Commuters hit by rail fare hikes - are you affected? (From South Wales Argus)
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Commuters hit by rail fare hikes - are you affected?
2:20pm Wednesday 2nd January 2013 in News
Communters hit by rail fare hikes - are you affected?
MILLIONS of rail travellers faced higher ticket costs as inflation-busting fare rises took effect today.
Regulated fares, which include season tickets, are increasing by an average of 4.2%, with the overall average rise for all tickets being 3.9%.
Campaign groups have pointed out the latest increase is the 10th successive above-inflation rise, with some rail season ticket holders seeing their fares rise by more than 50% in the last 10 years. Also, the TUC has said that fares have risen far faster than wages since the recession in 2008.
Train companies can put some season tickets up by more than 4.2% as long as the overall average does not exceed 4.2%. So, for example, a Leeds to Wakefield season ticket is rising 6.16%, while a Ludlow to Hereford season ticket is increasing 5.28%.
The Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) said it recognised nobody liked paying more for their journey. But it added that railway funding could only come from taxpayers or from passengers "and the Government's policy remains that a bigger share must come from people who use the train".
Transport Minister Norman Baker said the Government had reduced fare rises planned for January 2013 and January 2014 from RPI plus 3% to RPI plus 1%.
He added: "We are engaged in the biggest rail investment programme since the 19th century and it is only right that the passenger, as well as the taxpayer, contributes towards that. In the longer term, we are determined to reduce the cost of running the railways so that we can end the era of above-inflation fare rises."
Labour highlighted the fact that some season tickets are allowed to rise by more than the 4.2% average. Shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle said: "David Cameron misled commuters when he promised to cap fare rises at 1% above inflation. The Government should come clean with commuters that this is a direct result of their decision to cave in to pressure from the private train companies to let them hike ticket prices beyond the so-called cap."
Have you been hit by the hike in rail fares? Let us know at newsdesk@southwalesargus.co.uk or call 01633 777226.
Comments(7)
Llanmartinangel
says...
10:51pm Wed 2 Jan 13
Katie Re-Registered
says...
1:55am Thu 3 Jan 13
chelsea fatboy
says...
3:31am Thu 3 Jan 13
pwharley
says...
10:17am Thu 3 Jan 13
I just make varied journeys by train, so am not (presumably?) affected.
Cymru Am Beth
says...
11:05am Thu 3 Jan 13
dodo777 wrote:The fares were going up above inflation when Labour were in power.
Just shows how out of touch and ruthless tories are sqeezing as much as they can out of joe public while they are enjoying the high life on tax payers money. The tories will continue to take money off people in so many ways till civil unrest and social breakdown rears it's ugly head .They have always followed the same pattern every time they get in. MARK MY WORDS.
Labour have always followed the same pattern when they get in.
Tax and spend then worry about it later.
Tories come in and have to clear up the mess the socialists have made.
Unfortunately this cannot be done in 5 years, so Labour will get in again and the debts will rise.
They had 13 years in power during which they managed to amass the greatest debt mountain this country has ever known.
Hardly a recommendation for a return to government is it?
deafbystereo
says...
11:59am Thu 3 Jan 13
And yes, I am going to moan. my daily return ticket has now potentially added an additional £16 onto my monthly outgoings.
I hardly drink or smoke so I can't cut back that way. So how do I find the money eh Mr Cameron??
Our pockets are not as well lined as yours and your friends in Westminster.
I would also like to know of the consequences for Arriva of late and cancelled trains....there hardly ever seems to be an explanation when a late train finally arrives but we have to some how explain it away when we get into work late (again).
What other job can you get away with by fairly frequently being late or not bothering to provide the service expected....hundreds of people get affected and inconvenienced and now we have to pay more for that displeasure!
Thanks camers, thanks arriva
dodo777 says...
10:12pm Wed 2 Jan 13
The tories will continue to take money off people in so many ways till civil unrest and social breakdown rears it's ugly head .They have always followed the same pattern every time they get in.
MARK MY WORDS.