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| Latest train fare rises attacked | Latest train fare rises attacked |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Above-inflation rail fare increases of more than 6% are "completely out of kilter with the real economy", passenger groups have said. | Above-inflation rail fare increases of more than 6% are "completely out of kilter with the real economy", passenger groups have said. |
| Anthony Smith of Passenger Focus said hikes were "difficult to explain" as wages were not rising by the same rate. | Anthony Smith of Passenger Focus said hikes were "difficult to explain" as wages were not rising by the same rate. |
| Train firms say more money will allow greater investment in services. | Train firms say more money will allow greater investment in services. |
| Michael Roberts, of the Association of Train Operating Companies, said Monday's increases were partly because taxpayer funding was being reduced. | Michael Roberts, of the Association of Train Operating Companies, said Monday's increases were partly because taxpayer funding was being reduced. |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Fare changes this year will help pay for 265,000 extra services, all against a background which is determined by government policy to reduce the call on us as taxpayers." | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Fare changes this year will help pay for 265,000 extra services, all against a background which is determined by government policy to reduce the call on us as taxpayers." |
| Good value? Passengers offer their opinions | |
| Train users to 'shiver' at risesFull list of rises | |
| The fare changes "actually in our view strike the right balance between trying to ensure a reasonable level of increase to fund in return much improved services," he added. | The fare changes "actually in our view strike the right balance between trying to ensure a reasonable level of increase to fund in return much improved services," he added. |
| Mr Roberts said the average increases amounted to just £1 or £2 a day for many season ticket holders. | Mr Roberts said the average increases amounted to just £1 or £2 a day for many season ticket holders. |
| Commuting by rail was still "considerably less expensive than commuting by car - even allowing for falling petrol prices", he went on. | Commuting by rail was still "considerably less expensive than commuting by car - even allowing for falling petrol prices", he went on. |
| A spokesman for the Rail Maritime and Transport union said fares should be set at levels that encourage people to use them. | A spokesman for the Rail Maritime and Transport union said fares should be set at levels that encourage people to use them. |
| "All franchising can deliver is fat dividends for shareholders and it is clearer than ever that we need a not-for-profit railway run for the public good in the public sector." | "All franchising can deliver is fat dividends for shareholders and it is clearer than ever that we need a not-for-profit railway run for the public good in the public sector." |
| 'Particularly unpalatable' | 'Particularly unpalatable' |
| Unregulated fares - off-peak and leisure fares - have gone up by an average of 7%. HAVE YOUR SAYThe problem is the 'improved services' never arrive (like some of the trains)Emily, Manchester Send us your comments | Unregulated fares - off-peak and leisure fares - have gone up by an average of 7%. HAVE YOUR SAYThe problem is the 'improved services' never arrive (like some of the trains)Emily, Manchester Send us your comments |
| The 6% increase for regulated fares, including standard, rush hour and season tickets, is based on the inflation rate for July. | The 6% increase for regulated fares, including standard, rush hour and season tickets, is based on the inflation rate for July. |
| Mr Smith, chief executive of Passenger Focus, said: "What makes these rises particularly unpalatable is the fact that inflation is currently about 3%. | Mr Smith, chief executive of Passenger Focus, said: "What makes these rises particularly unpalatable is the fact that inflation is currently about 3%. |
| "Here we have rises that are on average 6 or 7% and in some cases 10%. | "Here we have rises that are on average 6 or 7% and in some cases 10%. |
| "Rail fares have got completely out of kilter with what is happening in the real economy and people are going to have dig very deep to find the extra money." | "Rail fares have got completely out of kilter with what is happening in the real economy and people are going to have dig very deep to find the extra money." |
| CrossCountry, whose network of sevices covers 1,500 miles (2,414 km) and stretches from Aberdeen to Penzance and from Stansted to Cardiff, has the highest increase for its unregulated fares - up 11%. | CrossCountry, whose network of sevices covers 1,500 miles (2,414 km) and stretches from Aberdeen to Penzance and from Stansted to Cardiff, has the highest increase for its unregulated fares - up 11%. |
| East Midlands Trains, Chiltern Railways, National Express East Coast and South West Trains have put their unregulated fares up by more than 7%. | East Midlands Trains, Chiltern Railways, National Express East Coast and South West Trains have put their unregulated fares up by more than 7%. |
RAIL COMPANY FARE RISES | RAIL COMPANY FARE RISES |
Changes from 2 January 2009 | Changes from 2 January 2009 |
| Train company Avge regulated rise Avge unregulated rise Arriva Trains Wales 6% 6% c2c 6% 6% Chiltern Railways 6% 7.50% CrossCountry 6% 11% East Midlands Trains 6% 7.40% First Capital Connect 6% 9% First Great Western 6% 6.60% First ScotRail 6% 6% First TransPennine Express 6% 6.40% London Midland 6% 0% Merseyrail 5% 5% National Express East Anglia 6% 6% National Express East Coast 6% 7.40% Northern Rail 6% 7% Southeastern 8% 6% Southern 6% 6% South West Trains 6% 7.20% Virgin Trains 6% 7% Average 6% 7% Source: Atoc | Train company Avge regulated rise Avge unregulated rise Arriva Trains Wales 6% 6% c2c 6% 6% Chiltern Railways 6% 7.50% CrossCountry 6% 11% East Midlands Trains 6% 7.40% First Capital Connect 6% 9% First Great Western 6% 6.60% First ScotRail 6% 6% First TransPennine Express 6% 6.40% London Midland 6% 0% Merseyrail 5% 5% National Express East Anglia 6% 6% National Express East Coast 6% 7.40% Northern Rail 6% 7% Southeastern 8% 6% Southern 6% 6% South West Trains 6% 7.20% Virgin Trains 6% 7% Average 6% 7% Source: Atoc |
| Return to story | Return to story |
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