Press releases

Watchdog disappointed by New Year rail fare rises

01.01.2008

Fare rises coming into effect on 2 January 2008 have been criticised by Passenger Focus, the independent rail passenger watchdog. Rail passengers are yet again being hit by inflation-busting fare rises. Government capped fares have risen by an average of 4.8% but the fares the train operating companies set themselves have risen in some areas by over 9%.

Anthony Smith, Passenger Focus chief executive, said: “a chill wind will blow down many of Britain’s platforms when passengers find out their new fares. 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.”

“Passengers irritation will be fuelled, continued Anthony Smith, “when they realise that on some routes where performance is poor fare rises have not only wiped out the discount they automatically receive when renewing their season tickets but actually put prices up.

For example, passengers travelling in the Thames Valley from Maidenhead to London using First Great Western have qualified for a 5% Passengers Charter discount. However, the weekly season ticket has risen by 9.8% - so, the overall rise is from £58 to £63.60. On the same line the annual season tickets will rise by over £200.

Anthony Smith commented: “Train companies that are not delivering a quality service should freeze their prices. Passengers who are not getting what they have paid for must complain to  their train company so the message is received loud and clear”.

Source: National Rail Enquiries website

1. The government regulates fares in two categories: “Protected” and “Commuter”.  These fares are linked to inflation.

• “Protected fares” apply across the country and cover at least one key fare on all routes/lines.
  
• Saver returns for all journeys but only where a Saver existed in February 2003;
• Standard returns (full-fare return ticket, valid at both peak and off-peak times), for journeys where a Saver did not exist in February 2003 (typically journeys under 50 miles, or wholly within the erstwhile Network SouthEast area); and
• Weekly season tickets (the basis for calculating all longer season tickets up to annual)
• “Commuter fares” apply only in the London, Edinburgh and Cardiff commuter areas.
• Season tickets (weekly, quarterly, annual) to, from and within the designated “commuter area”
• Standard singles and returns for journeys within the designated “commuter area”

All other fares are unregulated.

2. Passenger Focus is the official, independent consumer organisation representing the interests of rail users nationally. Created by the Railways Act 2005, Passenger Focus is the operating name of the Rail Passengers Council. It is a body corporate, executive  non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Transport. We want to make a difference for rail passengers. We’ll do this by:

- providing authoritative advice for the industry based on sound research
- securing improvements to rail services – both big and small-scale improvements
- helping passengers with advice and information
- campaigning for change and acting on passenger complaints

3. Media enquiries regarding this release should be addressed to:

Kelly Flynn
Press officer
0870 336 6021
kelly.flynn@passengerfocus.org.uk

Or

Amy Stockton
Head of communications
0870 336 6020/07918 626045
amy.stockton@passengerfocus.org.uk