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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Train fare hikes hit passengers | Train fare hikes hit passengers |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Commuters will have to pay an average of 6% more for their train journeys, as above-inflation rises come into force. | Commuters will have to pay an average of 6% more for their train journeys, as above-inflation rises come into force. |
| Passenger groups say the high increases for most tickets in England, Scotland and Wales cannot be justified, especially in today's economic climate. | Passenger groups say the high increases for most tickets in England, Scotland and Wales cannot be justified, especially in today's economic climate. |
| Off-peak and leisure fares have seen some of the biggest rises - up 11% on the CrossCountry train service. | Off-peak and leisure fares have seen some of the biggest rises - up 11% on the CrossCountry train service. |
| Train companies say more money will allow more investment and cheaper fares can be had if customers shop around. | Train companies say more money will allow more investment and cheaper fares can be had if customers shop around. |
| The 6% increase for regulated fares, including standard, rush hour and season tickets, is based on the inflation rate for July. | The 6% increase for regulated fares, including standard, rush hour and season tickets, is based on the inflation rate for July. |
| The economy has deteriorated since then, and so the increases are expected to be even more unpopular than usual. | The economy has deteriorated since then, and so the increases are expected to be even more unpopular than usual. |
| Government policy | Government policy |
| Unregulated fares - off-peak and leisure fares - have gone up by an average of 7%. | Unregulated fares - off-peak and leisure fares - have gone up by an average of 7%. |
| For and against: Anthony Smith, Passenger Focus and Michael Roberts, ATOC | |
| CrossCountry, whose network covers 1,500 miles (2,414 km) and stretches from Aberdeen to Penzance and from Stansted to Cardiff, has the highest increase for its unregulated fares. | |
| East Midlands Trains, Chiltern Railways, National Express East Coast and South West Trains have put their unregulated fares up by more than 7%. | East Midlands Trains, Chiltern Railways, National Express East Coast and South West Trains have put their unregulated fares up by more than 7%. |
| The BBC's transport correspondent Tom Symonds said part of the increase results from the government's policy of reducing the amount taxpayers are spending on the railways and replacing it with a bigger contribution from fare payers. | The BBC's transport correspondent Tom Symonds said part of the increase results from the government's policy of reducing the amount taxpayers are spending on the railways and replacing it with a bigger contribution from fare payers. |
| Anthony Smith, chief executive of Passenger Focus, condemned the scale of the increases. | Anthony Smith, chief executive of Passenger Focus, condemned the scale of the increases. |
| Fare rises that hark back to a time of high inflation and spiralling energy costs look very out of kilter Anthony SmithPassenger Focus Train users to 'shiver' at risesFull list of rises | |
| "Many passengers will shudder and shiver when they find out the scale of some new year fare rises," he said. | "Many passengers will shudder and shiver when they find out the scale of some new year fare rises," he said. |
| "Average rises for regulated fares are 6%, unregulated 7% but inflation is currently well below this. | "Average rises for regulated fares are 6%, unregulated 7% but inflation is currently well below this. |
| "Fare rises that hark back to a time of high inflation and spiralling energy costs look very out of kilter." | "Fare rises that hark back to a time of high inflation and spiralling energy costs look very out of kilter." |
| But Michael Roberts, chief executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc), said the average increases amounted to just £1 or £2 a day for many season ticket holders. | But Michael Roberts, chief executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc), said the average increases amounted to just £1 or £2 a day for many season ticket holders. |
| Commuting by rail was still "considerably less expensive than commuting by car - even allowing for falling petrol prices", he added. | Commuting by rail was still "considerably less expensive than commuting by car - even allowing for falling petrol prices", he added. |
RAIL COMPANY FARE | RAIL COMPANY FARE RISES |
Changes from 2 January 2009 | |
| Train company Avge regulated rise Avge unregulated rise Arriva Trains Wales 6% 6% c2c 6% 6% Chiltern Railways 6% 7.50% CrossCountry 6% 11% East Midlands Trains 6% 7.40% First Capital Connect 6% 9% First Great Western 6% 6.60% First ScotRail 6% 6% First TransPennine Express 6% 6.40% London Midland 6% 0% Merseyrail 5% 5% National Express East Anglia 6% 6% National Express East Coast 6% 7.40% Northern Rail 6% 7% Southeastern 8% 6% Southern 6% 6% South West Trains 6% 7.20% Virgin Trains 6% 7% Average 6% 7% Source: Atoc | Train company Avge regulated rise Avge unregulated rise Arriva Trains Wales 6% 6% c2c 6% 6% Chiltern Railways 6% 7.50% CrossCountry 6% 11% East Midlands Trains 6% 7.40% First Capital Connect 6% 9% First Great Western 6% 6.60% First ScotRail 6% 6% First TransPennine Express 6% 6.40% London Midland 6% 0% Merseyrail 5% 5% National Express East Anglia 6% 6% National Express East Coast 6% 7.40% Northern Rail 6% 7% Southeastern 8% 6% Southern 6% 6% South West Trains 6% 7.20% Virgin Trains 6% 7% Average 6% 7% Source: Atoc |
| Return to story | Return to story |
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