This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2013/jan/02/rail-fair-increases-commuter-routes

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Rail fare increases for 2013: how do commuter routes compare? Rail fare increases for 2013: how do commuter routes compare?
(about 5 hours later)
Commuters face an average rail fare rise of 4.3% as new prices for season tickets come into effect for 2013.Commuters face an average rail fare rise of 4.3% as new prices for season tickets come into effect for 2013.
But the hike in rail fares is nothing new according to campaigners. Matthew Taylor writes:But the hike in rail fares is nothing new according to campaigners. Matthew Taylor writes:
Rail fares for season ticket holders have risen by as much as 50% in the past decade making travelling to work by train an extravagance that growing numbers of people struggle to afford, according to campaigners.Rail fares for season ticket holders have risen by as much as 50% in the past decade making travelling to work by train an extravagance that growing numbers of people struggle to afford, according to campaigners.
Commuters returning to work after the Christmas break face average season tickets increases of 4.3% and an overall rise on ticket prices of 3.9%. But the Campaign for Better Transport says this is just the latest in a series of fare increases that is having an "appalling" impact on commuters.Commuters returning to work after the Christmas break face average season tickets increases of 4.3% and an overall rise on ticket prices of 3.9%. But the Campaign for Better Transport says this is just the latest in a series of fare increases that is having an "appalling" impact on commuters.
It is the tenth year running that rail fares have increased by more than inflation. The below table, provided by Passenger Focus, shows rail fare rises, comparing the price of a 12-month season ticket bought in January 2012 with one bought today (Jan 2013). It also shows fare prices since 2008.It is the tenth year running that rail fares have increased by more than inflation. The below table, provided by Passenger Focus, shows rail fare rises, comparing the price of a 12-month season ticket bought in January 2012 with one bought today (Jan 2013). It also shows fare prices since 2008.
A 12-month season ticket from Leeds to Wakefield will now cost £964, a rise of 6.16% according to the data from the Press Association.A 12-month season ticket from Leeds to Wakefield will now cost £964, a rise of 6.16% according to the data from the Press Association.
Passenger Focus research shows a rise of £272 (5.9%) for a season ticket from Canterbury to London and a 5.4% increase for Llanelli - Swansea. The chart above shows the a selection of the largest proportional price increases using PA data.Passenger Focus research shows a rise of £272 (5.9%) for a season ticket from Canterbury to London and a 5.4% increase for Llanelli - Swansea. The chart above shows the a selection of the largest proportional price increases using PA data.
There are also routes that have had a below average fare rise or even a decrease; a season ticket for Ellesmere Port - Chester has increased by 2.3% and Shenfield - London Terminals has decreased by 0.6%.There are also routes that have had a below average fare rise or even a decrease; a season ticket for Ellesmere Port - Chester has increased by 2.3% and Shenfield - London Terminals has decreased by 0.6%.
But how much are commuters paying per mile? By looking at the cost per mile of each train route by the rise in price of a 12-month season ticket we can see that Sevenoaks to London is the most expensive at £6 per mile. Leeds to Wakefiled will set you back £5.60 per mile and Bracknell to London will cost you £5 per mile.But how much are commuters paying per mile? By looking at the cost per mile of each train route by the rise in price of a 12-month season ticket we can see that Sevenoaks to London is the most expensive at £6 per mile. Leeds to Wakefiled will set you back £5.60 per mile and Bracknell to London will cost you £5 per mile.
The table below shows a selection of routes and season ticket prices as compiled by Passenger Focus. Fares are standard class, valid by 'any permitted route' unless otherwise shown and fares to London are to 'London Terminals' or to a specified London terminus, rail-only. The downloadable spreadsheet also has more commuter routes and calculations of cost per mile and cost of increase per mile. What can you do with this data?The table below shows a selection of routes and season ticket prices as compiled by Passenger Focus. Fares are standard class, valid by 'any permitted route' unless otherwise shown and fares to London are to 'London Terminals' or to a specified London terminus, rail-only. The downloadable spreadsheet also has more commuter routes and calculations of cost per mile and cost of increase per mile. What can you do with this data?
