More train ticket woe as firms hike some prices by 10 per cent
THE PRICE of the average train ticket will go up by 3.9 per cent in January – though some passengers will be hit by hikes of up to 10 per cent in the new year.
The Association of Train Operating Companies said yesterday that the fare increases on regulated fares are in line with government policy, and will help pay for upgrades to the network.
Consumer group Passenger Watchdog said yesterday that some fares, such as off-peak tickets for London to Birmingham, will go up by 10 per cent.
Train firms have discretion in fare hikes, providing their average regulated fare remains below 3.9 per cent.
“It’s disappointing that the restraint shown on season ticket prices has not been extended to all Off-peak and Anytime fares,” said Anthony Smith of Passenger Focus. “In the current economic climate, already hard-pressed passengers who face these rises will feel the pinch.”
The news comes a week after train companies revealed that the cost of some season tickets will soar by six per cent.
A record 368m rail journeys were made in the UK in the three months to the end of September, the Office of Rail Regulation said yesterday, a rise of 19m. Franchised passenger revenue rose 7.7 per cent to an all-time high of £1.9bn.