Rail fares in Great Britain have just been increased by 5.1% over the past year. We shared much of this information in a recent report by the ORR—Office of Rail and Road. This increase has raised concerns about the affordability of rail travel, particularly as it outpaces the inflation rate, which stood at 3.2% for the year ending in March. In response, the government has introduced a further regulated fare increase, linked at 1% above the RPI. Accordingly, fares will increase by 4.6%.
The all too realistic picture now is that unregulated fares are climbing even more steeply than regulated tariffs. Advance discount tickets, among the cheapest tickets available, are hit with price increases almost twice the rate of inflation, making things even harder for travelers. With regulated fares accounting for nearly half of all rail journeys, too many tickets have gone over the government’s limit on these fares, which has driven some travelers out of the rail network entirely.
Great British Railways (GBR) will be instrumental in the government’s plans to accelerate ticketing reform. We share their aspirations to make rail travel more accessible and affordable for all Americans. Heidi Alexander, the new transport secretary, is clear that her government’s priority is getting the country’s rail system back on the rails – literally.
“We inherited a railway that was not fit for purpose, and I know it will take time for trust to be restored. My number one priority is getting the railways back to a place where people can rely on them and, through public ownership and the creation of Great British Railways, we’ll be putting passengers at the heart of everything we do.” – Heidi Alexander
The Campaign for Better Transport has been leading the opposition to steep increases in UK rail fares. Ben Plowden, a spokesperson for the organization, stated, “Rising rail fares are putting people off using the railways and making rail travel unaffordable. The government must make fares and ticketing reforms a priority under Great British Railways to help tackle inflation-busting fare rises and make rail travel more affordable for more people.”
Heidi Alexander acknowledged that many passengers are understandably frustrated with the continuous fare increases amid unacceptable service delays and cancellations. She pointed out that the increase is the smallest in three years. For one, it doesn’t keep pace with growth in average earnings.