The cost of an average rail season ticket in Great Britain has risen to £2,191, equivalent to 8% of the median UK salary and considerably higher than the £1,441 fuel cost of driving to work.
Rail fares in England, Scotland and Wales today increased by an average of 3.9%, the third successive year in which the rise has outstripped RPI inflation.
Season ticket prices rose by an even higher margin and are now 4.2% higher than in January 2013. Among operative jobs - clerks, receptionists and data entry positions, for example - a season ticket now accounts for as much as 23% of gross salary.
The figures, published by Hay Group as part of its PayNet UK Salary Tracker, refer to eight major UK cities and show that commuters working in London are the worst off, while those travelling to Cardiff are the least affected.
As well as outpacing RPI, rail fares have increased at a faster rate than wages in professional and operative jobs. Operative pay in 2012 was 26% higher than in 2004, while professional and higher tier salaries had risen 35% or less. An average rail ticket, however, rose in price by more than 50% over the same period.
An average season ticket for commuting to London costs £3,396, or 18% of the median operative gross salary. For professional jobs the proportion of pre-tax pay going on season tickets is 10%, and even among senior professionals a season ticket would cost 6% of gross earnings.
Birmingham's commuters are the second hardest hit in terms of the average journey, with a season ticket costing 15% of the median operative pre-tax salary. Birmingham fares worst of all eight cities when only journeys lasting at least 50 minutes are used - a typical season ticket would cost 23% of the median operative gross salary.
Hay Group's data also shows that it is now generally more expensive to commute by train than by car. The study found that those who drive to work will spend on average 5% of pay on petrol, one third less than the cost of an equivalent rail season ticket.
Commuters would be wise to travel by train on longer commutes, though - the annual fuel costs of a 50 mile drive to work would be almost 30% of the average operative salary.
Fuel costs were calculated for a Ford Mondeo with a fuel economy of 36mpg.
Data summaryData summary
Annual Season ticket rates.Annual Season ticket rates.
Click heading to sort table. Download this dataClick heading to sort table. Download this data
Fares are standard class, valid by 'any permitted route' unless otherwise shown.
Fares to London are to 'London Terminals' or to a specified London terminus, rail-
only.
Sources:
January 2008 - January 2011: National Fares Manuals.
January 2012 and January 2013: National Rail Enquiries
Source for table: Passenger Focus		Fares are standard class, valid by 'any permitted route' unless otherwise shown.
Fares to London are to 'London Terminals' or to a specified London terminus, rail-
only.
Sources:
January 2008 - January 2011: National Fares Manuals.
January 2012 and January 2013: National Rail Enquiries
Source for table: Passenger Focus
Download the dataDownload the data
• DATA: download the full spreadsheet• DATA: download the full spreadsheet
NEW! Buy our bookNEW! Buy our book
• Facts are Sacred: the power of data (on Kindle)• Facts are Sacred: the power of data (on Kindle)
More open dataMore open data
Data journalism and data visualisations from the GuardianData journalism and data visualisations from the Guardian
World government dataWorld government data
• Search the world's government data with our gateway• Search the world's government data with our gateway
Development and aid dataDevelopment and aid data
• Search the world's global development data with our gateway• Search the world's global development data with our gateway
Can you do something with this data?Can you do something with this data?
• Flickr Please post your visualisations and mash-ups on our Flickr group
• Contact us at data@guardian.co.uk		• Flickr Please post your visualisations and mash-ups on our Flickr group
• Contact us at data@guardian.co.uk
• Get the A-Z of data
• More at the Datastore directory
• Follow us on Twitter
• Like us on Facebook		• Get the A-Z of data
• More at the Datastore directory
• Follow us on Twitter
• Like us on Facebook