Press releases

Passenger Focus critical of rail price rises

18.05.2008

The national rail watchdog today welcomed the start of simplified fare names but criticised train companies that are now changing ticket restrictions and creating unfair price rises. The changes on Sunday will mean discounts for railcard holders on all Advance fares, which the watchdog has applauded.

However, Passenger Focus is lobbying Virgin Trains, Cross Country and National Express following changes in ticket use restrictions in some parts of the country.

Anthony Smith, Passenger Focus chief executive, commented: “These changes represent another nail in the coffin for the affordable turn-up-and-go railway with passengers having to pay more if they can’t book ahead or advanced purchase tickets are sold out.

“Passengers tell us in the National Passenger Survey that train tickets represent poor value for money and this is another example of train companies introducing backdoor price rises.”

The watchdog has now requested the three train operators for clarification on what changes are being implemented to give passengers a clear idea about whether restrictions will affect the cost of their journey. It is also now reviewing other operators’ fares to see if there are implications on other passengers.

Passenger Focus has raised its concerns with Virgin Trains about its plans to restrict the use of Saver tickets on some of its services, which is especially bad news for passengers travelling from North Wales. Its research found, for example, passengers who used a Saver (£67) from Llandudno Junction earlier in the morning to travel to London will now have to pay £173 to make the journey at the same time.

Passenger Focus found that National Express East Anglia has hiked up its most expensive fares, Standard Open Return tickets and has barred One Day Travelcards on its trains leaving from Liverpool Street between 16.29 and 18.34.

An example of its prices going up is the Standard Open Return from Norwich to Liverpool Street, the ticket needed to arrive in London before 10.15, rises to £78 – up £12 since Christmas, the second price rise in 2008, and is 22% higher than when National Express took over the franchise.

Finally, CrossCountry has come under fire for revising restrictions on some of its journeys and no longer accepting the use of railcards on Saver fares to obtain a further discount at peak times.

The changes, for example, will mean a customer returning from Gloucester to Lydney or Chepstow, where fares are set by Arriva Trains Wales, will face no restrictions. But, those passengers who need to travel to Newport, where the fares are set by CrossCountry, will not be able to travel between 15.30 and 18.15.

Anthony Smith concluded: “With the latest amends to ticket restrictions, it comes as no surprise that the Secretary of State for Transport has asked Passenger Focus to review the system as a matter of urgency.”

Ends
Notes to editors
1. Passenger Focus’ latest National Passenger Survey results are available here: National Passenger Survey Autumn 2007

2.Letter from Ruth Kelly MP - Secretary of State for Transport - on fares and ticketing

3.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 non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Transport. We want to make a difference for rail passengers. We 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

4.Media enquiries regarding this release should be addressed to:
Krista Hamblin
Press officer
0870 336 6021/07918 626 045
krista.hamblin@passengerfocus.org.uk