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| Regulated rail fares to rise by 1.9% in England, Scotland and Wales | Regulated rail fares to rise by 1.9% in England, Scotland and Wales |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Regulated rail fares, including season tickets, in England, Scotland and Wales are to rise by 1.9% next year. | Regulated rail fares, including season tickets, in England, Scotland and Wales are to rise by 1.9% next year. |
| The rise, determined by July's Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation measure, will take effect from January. | The rise, determined by July's Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation measure, will take effect from January. |
| It comes as research by trade unions suggests rail fares have increased at double the speed of wages since 2010. | It comes as research by trade unions suggests rail fares have increased at double the speed of wages since 2010. |
| But the government said wages were now rising faster than fares, and the rail industry said £50bn was being spent on improving the network. | But the government said wages were now rising faster than fares, and the rail industry said £50bn was being spent on improving the network. |
| Ministers have said previously that regulated fares will rise by no more than RPI for the rest of this Parliament. | Ministers have said previously that regulated fares will rise by no more than RPI for the rest of this Parliament. |
| About half of rail fares are regulated, including season fares on most commuter journeys. | About half of rail fares are regulated, including season fares on most commuter journeys. |
| Some off-peak return tickets on long distance trips and "anytime" tickets around major cities are also regulated. | Some off-peak return tickets on long distance trips and "anytime" tickets around major cities are also regulated. |
| At the beginning of 2016, the cost of regulated fares went up by 1% in England, Scotland and Wales. | At the beginning of 2016, the cost of regulated fares went up by 1% in England, Scotland and Wales. |
| Northern Ireland is treated separately. In March, Stormont announced public bus and rail fares would not rise this year. | Northern Ireland is treated separately. In March, Stormont announced public bus and rail fares would not rise this year. |
| While the government sets the cap for the rise in regulated fares, unregulated fares, such as off-peak leisure tickets, can go up by as much as train companies like. | While the government sets the cap for the rise in regulated fares, unregulated fares, such as off-peak leisure tickets, can go up by as much as train companies like. |
| 'Overcrowded, understaffed' | 'Overcrowded, understaffed' |
| Analysis by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the Action for Rail campaign suggests fares have risen by 25% in the past six years, while average weekly earnings have grown by 12%, | Analysis by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the Action for Rail campaign suggests fares have risen by 25% in the past six years, while average weekly earnings have grown by 12%, |
| TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said rail passengers were "paying more and getting even less", and called for rail services to be nationalised. | TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said rail passengers were "paying more and getting even less", and called for rail services to be nationalised. |
| "Fares go up while trains remain overcrowded, stations are unstaffed, and rail companies cut the guards who ensure journeys run smoothly and safely. | "Fares go up while trains remain overcrowded, stations are unstaffed, and rail companies cut the guards who ensure journeys run smoothly and safely. |
| "It's time for rail services to be publicly owned, saving money for passengers and taxpayers alike." | "It's time for rail services to be publicly owned, saving money for passengers and taxpayers alike." |
| However, the government said standards were improving and commuters were now getting a better deal. | However, the government said standards were improving and commuters were now getting a better deal. |
| "Wages are growing faster than train ticket prices thanks to action by the government, and our commitment to cap regulated rail fares in line with inflation will save annual season ticket holders £425 on average in the five years to 2020," said Rail Minister Paul Maynard. | "Wages are growing faster than train ticket prices thanks to action by the government, and our commitment to cap regulated rail fares in line with inflation will save annual season ticket holders £425 on average in the five years to 2020," said Rail Minister Paul Maynard. |
| The Rail Delivery Group, which represents the rail industry, said passengers had to contribute to the upgrading of Britain's rail network. | The Rail Delivery Group, which represents the rail industry, said passengers had to contribute to the upgrading of Britain's rail network. |
| Chief executive Paul Plummer said: "We've had immense growth over the last decade or so, which is creating strains on the system, and we need to modernise that. | Chief executive Paul Plummer said: "We've had immense growth over the last decade or so, which is creating strains on the system, and we need to modernise that. |
| "We're spending £50bn over the next few years to upgrade it." | "We're spending £50bn over the next few years to upgrade it." |
| He said this would improve reliability, connectivity and ensure more passengers got a seat. | He said this would improve reliability, connectivity and ensure more passengers got a seat. |
| The Campaign for Better Transport, which said the latest increase was a "real slap in the face to long-suffering commuters", reiterated its call for RPI to be scrapped as the measure for fare increases. | The Campaign for Better Transport, which said the latest increase was a "real slap in the face to long-suffering commuters", reiterated its call for RPI to be scrapped as the measure for fare increases. |
| It said the government should switch to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) figure, which is already used for pensions and most benefits. | It said the government should switch to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) figure, which is already used for pensions and most benefits. |
| RPI "consistently over-estimates inflation", and using CPI would "help tackle soaring ticket prices and have only a minimal impacts on revenues", it said. | RPI "consistently over-estimates inflation", and using CPI would "help tackle soaring ticket prices and have only a minimal impacts on revenues", it said. |
| Planned protests | Planned protests |
| Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association, said private profit was being placed above rail safety. | Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association, said private profit was being placed above rail safety. |
| "Our rail fares are already the highest in Europe and today's increases will only make that record worse," he added. | "Our rail fares are already the highest in Europe and today's increases will only make that record worse," he added. |
| "It's time that ministers gave rail passengers a break and actually froze fares in real terms." | "It's time that ministers gave rail passengers a break and actually froze fares in real terms." |
| The union-led Action for Rail group said it was planning to stage protests at a number of stations in England, Scotland and Wales on Tuesday. | The union-led Action for Rail group said it was planning to stage protests at a number of stations in England, Scotland and Wales on Tuesday. |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has pledged to extend public ownership of the country's bus networks if he becomes prime minister. | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has pledged to extend public ownership of the country's bus networks if he becomes prime minister. |
| Both he and his rival in the upcoming party leadership contest, Owen Smith, have said they would renationalise the railways if they won power. | Both he and his rival in the upcoming party leadership contest, Owen Smith, have said they would renationalise the railways if they won power. |
| How prices will change | How prices will change |
| From January 2017, the price of: | From January 2017, the price of: |