added: "We also need to look closely at establishing a fairer link between fares, investment and satisfactory performance.
He called for the government to become more involved and added: "We also need to look closely at establishing a fairer link between fares, investment and satisfactory performance.
"We cannot simply go on dumping costs on to the passenger in this way."
"We cannot simply go on dumping costs on to the passenger in this way."
Union leaders and opposition parties said the government should have intervened.
Union leaders and opposition parties said the government should have intervened.
Gerry Doherty, leader of transport union TSSA, said: "If every other business is cutting prices, why should the rail companies be allowed to get away with daylight robbery?"
Gerry Doherty, leader of transport union TSSA, said: "If every other business is cutting prices, why should the rail companies be allowed to get away with daylight robbery?"
Michael Roberts of ATOC: 'Passengers want to see value for money'
Michael Roberts of ATOC: 'Passengers want to see value for money'
Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said the government had let down passengers by failing to provide them with "value for money".
Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said the government had let down passengers by failing to provide them with "value for money".
Passengers were putting up with "crisis levels of overcrowding as well as rising fares", with the most packed trains running at over 170% capacity, she said.
Passengers were putting up with "crisis levels of overcrowding as well as rising fares", with the most packed trains running at over 170% capacity, she said.
For the Liberal Democrats, Norman Baker MP called for fares to be frozen and said passengers deserved to be treated the same way that motorists were.
The Liberal Democrats called for a freeze in regulated rail fares for a year, to be paid for by cuts to the roads-building budget.
"The government has repeatedly frozen fuel duty for motorists in the light of external circumstances, despite the fact that under Labour the cost of motoring has actually fallen in real terms by 10%," he said.
It suggested the government should compensate train companies so that passengers who buy unregulated fares were not penalised.
Working together
This week the Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon asked train companies to bear in mind the current economic climate when calculating the new fares.
The Department for Transport said the government has worked with train operators to simplify the ticketing system.
A spokesman said the capped, regulated fares accounted for almost two-thirds of all rail journeys.
"We've also committed £15bn to support the railways in the next five years - including a £10 billion investment to increase capacity," he said.
He added the government would continue to work with Passenger Focus and was committed to improving "transparency and confidence in the fares system."
Will you be affected by these changes? Will you have to make other travel arrangements when the fares increase? Are you considering changing jobs due to higher prices?
Will you be affected by these changes? Will you have to make other travel arrangements when the fares increase? Are you considering changing jobs due to higher prices?
Send your comments using the post form below, or text 61124.
Send your comments using the post form below, or text 61124.
In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.
In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.
