Rail operators suffer fall in dividends as Waterloo closure and strikes hit bottom line January 30, 2019 Rail operators’ dividends dropped by a quarter last year, with firms blaming strikes and a month-long platform closure at London Waterloo. Dividends totalled £300m for 2017-18, down 27 per cent on 2016-17, according to Office of Rail and Road (ORR) figures released today, as the station closure hit journey numbers. Read more: Passenger satisfaction falls [...]
Transport misery: Passenger satisfaction with Britain’s railways drops to 10-year low, says Transport Focus January 29, 2019 Passenger satisfaction with the UK's railways has fallen to a 10-year low, a new survey out today has found. Independent watchdog Transport Focus warned that overall satisfaction with services stood at 79 per cent, the lowest since 2008, according to its latest national passenger survey of 25,000 passengers. More than one in five passengers were [...]
DEBATE: Is transport secretary Chris Grayling right to blame the unions for rail fare hikes? January 4, 2019 Is transport secretary Chris Grayling right to blame the unions for rail fare hikes? Duncan Simpson, policy analyst at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, says YES. This week’s fare rise is, quite understandably, infuriating for many commuters. But passenger outrage is being misdirected. Huge progress has been made since privatisation: passenger numbers and overall satisfaction are up, and [...]
Rail firms have paid out more than £1bn in shareholder dividends over last six years, says TUC union January 2, 2019 Rail firms have paid over £1bn to shareholders in last six years, according to trade union analysis on the same day that a 3.1 per cent hike in fares was announced for passengers. The fare increase, set under the retail price index (RPI), will see many rail season tickets increase by more than £100. According to [...]
Millennials face a long wait online as next batch of 26-30 railcards go on sale nationwide January 2, 2019 Millennials are facing long waits to get their hands on the next batch of 26-30 railcards, which were launched this afternoon. The 26-30 railcard, which costs £30 for a year, went on sale at midday. It offers one third off most rail fares for more than 4m people across the UK, meaning railcard holders will save [...]
Rail fares rise by 3.1 per cent as commuters stage protests at train stations across the UK January 2, 2019 Rail fares increased by an average of 3.1 per cent today despite commuters suffering a year of travel chaos in 2018. Passengers are set to stage a national protest at the hike today, which will see many rail season tickets increase by more than £100. Commuters, rail union leaders and politicians are expected to protest [...]
Travel chaos averted as rail union suspends Christmas strike action on Central and Bakerloo lines December 20, 2018 The rail union has suspended its planned action on the Central and Bakerloo lines that was set to wreak havoc over the Christmas period. The Central Line strike was due to take place from 9pm tomorrow and last until Saturday at midnight, when the the line would reopen for the night service. Drivers on the Waterloo [...]
Tube driver salaries break £100,000 barrier despite train automation December 16, 2018 Some London Tube drivers are now earning more than £100,000 a year, despite new technology that makes their jobs easier. Figures obtained by the Sunday Times reveal the highest-paid driver earned £103,374 in the year to November, a 69 per cent rise since 2012. The surge in pay comes despite five of the network’s 11 lines [...]
Christmas strikes: Union votes for New Year’s Eve strike on London rail December 13, 2018 Commuters face renewed strike misery over Christmas, with new industrial action planned on New Year’s Eve on South Western Railway. The RMT union will also strike for the whole of Thursday 27 December on South Western Railway, accusing the train line of refusing to engage in “a serious talks process” to solve a long-running dispute [...]
Commuters brace for fresh Christmas strikes on South Western Railway December 7, 2018 Rail union RMT has revealed that there will be further strike action on South Western Railway on 22 December, the final Saturday before Christmas. The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers have said that the decision has come as a result of South Western's refusal to engage in serious discussions regarding the long-running guards' [...]