Posted 4th January 2011 | 4 Comments

Campaigners protest at New Year fare rises

PROTESTORS from the Labour Party are handing out leaflets campaigning against fare rises on Transport for London today. Fares have also risen on National Rail routes, sparking further criticism.

Although the average rise on National Rail is 6.2 per cent, according to ATOC, some journeys are costing significantly more from this week.

This is either because they are ‘unregulated’, which means they are entirely at the discretion of the operator, or because they have been included in a 5 per cent fares ‘flex’.

This allows operators to increase some fares by as much as an extra 5 per cent, so long as other fares are adjusted to compensate. Operators do not have a completely free hand, and are not allowed to use the flex solely to increase fares on the busiest routes.

The flex was suspended for the 2010 increases by the then transport secretary, Andrew Adonis, but was restored by his successor, Philip Hammond.

The new National Rail rises are based on a formula of the Retail Price Index last July, plus 1 per cent.

The government is, however, proceeding with its plan to increase the proportion of rail costs paid by rail users as opposed to taxpayers. From next January, the formula will change to RPI+3 per cent, and this will stay in force for a further two years.

Rises in Transport for London fares, which are not included in the national formula, have come under fire from the former Labour Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, who said the total increases had been 44 per cent since Boris Johnson replaced him.

Mr Livingstone said Mr Johnson should ‘get a grip’ on fares, while Mr Johnson insisted that increases had been kept to an ‘absolute minimum’.

Reader Comments:

Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.

  • Joel Kosminsky, London, Britain

    If beneficiaries pay, where is the contribution from those organisations who gain from their staff and customers who travel to utilise their goods and services, and run those organisations?

    As the government controls the fare pricing formula, and often subsidises TOC operations, why is true profit kept secret when 'my' tax creates it? If TOCs had to publish what they netted, we would know how fare changes affect balance sheets. It can't be a 'reward for risk' as the trains run no matter who owns and operates them.

  • Geoff Steel, Northampton, United Kingdom

    This is becoming an annual event. ATOC always hide behind a single average rate statement and make the same sound bites about paying for a better railway and to book in advance to get the best fares. Easier said than done.

    I suggest that passengers shouldn't have to pay more until they see the investment much of which is not due to be delivered, such as Crossrail and Thameslink, for another 8 years.

    Now we have a government telling local authorities to reduce car parking charges in town centres. Clever move to price people off trains back into their cars. We never learn do we.

  • Rob, Leeds

    I think if we carry on this way, the rail network is doomed. The price of train travel in the UK is appalling. Operators tell you to book in advance-on CrossCountry for one, there is little difference between walk-up and advanced fares since Virgin lost the franchise. Annoying and very sad. Closure by pricing people out.

  • Chris Reynell, Longstock, Hampshire.

    Fare rises = investment in more new rolling stock, new routes, longer ticket office hours, restaurant cars, cleaner stations, more car parking? We live in hope!