Posted 16th November 2020 | 2 Comments

Protests follow reports of inflation-plus fare rises

Updated 11.14

IT has been reported that fares on National Rail trains in England are set to rise by last July’s RPI plus one per cent in January, or 2.6 per cent, as the government tries to recover some of the additional funding which has been needed to keep the former franchises running during the pandemic.

If such a rise took place, it would be the first above-inflation increase, as defined by the Retail Prices Index, for eight years.

However, Labour’s shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon said: ‘An inflation-busting rise in rail fares would be completely wrong. It would make travel more unaffordable at a time when it is vital to secure the future of the network.

‘The Government’s incompetent approach means British taxpayers are paying the profit of rail companies owned by foreign governments. Instead, we should bring the network in house, providing better value for the taxpayer and passengers.’

The DfT said: ‘While we won’t comment on speculation, we must ensure any changes are fair to taxpayers.’

Reader Comments:

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

  • Michael Breslin, Liverpool

    I am sure the train operators are fully aware of the potential consequences of such increases. However, I am certain that rail fares will not be the only things to rise when the pandemic is over and life returns to normal. Shop prices and entertainment costs are bound to rise, so there will be more that rail passengers moaning.

  • Martin Marrison, Haywards Heath

    If this is true it will get people out of their car in onto the railways not! How are we every going to meet any zero carbon targets if we keep pricing people off the railways! Are we asking too much for joined up thinking here? Martin