'Lowest annual rise' in rail fares
Updated on 16 November 2009
Rail fares will rise by an average of 1.1% in January, it has been announced.
The Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) said the annual increase was the lowest since rail privatisation in the mid-1990s.
But with regulated fares (which include season tickets) going down by 0.4% in January, unregulated fares (including cheap day returns) will be rising much higher, with rail unions fearing hikes of 10% on some tickets.
Regulated fares make up around 40% of all fares and will be going down this year as they are capped at RPI inflation plus 1%, based on the July inflation rate which was minus 1.4%.
Atoc normally gives separate figures for the regulated and unregulated increases.
But the association would not say what the average unregulated fare increase would be, merely lumping the two figures together to make the 1.1% rise.
Atoc chief executive Michael Roberts said: "Not only is January's average fare rise the lowest since privatisation, but it will come in well below the rate of inflation, meaning a real- terms cut in prices for many passengers.
"We should keep a sense of proportion about what passengers pay. How many people would guess that the average price paid for a single train journey comes in at around £5 and that the vast majority of people travel on some form of discounted travel?
"Record performance, better services and value-for-money fares have contributed to the highest number of passengers travelling by rail for 60 years.
"The January fare change means that rail travel continues to be good value for money when compared with cars and planes."
These news feeds are provided by an independent third party and Channel 4 is not responsible or liable to you for the same.
