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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Rail fare rises come into force | Rail fare rises come into force |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Train passengers across the UK are facing above-inflation fare rises of up to 11% on Wednesday. | Train passengers across the UK are facing above-inflation fare rises of up to 11% on Wednesday. |
| Regulated fares, which include most season tickets, are going up by an average of 4.8%, and many unregulated fares are set to rise by much more. | Regulated fares, which include most season tickets, are going up by an average of 4.8%, and many unregulated fares are set to rise by much more. |
| Consumer groups said the rises were unjustified, but train operators said they were needed for improvements. | Consumer groups said the rises were unjustified, but train operators said they were needed for improvements. |
| The rises come as services on the West Coast Mainline continue to be disrupted by over-running engineering works. | The rises come as services on the West Coast Mainline continue to be disrupted by over-running engineering works. |
| Rises 'will rankle' | Rises 'will rankle' |
| Train operators said the average rise of unregulated fares - such as cheap day returns, advance purchases and long-distance open tickets - would be 5.4%. | Train operators said the average rise of unregulated fares - such as cheap day returns, advance purchases and long-distance open tickets - would be 5.4%. |
| But rail consumer watchdog Passenger Focus said some fares had gone up much more than this, and warned that many passengers would be irritated. | But rail consumer watchdog Passenger Focus said some fares had gone up much more than this, and warned that many passengers would be irritated. |
| For example, it said an annual season ticket from Gillingham in Kent to London was going up from £2,496 to £2,740 - a 9.78% increase. | For example, it said an annual season ticket from Gillingham in Kent to London was going up from £2,496 to £2,740 - a 9.78% increase. |
| The same from Canterbury to London was rising from £3,132 to £3,480 - an 11.11% increase. | The same from Canterbury to London was rising from £3,132 to £3,480 - an 11.11% increase. |
| EXAMPLE PERCENTAGE FARE RISES FOR ANNUAL SEASON TICKETS Gillingham-London: 9.78%Canterbury to London: 11.11% Norwich to London: 6.38%Warrington to Manchester: 4.89%Swindon-Reading: 9.73%Source: Passenger Focus class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7167821.stm">Counting the cost of travel | |
| Chief executive Anthony Smith said: "Steep rises on individual routes are masked by the average figures published by the industry. | Chief executive Anthony Smith said: "Steep rises on individual routes are masked by the average figures published by the industry. |
| "This will lead to passengers having to dig deep into their pockets. These unjustified and unfair rises will rankle." | "This will lead to passengers having to dig deep into their pockets. These unjustified and unfair rises will rankle." |
| And he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "In some parts of the country... we seem to have a very serious split in the link between the quality of the services being provided and the amount that is being charged for it. | And he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "In some parts of the country... we seem to have a very serious split in the link between the quality of the services being provided and the amount that is being charged for it. |
| "Just as a straightforward consumer issue that is not fair." | "Just as a straightforward consumer issue that is not fair." |
| Peter Andrew, a regular commuter on First Great Western trains and a spokesman for rail campaign group More Trains Less Strain, told BBC Radio 5 Live there would not be much "merriment" at his station at the rises. | Peter Andrew, a regular commuter on First Great Western trains and a spokesman for rail campaign group More Trains Less Strain, told BBC Radio 5 Live there would not be much "merriment" at his station at the rises. |
| "We've still got the same late and unreliable trains, as we had before. We've still got the same late and overcrowded trains that we had before... And now we hear that the fare is going up." | "We've still got the same late and unreliable trains, as we had before. We've still got the same late and overcrowded trains that we had before... And now we hear that the fare is going up." |
| 'Brand new trains' | 'Brand new trains' |
| But George Muir, director-general of the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc), said the rises were necessary. | But George Muir, director-general of the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc), said the rises were necessary. |
| "The revenue from fares helps pay for investment that directly benefits passengers," he said. | "The revenue from fares helps pay for investment that directly benefits passengers," he said. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Fares should be so cheap that owning a car seems ridiculous Kevin Williamson, Swansea Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Fares should be so cheap that owning a car seems ridiculous Kevin Williamson, Swansea Send us your comments |
