UK: Commuters hit by soaring season ticket prices

The Telegraph ^ | 1/1/07 | David Millward

[bruinbirdman]

Rail passengers will be hit by "unfair and unjustified" fare rises of up to 11 per cent from tomorrow, despite the "abysmal" record of many train companies.

Commuters with season tickets will be among those worst hit by the price hikes, which are way above inflation in many cases

Even passengers on First Great Western trains, who are eligible for a five per cent reduction in fares this year because of the company's appalling performance in 2007, will in reality see their fares rise by up to 9.8 per cent because of the huge increases - in effect meaning an increase of almost 15 per cent.

The biggest rise is in the cost of an annual season ticket from Canterbury to London, which goes up from £3,132 to £3,480 - an increase of 11.11 per cent. Many others rise by almost 10 per cent.

Anthony Smith, the chief executive of the independent rail watchdog Passenger Focus, said: "A chill wind will blow down many of Britain's platforms when passengers find out their new fares.

"This will lead to passengers having to dig deep into their pockets - these unjustified and unfair rises will rankle.

"Passengers' irritation will be fuelled when they realise that, on some routes where performance is poor, fare rises have not only wiped out the discount they automatically receive when renewing their season tickets, but have actually put prices up."

It is First Great Western's decision to impose the biggest rises on the busiest stations on the Thames Valley route which has drawn the loudest criticism.

Last year only 66 per cent of the company's rush hour services into London ran on time - way below the 88 per cent target set by the Department for Transport under FGW's franchise agreement.

A weekly season ticket from Maidenhead to London, for example, has gone up by 9.8 per cent to £63.60.

Brian Cooke, the chairman of London TravelWatch, said: "The timekeeping of FGW in the London area is, by far, the worst with, in the second quarter of 2007, almost three times as many trains cancelled as any other train company.

"These increases are being imposed at high volume stations and they are wiping out the discounts which passengers should expect for the appalling service they have suffered.

"Not only are FGW passengers receiving a poor service, but they will be hit in the pocket too. Season ticket holders are, more or less, a captive market, with little choice but to pay up."

Although government restrictions mean regulated fares, including most season tickets, can only go up by an average of 4.8 per cent - one per cent above inflation - train operators are free to put up prices by more than that on individual routes.

The Liberal Democrats' transport spokesman, Norman Baker, said: "It is absurd that while rail fares are rocketing way above inflation, the cost of motoring has actually decreased.

"British people are being driven back onto the roads. This is unconnected government at its worst."

A spokesman for FGW said that the increased fare income would raise £30 million, of which £17 million would go to meet the rise in operating costs.

Other money would pay for new investment, but the firm declined to say how much profit First Great Western contributed to First Group, its parent company.

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

Great way to encourage the use of mass transit.

/sarcasm

[PubliusMM]

Contrived capitalism has never worked, and there is no reason to expect it to succeed in the UK.
These subscriptions are alternatives to automobile travel for many of the commuters. Consequently, they are nearly a captive customer base, and have little hope of solving their dilemma without a great deal of pain.

Socialism? Yep, headed that way.

[listenhillary]

"British people are being driven back onto the roads. This is unconnected government at its worst."

That will easy for the government to fix.

[listenhillary]

First group? Aren’t they massively invested in contracts transporting our kids to school here in the USA?

[Mac1]

not really news; happens every year here.

[proudofthesouth]

To British and English (what is the difference btw?) FReepers: I’ve long admired your country. Your traditions, culture, your beautiful and incredible countryside. You kicked butt in WWII! That being said WTF is going on in your country? Are people that uninformed? Lazy?

I’ve only had the pleasure of passing through Heathrow a couple of times (decades ago) and when I was a believer in reincarnation I used to tell people that at one time I must have been a Brit in a past life cause I soooooo like your country.

But this and other stories about how the country is falling apart distresses me. You are all in my prayers.

[Anfield Red]

“”But this and other stories about how the country is falling apart distresses me. You are all in my prayers.””

Thanks for the concern, but there is no need for prayers. My country isn’t falling apart in the slightest. It’s still a great country.

Hiking rail prices doesn’t equal a country falling apart. And it still works out cheaper to use public transport than use a car.

Cheers.