Rail fares could see 9% rise

Date: 6/8/2013

A number of passenger organisations have hit out after it emerged that train fares could rise by as much as nine per cent in the next year on some routes.

Inflation figures for July will be published next week and are expected to lead the way to 4.3 per cent increases in the new year, due to the government's price increase formula.

However, it has also been revealed that some operators will be able to add as much as 9.3 per cent to fares on some journeys.

David Sidebottom, Director of the campaign group Passenger Focus, said that the rises will hit hard-pressed passengers hard, particularly those that rely on these routes to get to work.

He added: "Passengers already pay some of the highest fares in Europe and our most recent passenger survey showed that just 43 per cent of passengers in London and the south-east felt that their ticket was value for money."

The group has urged the government to abandon the formula, which has led to a succession of fare rises in recent years.

Posted by Mary Treen

Transport News, Transport Consulting News and TRL Ltd