Press releases

Unexplained, unjustified, and unfair price hike

19.03.2007

The announcement by South West Trains to impose substantial increases in off-peak fares for passengers travelling towards London was condemned today by Passenger Focus, the independent national rail consumer watchdog, as exploiting passengers for profit.

Anthony Smith, Passenger Focus chief executive, said; “These large increases are unjustified. They have the effect of extending the peak throughout whole of the morning, and because of that, must have as much to do with making money as they do in seeking to ease crowding pressures on true peak hour trains. They have been introduced without consultation and are a blow to passengers who value an affordable walk-on fare.

“Passengers have little choice but to use South West Trains’ services - this unjustified, unexplained and unfair price hike is exploiting a monopoly market. The lack of consultation and explanation as to why it is necessary to raise prices by as much as 20% will leave passengers frustrated and angry.

“These unexpected fares increases are very worrying and must not represent the way fares are going to be structured in London and the South East.”

Notes to editors

1. 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. Passenger Focus came into effect from Wednesday 25 January 2006. 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

2. Media enquiries regarding this release should be addressed to:
Jane Cobell
Press officer
0870 336 6021/07918 626 045
jane.cobell@passengerfocus.org.uk