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Train Tickets Steam Ahead of Inflation As Operators Blame Rising Cost of Fuel

Posted on: Tuesday, 3 January 2006, 06:00 CST

By RON MOORE

TRAIN passengers are facing inflation-busting hikes in rail fares.

Operators claim that the rising cost of fuel is the main reason for the big surge in prices.

New charges by First Scotrail mean a Cheap Day Return from Edinburgh to Glasgow now costs pounds 8.90 - an 8.5 per cent rise on 2005.

Those on the Glasgow-Stirling route will be charged 9.6 per cent more, bringing the price to around pounds 5.70.

However, there is no change on the West Highland Line. And the rise on the Aberdeen-Inverness route is just 3.9 per cent.

Those booking ahead should see no rises as First Scotrail has frozen the cost of its advance Apex fares. And groups of three or more will also see no rise in price.

First Scotrail said there were several factors behind the rises, including "significant increases in fuel and crude oil in particular. We believe the fares represent good value for money."

Fares on East Coast Main Line services - run by GNER - are also increased, by an average of 8.8 per cent.

A standard class open return between London and Edinburgh rises from pounds 206 to pounds 220.

George Muir, director general of the Association of Train Operating Companies, said: "We need the revenue from fares to pay for the big improvements being made to the railways.

"Our railways are the fastest growing in Europe and operators will continue to introduce new trains, better passenger facilities and improved travel information."

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling said passengers had to bear their share of the costs of improvements, such as new trains. He said: "Nobody can be happy about putting fares up at all but there are improvements to the infrastructure - nearly a third of the rolling stock is new in the last few years."

Lib Dem transport spokesman Tom Brake said: "Above inflation increases, at a time when overcrowding on the network remains severe, are a slap in the face for hard pressed commuters."

Meanwhile, a passenger watchdog warned that Britain's train network is becoming a "rich man's railway" thanks to the latest rises.

The Rail Passengers Council says many walk-on fares are at "eyewatering" levels.

A standard open return from Manchester to London costs pounds 202 - the same as many transatlantic air fares.

Regulated fares, covering season tickets and saver tickets, went up by an average of 3.9 per cent yesterday.

Unregulated fares, including cheap day returns, are up an average of 4.5 per cent despite an inflation rate of 2.1 per cent. Anthony Smith, of the RPC, said: "It's becoming a rich man's railway. People should be able to use the service roughly when they want to be able to use it, so these developments are very worrying.

"The rail industry is going to have to work hard to demonstrate that these rises represent value for money."

Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT rail union, accused the rail companies of profiteering.

He said: "Operators are shamelessly using their monopolies to maximise revenues and profits."

Figures out yesterday show train travel is more popular now than at any point since the 50s.

The number of passenger journeys to climbed past the one billion mark to 1.07 billion last year, said the Association of Train Operating Companies, even though the rail network is 40 per cent smaller than 50 years ago.

Source: Daily Mirror

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