Rail Passenger Fares To Rise By 3.5% In 2015

Rail Fare Rises Put Pressure On Chancellor

Updated: 1:00pm UK, Tuesday 19 August 2014

By Tadhg Enright, Business Reporter

Hundreds of thousands of train commuters are facing ticket price increases of 3.5% from next January - almost three times the rate of average wage growth - increasing pressure on the Chancellor.

Annual fare increases are based on the retail price index for July, a measure of inflation which includes housing costs, which the Office for National Statistics has calculated at 2.5%.

Rail companies are allowed to increase fares at a rate of July Retail Prices Index plus 1%, which means that most rail users travel costs will go up by 3.5%. However, on a limited number of routes, fares can be increased by a further 2%.

Based on the Bank of England's recent forecast that average wages will increase by 1.25% this year, it means that commuters will have to spend more of their disposable income on getting to work.

Martin Abrams, of the Campaign for Better Transport, said: "By deliberately ramping up rail fares, [the]Government is hitting the living standards of everyone who relies on the train to get to work.

"There are the large numbers of rail commuters living in marginal constituencies. They will be looking to Government to bring a permanent end to this annual fiasco."

The Government is being urged to revise its rules for fare increases.

Passenger Focus said despite expensive commuter fares, occasional travellers can get some of the cheapest fares in Europe - if bookings are made several months in advance.

It said British rail operators are increasingly using an airline-style pricing structure, with last-minute bookings much higher in price.

But the minister responsible, Claire Perry MP, told Sky News that above inflation increases are needed to fund the redevelopment of the country's rail infrastructure.

"There is an unprecedented investment and it is a rail renaissance," Ms Perry said.

"The challenge is making sure fares are fair and commuters can travel in comfort."

Protests have been organised at more than 40 train stations around the country by trade union activists, who say it is another reflection on how privatisation has failed and consumers would be better served by bringing back British Rail.

"People will simply be priced off the railways while the greedy train operating companies are laughing all the way to the bank," RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash said.

"We are once again ratcheting up the highest rail fares in Europe to travel on some of the most clapped-out and overcrowded services."

Last year, in his Autumn Statement, Chancellor George Osborne intervened to limit this past year's increase to just the RPI figure.

Campaigners have warned that, with a General Election looming next spring, he will come under pressure to do so again.

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