Cotswolds rail fares rise despite David Cameron’s pledge to freeze ticket prices
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Version 0 of 1. The Conservatives’ pre-election pledge to freeze rail fares for the next parliament looks set to last just 10 days – at least in the prime minister’s back yard, where fares for some services will almost double. A new evening peak price will be charged on First Great Western trains to the north Cotswolds from London – turning the £33.40 return Cathedrals Express train to the capital from Charlbury, the station closest to David Cameron’s country house, into a £62.40 premium fare on the most popular daily services. The cheapest day return tickets will also be abolished from 17 May, leaving passengers paying at least 20% more for a walk-up ticket. The cost of an off-peak return will rise 20% to £41 for the same journey. However, the train operator said the fare changes would eventually see advance single fares available on services to the north Cotswolds, potentially allowing some passengers to travel return for £20 if they booked ahead. It said an IT error meant the fares were not yet available. First Great Western said the changes would standardise the ticket prices at the request of passengers on the line – one which was largely out of action with signalling failures on Tuesday as the new fares came to light. A First Great Western spokesman said: “The sale of thousands of low-cost advance purchase fares, following requests from customers and stakeholders alike, will also introduce peak time fares for the first time – bringing the north Cotswolds in line with all other routes across the Great Western network.” With the cost of rail fares becoming a pre-election battleground, all parties had pledged to stop prices rising. The Conservative transport minister, Patrick McLoughlin, underlined Cameron’s promise of a freeze for the entire parliament by promising “no tricks, no backdoor increases”. A spokesman said the Department for Transport did not regulate these particular fares – although off-peak return tickets are usually regulated, according to DfT rules. The coalition recently granted FirstGroup the right to run the line for another four years, without having to face a full franchise competition – a deal that was heavily criticised by unions and Labour. Labour’s shadow transport secretary, Michael Dugher, said: “David Cameron has stood by and allowed rail fares to rise by 23% on average since 2010. Now he is agreed to large stealth fare rises for north Cotswold rail passengers. “This is yet another example of the shambles that is the Tory rail franchising model. Labour will call time on flawed franchising with a speedy review of the whole system.” A DfT spokesperson said: “The changes to FGW’s fares are a commercial decision for the operator. DfT did not direct FGW to make these changes, nor were we required to approve the decision.” |