Rail passengers in England and Wales are set to face a significant increase in travel costs beginning this Sunday, with fares rising by 4.6%. This increase applies to various ticket types, including season tickets and long-distance returns, which are directly regulated by Westminster. The new pricing structure comes as the government defends the hike, citing the dire financial situation of the railway system.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander acknowledged the frustration among passengers over rising fares amid unacceptable delays and cancellations. As a result of this increase, commuters will see substantial jumps in their annual travel costs. For example, an annual season ticket from Brighton to London will exceed £5,000, while a ticket from York to Leeds will surpass £3,000. Commuters from Canterbury will face an even steeper burden, with annual travel costs reaching over £7,000.
In addition to increased fares, most railcards will also see a price increase of £5, affecting students, families, and pensioners. Silviya Barrett from the Campaign for Better Transport expressed disappointment at this decision, noting that railcards had been protected from price hikes for years.
“It’s especially disappointing that even railcards are going up in price after being protected for years.” – Silviya Barrett
Transport campaigners have criticized the fare increase, particularly in light of the Labour government's recent decision to extend the freeze on fuel duty for motorists. This contrast raises questions about the government’s priorities in transportation policy. Alex Robertson, a representative from the same campaign group, highlighted a critical issue regarding service expectations versus ticket prices.
“Our research shows there is a clear mismatch between ticket prices and the service people expect to receive for what they have paid. This needs to change.” – Alex Robertson
In London, the fare increase will also impact the Underground and other rail services, with an average rise of 4.6% across the board. Despite these increases, bus fares in the capital will remain frozen, an attempt to alleviate some financial pressure on daily commuters.
The government has defended the fare hike as the lowest absolute rise in three years and stated that it is slightly below the current increase in average earnings of 5.9%. However, this marks the second occasion since 2013 that fares have been raised above inflation rates. Passengers in Scotland will also see an increase of 3.8% starting April 1.