New train fare rises blasted as ‘cruel joke’
THE biggest rise in train fares in five years was yesterday branded a “cruel joke” amid passenger pay freezes and the overcrowded and unreliable state of the railways.
Fares will rise by an average of 3.4 per cent next month, the largest hike since 2013, the Rail Delivery Group revealed, with season ticket prices expected to increase by 3.6 per cent.
Campaign for Better Transport chief executive Stephen Joseph said: “Increasing fares by 3.4 per cent, the highest for five years, will seem like a cruel joke for hard-pressed rail commuters who are seeing limited or no pay rises.
“We and others have been arguing for a freeze on rail fares this year. The Government has ignored this call yet has been quite happy to freeze fuel duty.”
A yearly season ticket on the troubled Southern service from London to Brighton will rise £148 to £4,332, Liverpool to Manchester will rise £108 to £3,152, Neath to Cardiff rises £56 to £1,708 and Stirling to Glasgow £76 to £2,160.
Anthony Smith, chief executive of watchdog Transport Focus, said: “A chill wind will blow down Britain’s platforms in January as rail fare increases bite.
“Many passengers face stagnant or falling incomes while rail fares continue to climb.
“While substantial and welcome investment in new trains and improved track and signals is continuing, passengers are still seeing the basic promises made by the rail industry broken on too many days.”
Which? managing director of public markets Alex Hayman said: “This price hike will be another blow for passengers, many of whom continue to experience cancellations, delays, overcrowding and poor service from train companies.”
The RMT rail union said the rise would keep UK fares among the highest in Europe.
General secretary Mick Cash said: “These fare increases are another kick in the teeth for British passengers who will still be left paying the highest fares in Europe to travel on rammed and unreliable trains where private profit comes before public safety.
“These increases are another twist of the economic knife while the private train companies are laughing all the way to the bank.”
The RDG, which represents Network Rail and train firms, said more than 97p in every pound raised by fares was used to improve and run the railway.
It said last year private investment in rail was £925million, the highest in a decade .
Chief executive Paul Plummer said: “Alongside investment from the public and private sectors, money from fares is underpinning the railway’s long-term plan to change and improve.
“Working together, our plan will secure £85billion of additional economic benefits while enabling further investment and improved journeys for customers, better connections to boost local communities and a bright future for our employees.”