| British rail fares to go up in New Year |
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LONDON: British rail passengers face the prospect of train fares going up in the New Year. Unregulated fares, mostly day returns and advance tickets, will go up on an average by 4.5 per cent, while regulated fares, including season and saver tickets, will rise by 3.9 per cent, according to the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC).
Fares of unregulated services run on the East Coast Line between London and Scotland operated by GNER, are expected to go up by 8.8 per cent. On Central Trains, the fares will rise by 6.4 per cent, on Silverlink by 6.1 per cent and Midland Mainline by 6 per cent. The increase on the Gatwick Express (from central London to Gatwick airport) will be 5.6 per cent, while Heathrow Express will charge 3.6 per cent more. On Merseyrail services in Liverpool and Merseyside the increase will be 2.9 per cent.
The only service that will not increase the fares is the Island Line, which operates the service in the Isle of Wright.
The regulated fares are allowed an annual increase of 1 per cent over the July retail price index, under a formula introduced by the Strategic Rail Authority in 2003. Season ticket holders may get discounts of as much as 10 per cent on some routes.
Atom’s director general George Muir said the train companies need revenue from fares to pay for improvements in the railway system. "Our railways are the fastest growing in Europe and operators will continue to introduce new trains, better passenger facilities and improved travel information."
Passenger groups described many of the revised fares as at "eye-watering levels" and that good value tickets were now only available if booked in advance.
The Rail Passengers Council (RPC) contended that the average rise of 4.5 per cent for unregulated fares masked higher increases on many routes. Rap’s chief executive Anthony Smith said the proposals are disappointing, coming as they during the Christmas. He added the rail companies would be required to work hard to demonstrate that the increases represent value for money.
Posted
on : Fri, 09 Dec 2005 16:15 GMT | General News
By : Rob Davis
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