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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Train fare rises draw criticism | Train fare rises draw criticism |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Above-inflation price rises for rail tickets have come under attack from rail groups and opposition politicians. | Above-inflation price rises for rail tickets have come under attack from rail groups and opposition politicians. |
| In many areas prices have risen by 4.3% - about 1% above inflation. Tickets for the Heathrow and Gatwick Express train services have risen by 7.3%. | In many areas prices have risen by 4.3% - about 1% above inflation. Tickets for the Heathrow and Gatwick Express train services have risen by 7.3%. |
| The Tories said the "galling" rises showed ministers had failed to sort out the railways. Rail watchdog Passenger Focus said fares needed simplifying. | The Tories said the "galling" rises showed ministers had failed to sort out the railways. Rail watchdog Passenger Focus said fares needed simplifying. |
| But the Department for Transport said they "want the railways to grow". | But the Department for Transport said they "want the railways to grow". |
| 'Government pressure' | 'Government pressure' |
| On many main lines it is the fourth successive year in which tickets have risen by more than inflation. | On many main lines it is the fourth successive year in which tickets have risen by more than inflation. |
| Train companies say the extra money is to pay for service improvements. | Train companies say the extra money is to pay for service improvements. |
| It has become too much for people to travel during peak longer distance and therefore people are being pushed off the railways Anthony Smith Passenger Focus | It has become too much for people to travel during peak longer distance and therefore people are being pushed off the railways Anthony Smith Passenger Focus |
| But shadow transport secretary Chris Grayling accused ministers of pressurising rail firms to push up prices and force people to stop using the trains. | But shadow transport secretary Chris Grayling accused ministers of pressurising rail firms to push up prices and force people to stop using the trains. |
| He said the government had orginally set out a 10-year plan to sort out the railways. | He said the government had orginally set out a 10-year plan to sort out the railways. |
| The plan included "longer trains, longer platforms, upgrades to main lines, to tackle the capacity problems on our railways, to encourage people to leave their cars at home". | The plan included "longer trains, longer platforms, upgrades to main lines, to tackle the capacity problems on our railways, to encourage people to leave their cars at home". |
| But he said: "None of that's now happening, so the only thing they can do is to push up fares, to collude with the train companies to do that, and as a result reduce overcrowding." | But he said: "None of that's now happening, so the only thing they can do is to push up fares, to collude with the train companies to do that, and as a result reduce overcrowding." |
| Ticket 'jungle' | Ticket 'jungle' |
| The transport department regulates some fares, including season tickets and saver tickets. | The transport department regulates some fares, including season tickets and saver tickets. |
| Regulated fares account for 40% of tickets sold, and have risen by up to 4.3% in some areas. Although many such fares have not increased at all. | Regulated fares account for 40% of tickets sold, and have risen by up to 4.3% in some areas. Although many such fares have not increased at all. |
| Meanwhile, the 60% of fares which are set by private operators increased by up to 7.3%, which is nearly three times the government's 2.7% target rate of inflation. | Meanwhile, the 60% of fares which are set by private operators increased by up to 7.3%, which is nearly three times the government's 2.7% target rate of inflation. |
| Unregulated fares include open tickets, when passengers buy their tickets on the day they want to travel. | Unregulated fares include open tickets, when passengers buy their tickets on the day they want to travel. |
| Anthony Smith, of Passenger Focus, described the pricing system as a "jungle" that needed to be simplified. | Anthony Smith, of Passenger Focus, described the pricing system as a "jungle" that needed to be simplified. |
| "It has become too much for people to travel during peak longer distance and therefore people are being pushed off the railways. It is not fair," he said. | "It has become too much for people to travel during peak longer distance and therefore people are being pushed off the railways. It is not fair," he said. |
| "Pushing people towards booking ahead in advance and being less flexible, it changes the nature of the railway." | "Pushing people towards booking ahead in advance and being less flexible, it changes the nature of the railway." |
| 'Commercial decision' | 'Commercial decision' |
| Average increases in unregulated fares will be 6.6% on Virgin West Coast, 5.9% on Midland Mainline and 5.7% on Central Trains. | Average increases in unregulated fares will be 6.6% on Virgin West Coast, 5.9% on Midland Mainline and 5.7% on Central Trains. |
| Merseyrail, which has increased its fares by 3.2%, has seen the lowest average increase. | Merseyrail, which has increased its fares by 3.2%, has seen the lowest average increase. |
| A Department for Transport spokesman said setting fares which are not regulated is "a commercial decision for train operators". | A Department for Transport spokesman said setting fares which are not regulated is "a commercial decision for train operators". |
| "It is in their interests to provide an attractive range of fares and to encourage more passengers to use the railway," he said. | "It is in their interests to provide an attractive range of fares and to encourage more passengers to use the railway," he said. |
| He added that "most commuter tickets and saver fares have their average increases capped at inflation plus 1%". | He added that "most commuter tickets and saver fares have their average increases capped at inflation plus 1%". |
| The spokesman also addressed the overcrowding issue. | The spokesman also addressed the overcrowding issue. |
| "Passenger numbers have continued to increase, with more than one billion using the network in the last year," he said. | "Passenger numbers have continued to increase, with more than one billion using the network in the last year," he said. |
| "Ministers have consistently said that they want the railways to grow and passenger numbers to increase and will be publishing later this year a framework for the longer-term future of the railways." | "Ministers have consistently said that they want the railways to grow and passenger numbers to increase and will be publishing later this year a framework for the longer-term future of the railways." |
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