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Rail fares for commuters to rise sharply in January Rail fares for commuters to rise sharply in January
(about 2 hours later)
More rail commuters will be catapulted into the £5,000-a-year season ticket bracket after the fare rises for 2014 were revealed. More rail commuters will be catapulted into the £5,000-a-year season ticket bracket, after the fare rises for 2014 were revealed.
Increases of 3.4% take those travelling to London from Dover Priory and Deal in Kent past £5,000. Increases of 3.4% take those travelling to London from Dover Priory and Deal in Kent past £5,000. And commuters from Basingstoke in Hampshire will have to pay about £4,000 following a 2.93% increase on their season tickets to and from London.
And commuters from Basingstoke in Hampshire will have to pay about £4,000 following a 2.93% increase on their season tickets to and from London.
The figures were revealed on the rail industry's National Rail Enquiries website on Monday, with the new fares taking effect from 2 January.The figures were revealed on the rail industry's National Rail Enquiries website on Monday, with the new fares taking effect from 2 January.
An annual season ticket to London from Dover Priory and from Deal goes up from £4,864 to £5,012, while the fare from Basingstoke rises from £3,960 to £4,076.An annual season ticket to London from Dover Priory and from Deal goes up from £4,864 to £5,012, while the fare from Basingstoke rises from £3,960 to £4,076.
Other annual season ticket increases include: Other annual season ticket increases include Folkestone Central to London (up 3.06% to £4,984), Reading to London (up 3.23% to £4,088), Sevenoaks to London (up 3.08% to £3,208), Aylesbury to London (up 2.75% to £3,732), Bedford to London (up 3.07% to £4,300), and Woking to London (up 2.9% to £2,980).
– Folkestone Central to London - up 3.06% to £4,984
– Reading to London - up 3.23% to £4,088
– Sevenoaks to London - up 3.08% to £3,208
– Aylesbury to London - up 2.75% to £3,732
– Bedford to London - up 3.07% to £4,300
– Woking to London - up 2.9% to £2,980
Under a recently amended formula, train companies are allowed to raise regulated fares, which include season tickets, by no more than an average of 3.1%.Under a recently amended formula, train companies are allowed to raise regulated fares, which include season tickets, by no more than an average of 3.1%.
An initial scan of season ticket fares from typical commuting areas to London shows that most rises are around 3.1%, although the formula does allow train companies a 2% "flex", which means they can put some fares up by 5.1% as long as the overall average is 3.1%. An initial scan of season ticket fares from typical commuting areas to London shows that most rises are around 3.1%, although the formula does allow train companies a 2% "flex", which means they can put some fares up by 5.1% as long as the overall average is 3.1%.
Some fares that rose sharply for 2013 are not going up by so much in 2014. A season ticket from Ludlow to Hereford rose 5.28% in January 2013 but is going up only 2% in January.Some fares that rose sharply for 2013 are not going up by so much in 2014. A season ticket from Ludlow to Hereford rose 5.28% in January 2013 but is going up only 2% in January.
The increase for January is calculated from the RPI rate of inflation figure for the previous July. In July this year the RPI figure was 3.1%.The increase for January is calculated from the RPI rate of inflation figure for the previous July. In July this year the RPI figure was 3.1%.
The chief executive of Campaign for Better Transport, Stephen Joseph, said: "Passengers will see season tickets going up three times faster than their wages. The government needs to do more to stop the squeeze on commuters and avoid pricing people off the railways. We need a permanent end to inflation-busting fare rises calculated using an out-of-date formula.The chief executive of Campaign for Better Transport, Stephen Joseph, said: "Passengers will see season tickets going up three times faster than their wages. The government needs to do more to stop the squeeze on commuters and avoid pricing people off the railways. We need a permanent end to inflation-busting fare rises calculated using an out-of-date formula.
"The government should stop using RPI to calculate ticket prices. It over-estimates real inflation so consistently that the Office for National Statistics has dropped it as an official measure. "The government should stop using RPI to calculate ticket prices. It over-estimates real inflation so consistently that the Office for National Statistics has dropped it as an official measure. The government has already switched to CPI for most things. Doing the same for train fares would have little impact on railway revenues, but it would save passengers money and bring fares into line with things like public sector pensions."
"The government has already switched to CPI for most things. Doing the same for train fares would have little impact on railway revenues, but it would save passengers money and bring fares into line with things like public sector pensions." The announcement of the rise has been delayed this year after the chancellor, George Osborne, said in his autumn statement this month that the increase formula for regulated fares was changing from RPI plus 1% to RPI plus 0%.
The announcement of the rise has been delayed this year after the chancellor, George Osborne, announced in his autumn statement earlier this month that the increase formula for regulated fares was changing from RPI plus 1% to RPI plus 0%. Earlier the government said the "flex" rule, which originally allowed companies to put up some fares by up to 5% above the RPI plus 1% figure, would be limited to 2% above.
Earlier, the government said that the "flex" rule, which originally allowed companies to put up some fares by up to 5% above the RPI plus 1% figure, would be limited to 2% above.
The shadow transport secretary, Mary Creagh, said: "It's completely unacceptable that passengers have had to wait until two days before Christmas to find out how much their season tickets will cost in the new year. People deserve timely information to budget effectively.The shadow transport secretary, Mary Creagh, said: "It's completely unacceptable that passengers have had to wait until two days before Christmas to find out how much their season tickets will cost in the new year. People deserve timely information to budget effectively.
"Rail fares have risen 20% under this government. David Cameron is doing nothing to tackle the cost-of-living crisis. Labour would remove the flex and put a tough cap on rail fares.""Rail fares have risen 20% under this government. David Cameron is doing nothing to tackle the cost-of-living crisis. Labour would remove the flex and put a tough cap on rail fares."
A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: "The Ggovernment understands concerns rail passengers have about the costs of fares and the impact they have on household budgets. That is why next year, for the first time in a decade, regulated fares will not rise on average by more than the rate of inflation, offering relief for families and the hardworking people. A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: "The government understands concerns rail passengers have about the costs of fares and the impact they have on household budgets. That is why next year, for the first time in a decade, regulated fares will not rise on average by more than the rate of inflation, offering relief for families and the hardworking people.
"As well as protecting regulated fares, the government is driving forward the biggest programme of rail modernisation programmes ever, with £38bn being invested over the next five years. "As well as protecting regulated fares, the government is driving forward the biggest programme of rail modernisation programmes ever, with £38bn being invested over the next five years. That means new state-of-the-art trains, better stations and hundreds of miles of electrified track which will help cut journey times, provide better connections and stimulate growth across the country."
"That means new state-of-the-art trains, better stations and hundreds of miles of electrified track which will help cut journey times, provide better connections and stimulate growth across the country."
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