#FareFail: Commuters Against Rail Fare Rises

Our over-priced rail fares have been hiked again! Ten years in a row we have had above inflation fares rises forced on us. Our trains are already the most expensive in Europe!

Average train fares have increased almost three times faster than wages, with prices now 26% higher than they were before the recession. Yet you continue to be stuck in overcrowded, unreliable trains, with fewer staff on trains and at stations.

The Government are letting the train companies rob you blind – now is the time to bring the railways into public ownership, to bring down fares, and help cut carbon emissions.

In January 2013 commuters will again have to fork out for above inflation fares rises on their season tickets and daily rail fares. It is the tenth consecutive year that fares have risen above the cost of living.

The January 2014 increase will be one per cent plus RPI (Retail Price Index). The RPI plus one per cent formula will also be used for London’s buses and the Tube for the next two Januarys.

Together for Transport finds it astonishing that the Government is still punishing commuters with an inflation-plus increase of four per cent which are to be repeated in both 2014 and 2015.

Did you know that the Chancellor, in his first two and a half years in office has already increased rail fares by 12 per cent? By the end of his term, he will have seen them increased by a staggering 20 to 25 per cent?

Commuters face an average 4.2% per cent rise – one percentage point above inflation – when they return to work after Christmas on January 2 but on some routes the rise could be as high as 6 per cent or more, with many unregulated fares rising way above 6%.

Here at Together for Transport we have warned that the spiralling cost of commuting has become such a heavy financial burden that it will cost David Cameron commuters votes at the next election. Research from commuter group Passenger Focus found that only 29 per cent of commuters are satisfied they are getting value for money from their tickets.

So if you are a commuter or a regular train passenger, and are fed up with paying the highest fares in Europe – then get in touch and join our #farefail campaign.

Email: sam@togetherfortransport.org
Phone: 07850793971
Twitter: @forTransport