| "Billions of pounds are now being spent to improve the railway and the results are showing through." | "Billions of pounds are now being spent to improve the railway and the results are showing through." |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Across the country punctuality is improving, stations are getting better and services are improving." | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Across the country punctuality is improving, stations are getting better and services are improving." |
| Mr Muir also said: "enormous investment has to go into the railway and we will not get government approval for the investment we need unless we increase passenger revenue". | Mr Muir also said: "enormous investment has to go into the railway and we will not get government approval for the investment we need unless we increase passenger revenue". |
| John Willman, business editor of the Financial Times, said the extra money was being well spent. | John Willman, business editor of the Financial Times, said the extra money was being well spent. |
| "Nobody's going to be pleased to be paying more," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. | "Nobody's going to be pleased to be paying more," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. |
| "But on the other hand they will be riding on trains that are far, far improved since rail was privatised 15 years ago... There are brand new trains. They're much smoother, much faster. The services are much better. We're travelling on better trains than ever before." | "But on the other hand they will be riding on trains that are far, far improved since rail was privatised 15 years ago... There are brand new trains. They're much smoother, much faster. The services are much better. We're travelling on better trains than ever before." |
| Record passengers | Record passengers |
| The Conservatives say rail passengers are "paying the price for the government's complete failure" to reduce fares and other costs associated with the UK's railways. | The Conservatives say rail passengers are "paying the price for the government's complete failure" to reduce fares and other costs associated with the UK's railways. |
| And the Liberal Democrats said ministers seemed "content to force up train fares as a way of limiting demand rather than providing the rail network which is needed for social, economic and, most of all, environmental reasons". | And the Liberal Democrats said ministers seemed "content to force up train fares as a way of limiting demand rather than providing the rail network which is needed for social, economic and, most of all, environmental reasons". |
| And Stephen Joseph, executive director of the Campaign for Better Transport - formerly Transport 2000 - said: "These fare spikes are bad for people and bad for the environment." | And Stephen Joseph, executive director of the Campaign for Better Transport - formerly Transport 2000 - said: "These fare spikes are bad for people and bad for the environment." |
| But a Department for Transport spokesman said: "Passenger numbers are at record levels, making a nonsense of suggestions that people are being priced off the railway. | But a Department for Transport spokesman said: "Passenger numbers are at record levels, making a nonsense of suggestions that people are being priced off the railway. |
| "This growth, along with sustained investment by the government, is helping pay for major investment in the network." | "This growth, along with sustained investment by the government, is helping pay for major investment in the network." |
RAIL COMPANY FARE RISES | RAIL COMPANY FARE RISES |
Proposed changes from 2 Jan 2008 | Proposed changes from 2 Jan 2008 |
| Train company Avge regulated rise Avge unregulated rise Arriva Trains Wales 4.8% 4.8% c2c 4.8% 4.8% Chiltern Railways 4.8% 5.1% CrossCountry 4.8% 7.0% East Midlands Trains 4.8% 7.0% First Capital Connect 4.8% 4.8% First Great Western 4.8% 6.1% First ScotRail 4.8% 4.8% First TransPennine Express 5.0% 6.4% Gatwick Express 3.8% 5.0% GNER (Nat Express E Coast) 4.8% 6.6% Heathrow Express n/a 0.0% Hull Trains n/a 0.0% London Midland 4.8% 4.8% Merseyrail 3.8% 5.0% Northern Rail 4.8% 5.7% one 4.8% 6.8% Southeastern 6.8% 4.8% Southern 4.8% 4.8% South West Trains 4.8% 4.3% Virgin Trains 4.8% 4.8% Average 4.8% 5.4% Source: ATOC | Train company Avge regulated rise Avge unregulated rise Arriva Trains Wales 4.8% 4.8% c2c 4.8% 4.8% Chiltern Railways 4.8% 5.1% CrossCountry 4.8% 7.0% East Midlands Trains 4.8% 7.0% First Capital Connect 4.8% 4.8% First Great Western 4.8% 6.1% First ScotRail 4.8% 4.8% First TransPennine Express 5.0% 6.4% Gatwick Express 3.8% 5.0% GNER (Nat Express E Coast) 4.8% 6.6% Heathrow Express n/a 0.0% Hull Trains n/a 0.0% London Midland 4.8% 4.8% Merseyrail 3.8% 5.0% Northern Rail 4.8% 5.7% one 4.8% 6.8% Southeastern 6.8% 4.8% Southern 4.8% 4.8% South West Trains 4.8% 4.3% Virgin Trains 4.8% 4.8% Average 4.8% 5.4% Source: ATOC |