Outcry at rail fare increases

Don Frame

January 02, 2009

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RAIL fare increases twice the level of inflation, introduced from today, are unacceptable and unjustified says a watchdog.

Passenger Focus says steep rises on individual routes are masked by the average figures published by the industry. It is calling on ministers to open talks with train operators in a bid to limit the extent that regulated fares can go up.

'Shudder'

Chief executive Anthony Smith said: "Many passengers will shudder when they find out the scale of some New Year fare rises. Average rises are between six and seven per cent, but inflation is currently well below this.."

Passenger Focus has called on the government and train companies to help beleagured passengers by halting further excessive fare rises and immediately limiting the range within which regulated fares are allowed to rise.

Formula

Regulated fares are based on a set formula which limits increases to 1pc above the retail price index inflation figure for the previous July.

A Virgin Trains anytime return from Manchester to London has gone up by £17 (7.4pc) to £247.

Stephen Joseph, executive director of the Campaign for Better Transport, said: ""Passengers are being priced off with above-inflation fare increases. At a time of recession, these increases are making life difficult for hard-working families."

The Association of Train Operating Companies says the increased revenue will help pay for major investment.

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www.kitchenhell.co.uk, Stockport (02/01/2009 at 08:13)

Each year we hear from the train operating companies that these fare increases are needed to fund 'improvements'. So how come the Northern Rail service on my line (Manchester - Hazel Grove and Buxton) is now worse than under British Rail?

just joan, Manchester (02/01/2009 at 09:58)

How can they keep raising the fares on this service when they never meet the customer’s expectations? Cattle have a better travel services then today’s commuters.
When the new time table was introduced the service from Greenfield to Manchester is now appalling. If the 07.20am doesn’t turn up we now have to wait almost seventy five minutes for the next one and they have stopped answering any emails of complaint. The train that are used on the stopper run into Victoria should have been retired over twenty years ago and are not if for purchase. If this was a service provided by a shop you at lease have the protection of the Trade Description Act. Try taking a train back and asking for a refund
If they are not spending the increase on improved services than what are they spending it on more money for the top bass? It uses none peak trains running on time as to say that they are giving a good service. If they took just peak time service to measure what they are actual providing they with find that how rubbish they really are.

Tony North-Hearn, Stockport (02/01/2009 at 10:07)

I am fed up with Brown keeping my income down but letting bus,train and utility companies putting prices up and up. Lets have Less Scots in Westminster having too much power over us.Brown is certainly showing his dislike of the English.

Mr Manchester (02/01/2009 at 10:09)

You need to clarify in what way it is worse.

I'm not at all happy with the price rises, but if I need to go across the country booking 12 weeks in advance usually ensures a good price.

Princess_Pam, Crumpsall (02/01/2009 at 10:49)

The Train companies that lease the service from us (yes, it's still ours but we now have no say), get much larger subsidies from the taxpayer than British Rail ever did. But even with these large subsidies, hardly any station is staffed, there are no porters, and local signal boxes are now closed with people looking after our safety now many miles away. The prices are now ridiculous. I can remember not so long ago when I could turn up and go on an intercity service to London for only £10.50 return. That same journey now, is well over £200 and this is second class remember. I recently had to go into hospital in London and because I didn't know the date of return it cost the NHS £212 for my train ticket. This is on top of the subsidy the rail companies already get.

I'm quite impulsive and sometimes I'll just fancy a day out. In the past I could just hop on a train to London and as long as I didn't travel during Rush-hour it was easily affordable.

The Labour Party should keep to its democratically a\rrived at policy and manifesto commitment and take the railways completely back into public ownership. And it should not give subsidies to any companies in the private sector without a referendum of the people.

Mr Manchester (02/01/2009 at 11:07)

£10.50 return 'not so long go'?!?

You can get to London Euston booking today for £65.50, and I don't think that's too bad. Book in advance for 2 March and it's currently £8.00.

Ace Shakespeare , manchester (02/01/2009 at 14:39)

Typical rip off britain. our workers are being layed off by the thousands and we have people struggling to make ends meet and feed themselves and yet the government allow the rail companies to up their fares? and we gave away most of our busses and railways to private industry.its time to take our transport system back into public ownership,away from these greedy companies who keep fleecing us with the help of the governments.

Mr Angry, Bury (02/01/2009 at 14:48)

Totally agree with Princess Pam. RENATIONALISE THE LOT - NOW!!!!

Kick out these money grabbing private firms and their sponging shareholders

Jonathan Curtis (02/01/2009 at 15:42)

Things like this is excatly why the Congestion Charge never stood a chance.

andanotherthing, Mcr (02/01/2009 at 19:04)

Next Trams, then then the bus and weren't you silly not to vote yes to the con charge....
There will be more of this just to show us. Go by coach always been reasonable ..ish

Mullet Vision (02/01/2009 at 19:21)

The fat cat shareholders should try and do a daily commute for a week or two and then try and justify price hikes. Absolutely scandalous. Most of the trains I get aren't even heated, except of course in the summer months!

