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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Rail fare rise campaign unveiled at Charing Cross | Rail fare rise campaign unveiled at Charing Cross |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A campaign against rail fare rises has begun as millions of commuters return to work after the Christmas break. | A campaign against rail fare rises has begun as millions of commuters return to work after the Christmas break. |
| The Campaign for Better Transport asked passengers at London's Charing Cross station to sign petitions, write to the government and take part in protests. | The Campaign for Better Transport asked passengers at London's Charing Cross station to sign petitions, write to the government and take part in protests. |
| Season ticket prices rose by an average 5.8% from Sunday - with some up by as much as 13%. | Season ticket prices rose by an average 5.8% from Sunday - with some up by as much as 13%. |
| The government, train operators and London Mayor Boris Johnson say the rises are needed to pay for investment. | The government, train operators and London Mayor Boris Johnson say the rises are needed to pay for investment. |
| 'Real world' | 'Real world' |
| Supporters of the campaign donned masks depicting David Cameron and Nick Clegg, while one wore a mask of Transport Secretary Philip Hammond. | Supporters of the campaign donned masks depicting David Cameron and Nick Clegg, while one wore a mask of Transport Secretary Philip Hammond. |
| The campaign has also won the backing of broadcaster Michael Palin, whose said passengers being "held to ransom" would be forced on to the roads. | The campaign has also won the backing of broadcaster Michael Palin, whose said passengers being "held to ransom" would be forced on to the roads. |
| The Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) has calculated that the new cost of season tickets works out at about 20% of the average UK salary. | The Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) has calculated that the new cost of season tickets works out at about 20% of the average UK salary. |
| CBT chief executive Stephen Joseph said: "Commuters feel like they are being pickpocketed by the government, expected to pay more year on year for the same poor quality service. | CBT chief executive Stephen Joseph said: "Commuters feel like they are being pickpocketed by the government, expected to pay more year on year for the same poor quality service. |
| "Even with the promised extra investment, many passengers will see no actual improvement to their daily commute. | "Even with the promised extra investment, many passengers will see no actual improvement to their daily commute. |
| "Politicians need to start living in the real world and understand that people simply cannot afford to pay a fifth of their income just to do a day's work. | "Politicians need to start living in the real world and understand that people simply cannot afford to pay a fifth of their income just to do a day's work. |
| "The government pledged to create fair fares and we all expect them to keep that promise." | "The government pledged to create fair fares and we all expect them to keep that promise." |
| Former Monty Python star Michael Palin, whose TV programmes have followed him travelling on rail networks across the world, said: "Rail fare rises are holding travellers to ransom and increasing the likelihood that people will have to take to our already-overcrowded roads. | |
| "Regular price hikes are no way for the government and train companies to reward their regular customers. | "Regular price hikes are no way for the government and train companies to reward their regular customers. |
| "Instead of milking them, they should be thanking them for their loyalty with a better, simpler, more competitive fare structure." | "Instead of milking them, they should be thanking them for their loyalty with a better, simpler, more competitive fare structure." |
| Increases unwelcome | Increases unwelcome |
| But a spokesman for the Association of Train Operating Companies said: "Much of what the CBT is saying simply doesn't stack up. | But a spokesman for the Association of Train Operating Companies said: "Much of what the CBT is saying simply doesn't stack up. |
| "Passengers are already benefiting from record levels of investment in our railways. | "Passengers are already benefiting from record levels of investment in our railways. |
| "Nine out of 10 trains get to their destination on time and, according to the independent passenger watchdog, four out of five people are satisfied with the service. | "Nine out of 10 trains get to their destination on time and, according to the independent passenger watchdog, four out of five people are satisfied with the service. |
| "While we understand people won't welcome any kind of price increases, it is important to remember that we need to continue and sustain investment in our railways." | "While we understand people won't welcome any kind of price increases, it is important to remember that we need to continue and sustain investment in our railways." |
| Javelin spike | Javelin spike |
| And a Department for Transport spokesman said the scale of the national deficit meant the Government had to take tough decisions on future rail fares. | And a Department for Transport spokesman said the scale of the national deficit meant the Government had to take tough decisions on future rail fares. |
| There were commitments to investment in more than 2,100 new rail carriages and a £900m programme to electrify lines and complete Crossrail and Thameslink projects, he said. | There were commitments to investment in more than 2,100 new rail carriages and a £900m programme to electrify lines and complete Crossrail and Thameslink projects, he said. |
| Fares on London's Tubes and buses also went up on Sunday, rising by an average of 6.8%. | Fares on London's Tubes and buses also went up on Sunday, rising by an average of 6.8%. |
| Regulated fares, which include season tickets, on Southeastern services have been allowed to rise by an average of 7.8% to take account of special investment such as the high-speed Javelin trains. | Regulated fares, which include season tickets, on Southeastern services have been allowed to rise by an average of 7.8% to take account of special investment such as the high-speed Javelin trains. |