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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Increase in rail fares criticised | Increase in rail fares criticised |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Rail watchdog Passenger Focus has criticised the new year rise in fares, which have gone up by an average 1.1%. | Rail watchdog Passenger Focus has criticised the new year rise in fares, which have gone up by an average 1.1%. |
| Season tickets and standard day tickets might see a "very small reduction" in cost, but some of unregulated ticket hikes were "quite stinging", it said. | Season tickets and standard day tickets might see a "very small reduction" in cost, but some of unregulated ticket hikes were "quite stinging", it said. |
| Another campaign group said fares should be cut to the European average. | Another campaign group said fares should be cut to the European average. |
| The Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) said the majority of passengers would see "a fall, no rise or an increase below inflation". | The Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) said the majority of passengers would see "a fall, no rise or an increase below inflation". |
| Tube fares in London will go up by an average of 3.9%. London bus fares paid using an Oyster card rise by 20p to £1.20. | Tube fares in London will go up by an average of 3.9%. London bus fares paid using an Oyster card rise by 20p to £1.20. |
| However, some rail fares will go down by 0.4% because the annual rise for regulated fares is linked to Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation. | However, some rail fares will go down by 0.4% because the annual rise for regulated fares is linked to Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation. |
| Unregulated fares, which include many off-peak services, are rising. | Unregulated fares, which include many off-peak services, are rising. |
| This means, for example, that a supersaver fare from London to Swindon in Wiltshire will increase by 15% to £23. | This means, for example, that a supersaver fare from London to Swindon in Wiltshire will increase by 15% to £23. |
| Ashwin Kumar, from Passenger Focus, said the train companies were being unfair. | Ashwin Kumar, from Passenger Focus, said the train companies were being unfair. |
| "When it's convenient for them, they compare their price rises with predicted inflation, whereas a year ago, when inflation was on its way down, they compared their price rises with the previous year's inflation. | "When it's convenient for them, they compare their price rises with predicted inflation, whereas a year ago, when inflation was on its way down, they compared their price rises with the previous year's inflation. |
| "Actually, what they should be doing, is comparing their price rises with last July's inflation which was minus 1.4%," he said. | "Actually, what they should be doing, is comparing their price rises with last July's inflation which was minus 1.4%," he said. |
| An Atoc spokesman said the predicted rate of RPI inflation was 2.6% in January - and was expected to remain above 1.1% throughout 2010 - which meant passengers were getting "real terms cuts". | An Atoc spokesman said the predicted rate of RPI inflation was 2.6% in January - and was expected to remain above 1.1% throughout 2010 - which meant passengers were getting "real terms cuts". |
| 'Fare freezes' | 'Fare freezes' |
| But Passenger Focus said there needed to be more transparency because some trains were "fiddling with time restrictions". | But Passenger Focus said there needed to be more transparency because some trains were "fiddling with time restrictions". |
| Mr Kumar said: "For example, with Virgin Trains, an off-peak return from London to Manchester - people normally pay £66.40 and can get the 9.20am train. After this weekend they will have to wait until 9.40am - they are effectively putting the price up for some journeys." | Mr Kumar said: "For example, with Virgin Trains, an off-peak return from London to Manchester - people normally pay £66.40 and can get the 9.20am train. After this weekend they will have to wait until 9.40am - they are effectively putting the price up for some journeys." |
| Campaign for Better Transport said UK train fares were already 20% higher than the European average and urged the government to review rail fare regulation. | Campaign for Better Transport said UK train fares were already 20% higher than the European average and urged the government to review rail fare regulation. |
| UK train fares are already 20% higher than the European average so the government needs to make serious cuts to make taking the train affordable Cat Hobbs, Campaign for Better Transport | UK train fares are already 20% higher than the European average so the government needs to make serious cuts to make taking the train affordable Cat Hobbs, Campaign for Better Transport |
| Atoc was criticised earlier this year for not itemising, as it normally does, each train company's average unregulated fares rise. | Atoc was criticised earlier this year for not itemising, as it normally does, each train company's average unregulated fares rise. |
| Some train companies, however, have given details of their unregulated fare rises. | Some train companies, however, have given details of their unregulated fare rises. |
| Virgin Trains is increasing unregulated fares by an average of 2.8%, while ScotRail's rise is 3%, and turn-up-and-go fares on Southern trains will go up by 4%. | Virgin Trains is increasing unregulated fares by an average of 2.8%, while ScotRail's rise is 3%, and turn-up-and-go fares on Southern trains will go up by 4%. |
| A number of companies, including National Express East Anglia, First Capital Connect, TransPennine Express and Merseyrail have frozen their unregulated fares. | A number of companies, including National Express East Anglia, First Capital Connect, TransPennine Express and Merseyrail have frozen their unregulated fares. |
| But the Southeastern train company said some of its unregulated fares were rising 7.3% and others by 2.8%. | But the Southeastern train company said some of its unregulated fares were rising 7.3% and others by 2.8%. |
| The company has just introduced 140mph high-speed Javelin trains on its Kent services into London, and the increases mean Southeastern passengers will find their season tickets going up by 1.6% whether they use the Javelin trains or not. | The company has just introduced 140mph high-speed Javelin trains on its Kent services into London, and the increases mean Southeastern passengers will find their season tickets going up by 1.6% whether they use the Javelin trains or not. |
| 'Too little, too late' | 'Too little, too late' |
| Michael Roberts, chief executive of the Atoc, said: "Not only is this the lowest rise since privatisation, it also comes in below the expected rate of inflation, representing a real-terms cut in fares for many passengers. | Michael Roberts, chief executive of the Atoc, said: "Not only is this the lowest rise since privatisation, it also comes in below the expected rate of inflation, representing a real-terms cut in fares for many passengers. |
| "The rail regulator's figures show that the average price paid for a single journey is just £5.05. The 1.1% increase will mean this figure will rise by 6p to £5.11." | "The rail regulator's figures show that the average price paid for a single journey is just £5.05. The 1.1% increase will mean this figure will rise by 6p to £5.11." |
| Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said the reductions were "good news" for many passengers. | Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said the reductions were "good news" for many passengers. |
| "For the first time in a generation they will see the cost of their tickets fall. I hope that this will encourage more people to travel by train, which is also good news for the economy and the environment." | "For the first time in a generation they will see the cost of their tickets fall. I hope that this will encourage more people to travel by train, which is also good news for the economy and the environment." |
| The Campaign for Better Transport's public transport campaigner, Cat Hobbs, said: "Regulated fares will fall by 4p for every £10 paid. | The Campaign for Better Transport's public transport campaigner, Cat Hobbs, said: "Regulated fares will fall by 4p for every £10 paid. |
| "This is too little, too late for passengers who are already paying hundreds of pounds more because of the government's policy of increasing fares. | "This is too little, too late for passengers who are already paying hundreds of pounds more because of the government's policy of increasing fares. |
| London Mayor Boris Johnson defended the Tube and bus increases. | London Mayor Boris Johnson defended the Tube and bus increases. |
| "I know the fares rises will be hard but, believe me, without them these huge improvements in our quality of life - and the retention of the standing of our city - would not be possible," he said. | "I know the fares rises will be hard but, believe me, without them these huge improvements in our quality of life - and the retention of the standing of our city - would not be possible," he said. |
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