There are always plenty of people asking to see tickets at stations these days particularly at Piccadilly. Are we as commuters within our rights to ask for 'trains please?' before presenting a valid ticket.

TSK (02/01/2009 at 22:23)

I agree. Renationalise the lot and remember that the system serves the traveller. We do not want to see money wasted, but a system in place similar to those in say France or Germany. Sadly some hope!
I lived in Germany, in the early 1980's, and what was in place there those days was ten times better than here now! I am becoming increasingly ashamed of this country by the day!

tallens, bolton (03/01/2009 at 10:25)

How can they do this i am sick and tired of complianing to Heidi Mottram the MD of Northern Rail about the so called rail company she runs. This new timetable has created no end of problems for people, lack of services and fewer trains. In my last e mail i suggested if she cant sort things out maybe she should stand down from her position and let someone take over that can sort this shambles out.
Maybe we need to start doing what they did down south and have fare strikes, i see no reason why we should pay for this third rate service at all let alone pay an increase on it !!!!!!!

angry harry, sale (03/01/2009 at 13:47)

In a period of deflation this is not a nonsense, maybe the TOCS are expecting a downturn in passenger numbers and are covering themselves against this eventuality. This is a downward spiral that will result in less and shorter trains. UK is the dearest place in the world to travel and Manchester Bus (gmpte) fares are the highest in the UK and they always have been.

Donna. Harpurhey (03/01/2009 at 14:11)

First Manchester busses have just put up their ticket prices across the board this week . It didn't take long for them to increase fares once their congestion cash bonanza was chucked out by us.

alvinlwh (03/01/2009 at 14:33)

Why would anyone still want to use the trains???

Chodington, Eccles (03/01/2009 at 17:55)

Fed up of waiting for a reply from Northern Rail regarding my complaint about their new timetable (the auto reply told me it could be up to 21 days!!!). I sent an email directly to Heidi Mottram, who got someone to contact me within 24 hours. I also took the opportunity to ask for some form of refund for the recent spate of canceled and late trains and have been offered a weeks worth of free tickets. I encourage you all to the same and hit Northern Rail it hurts - in the wallet.

Technobabble, Manchester (04/01/2009 at 15:39)

"First Manchester busses have just put up their ticket prices across the board this week . It didn't take long for them to increase fares once their congestion cash bonanza was chucked out by us.
Donna. Harpurhey"

First have been putting their fares up year on year regardless, and would most certainly continued to do so for the four years until the so-called "cap" would have come into effect.

All these public transport companies are the same, running buses, trains and trams all over the country; less a finger in every pie, more of a great big grubby mitt.

Boltonchelle, Bolton (05/01/2009 at 10:11)

Why oh why do we keep complaining? we are never listened to! I have complained to Heidi Mottram, And other top line execs at Northern Rail about the substandard service we recieve and have had nothing but lame excuses,The MEN is the only publication that shows what the public has to put up with, I have sent in photos twice to illustrate this, I also sent these to Heidi, And she is sorry! So sorry infact she hasnt bothered with any improvements. Are there no laws that us commuters can sting them with???
What will it take? 140 dead commuters on an overturned carriage?? I hope not!!!!

Increasingly Frustrated, Salford (05/01/2009 at 13:25)

Next Trams, then then the bus and weren't you silly not to vote yes to the con charge.... There will be more of this just to show us. Go by coach always been reasonable ..ish

andanotherthing, Mcr

The tram fares have increased, although there is no increase for season tickets. Bus fares increase pretty much every year, whichever bus company you might use.
The congestion charge would not have stopped this.

And alvinlwh, some people have no choice but to use trains, I've said it before and I'll say it again. Not everyone is lucky enough to work near where they live, and they're not willing to accept any old job, so have to commute.

citycentre, manchester (05/01/2009 at 15:48)

"some people have no choice but to use trains"

indeed they do, and the comapanies know it, so as private companies they do what they are supposed to, make profits for the shareholders

alvinlwh, lucky they do though, think the roads could cope if everyone drove instead?

Increasingly Frustrated, Salford (05/01/2009 at 17:14)

citycentre, manchester - I don't really have much choice, working 26 miles from home and not being able to drive. So they have me over a barrel really! Either find a new job and start all over again, not using my hard-earned qualifications, move house to an area I wouldn't want to live in or put up with the increases.

andanotherthing, Mcr (05/01/2009 at 20:17)

Increasingly frustrated of salford.

I like you do not drive. As you say Tram fares are up , Bus fares are up, Road charges are up,whether that is petrol or speed cameras or parking. Nothing would induce me on to a tram or train with the exception, of getting what I pay for. But to stand for 26 miles with my nose in someones armpit,and the guy behind me is being more intimate than he is with his wife....Some would pay for that I suppose

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